Albion have been told to rise to the challenge of improving their lowly league position.

But Graham Potter says his players cannot think they are too good to be involved in a Premier League survival battle.

The Seagulls have a two-point lead over 18th-placed Fulham ahead of tonight’s clash at Craven Cottage (8pm, Amazon Prime Video).

Potter is aware his side will be talked about as relegation candidates – and there is one good way to prevent that.

The head coach said: “Always, from the external and from the media, everybody wants to put somebody under the knife, so to speak. With the pressure, that’s part of the game.

“We’ve played 12 matches of a 38-match season and already we’re creating something. That’s just the reality of it.

“Clearly, if you don’t get the points then you find yourself in that situation.

“But it depends on where you are. We have to fight for every point in this league.

“We are one of a few teams that ultimately, where we sit in the Premier League, if you don’t get the margins your way, then you know you’re going to be in that fight. That’s how it is.

“If you get the margins your way, then maybe that keeps the wolf from the door.

READ MORE: A big game - but not THAT big

“But at the moment, we haven’t been able to do that. That’s what we will have to do next.

“But we can’t feel sorry for ourselves or think, ‘We’re too good for this’.

“That’s not the reality. We have to take the challenge.”