Bernardo says Albion's game against Aston Villa is a six-pointer.

Albion head into the game off the back of a 1-0 defeat to Everton and are 14th, just four places and three points clear of the relegation zone.

Villa’s 6-1 defeat at home to Manchester City left them in the bottom three, just a point from safety, and Bernardo thinks the game will be one that neither team wants to lose.

Albion’s Brazilian left-back said: “It is a really important game because it is a team that is fighting with us, we are both in a similar position in the table.

“In Brazil, like you do here, we call these games six-pointers because if they beat you they get three and you lose three possible points.

“It will be a very important game especially because it is at home and we are still bitter from the last time we played them.

“We need to try and enjoy the game and get something from this match.”

Albion were cruelly beaten by a last-gasp goal at Villa Park having played most of the match with ten after Aaron Mooy was sent-off.

Bernardo made his third start of the season at left wing-back against Everton, coming in for the injured Dan Burn and could face a battle against influential Jack Grealish at the Amex on Saturday.

Bernardo said: “He is a really good player.

“I have been following him since last season, obviously English people and players will have known what he can do for a lot longer.

“However, for me that arrived in England last year I didn’t follow the Championship prior to that, but I knew about him and Aston Villa.

“I think he is a different type of player, so definitely he is a talent.

“If I have the chance to play I need to be really careful and have in the back of my mind what he can do, but it would be quite nice to play against him.”

Bernardo will not be tussling with his fellow Brazilian and Villa frontman Wesley, who will miss the rest of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.

The Seagulls star, who himself was ruled out for two months with a knee injury this term, says it is a real shame.

He said: “It is just really sad for a player when they get injured and you can’t do what you love to do, what you are paid to do.

“In particular him I read that Villa fans not being satisfied with him.

“But if you look back at his career and where he came from in Brazil before going to Belgium and then moving onto the Premier League, before being called into the national senior team, he is definitely a player that could help them a lot, so it is very sad for him.”