Albion have been told the absence of their captain can be no excuse for a below-par performance.

The Seagulls aim to secure a first win in more than four years without Lewis Dunk as they prepare to visit Tottenham on Sunday.

They must take on the Premier League’s 16-goal top scorers without their skipper and centre-back.

It will be the second consecutive season he has missed the trip to Spurs.

Albion have not won any of the last seven league games Dunk has missed, dating back to October 2016.

The run continued in the 1-1 draw at home to West Brom on Monday.

Head coach Graham Potter said of Dunk’s absence: “I don’t think we can use that an excuse.

“Lewis is our captain and when things are getting tough you maybe need that leadership out on the pitch.

“But it’s not to be. We haven’t got him.”

Dunk last missed a win when Dale Stephens scored the only goal of a game at Wigan four years ago last week.

He was banned for the 2-0 defeat at Preston and 3-3 draw at Brentford later in the promotion season.

The 28-year-old was ever-present in 2017-18 before, in the following campaign, missing the 1-0 defeat at Liverpool through injury as well as the 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal on Boxing Day due to suspension.

He was banned for a 2-0 defeat to Leicester at the Amex last season and unwell when the Seagulls went to Tottenham and lost 2-1 on Boxing Day.

Albion fans will also have bad memories of his absence for the end-of-term promotion decider at Middlesbrough in May, 2016, and the subsequent play-off semi-final first leg at Sheffield Wednesday.