Key facts and stats as Albion aim to protect leads in Prem

You might just have heard it once or twice since about 10pm last Saturday.

The Seagulls have now let 17 points slip away from advantageous positions.

Okay, not necessarily just let them “slip away”. In many cases, that is not fair to them or their talented opponents.

But it is a damning headline number.

And, as the Seagulls head back to where that unwanted habit started, those who watch the games probably know it is worse than that.

Southampton came from behind to secure a 1-1 draw when these teams met in Hampshire on a sultry evening late last season.

The hosts deserved their point, if not more.

True, Yves Bissouma had a great chance to win the game for his side late on.

But there was not too much angst among the Seagulls ranks about a draw that night.

They also shrugged off a Burnley equaliser on the last day of the campaign to go on and win 2-1.

But frustration has often led to exasperation this term as advantages have slipped away.

First, the 17 points which are mentioned by the statisticians.

That is defeats to Manchester United, Southampton and Leicester plus draws against West Brom and Wolves.

So 13 points dropped at home, although the Wolves game felt more like a point gained given Albion came from 3-1 down and then saw their visitors miss an open goal right at the end.

Away from home, the Seagulls have seen a lead turn into a draw at West Ham, which was infuriating given the manner of the final goal in a 2-2 draw.

They then saw Burnley come back for a 1-1 draw which still felt like a good point gained on the balance of play and at the end of a big week.

What all that does not tell you is that Albion relinquished not one lead but two in the West Ham game.

That they also conceded an equaliser at Aston Villa, although they recovered to win 2-1.

And that they saw leads wiped out by lower division teams in two FA Cup ties.

There was Newport right at the end of 90 minutes and Blackpool seconds from half-time.

If we are talking about not making the most of an advantageous position, then throw in the game at home to Liverpool.

Albion never led and were upbeat at full-time as they grabbed a 1-1 draw through Pascal Gross’s penalty.

But, at one stage in the first half, they were level at 0-0, on top in the game and about to take a penalty That is not a lead on the scoreboard but it is definitely an advantageous position.

So we move on to the home of comebacks - one way or another.

Albion have drawn on all three trips to Southampton since promotion.

They have been pegged twice for 1-1s and also come from 2-0 down for a point.

Now we wait to see which way it goes on Sunday if one team goes ahead – and it could be either way.

HERE’S THE BAD NEWS

Albion have conceded the second most equalisers in the Prem with nine.

Given they have five wins, that obviously means they have led on 14 occasions in total.

So near enough two-thirds of the leads they have taken this season have not lasted.

Liverpool have conceded most equalisers. Back in the days when they scored goals, the champions went ahead on 22 occasions and were pegged back ten times.

Look at the teams who follow Reds and Seagulls on the list. Everton and Manchester United have both conceded eight equalisers – and Albion have drawn level against both those teams (before ultimately losing).

BUT THEY CAN DO IT

What makes failure to hold so many advantages so puzzling is we know they can do it.

The last three wins were all by 1-0 but all far more comfortable than you might expect with that scoreline.

Against strong opponents too in Liverpool, Leeds and Tottenham.

At Leeds, Davy Propper and Yves Bissouma were sent on as second-half subs to help congest the area through which the home side were seeking a path.

At Anfield, though, the three subs used were Adam Lallana, Aaron Connolly and Andi Zeqiri – all attacking players and all very late.

Connolly and Lallana also went on against Spurs, as did Dan Burn for Joel Veltman.

The other single-goal win was far more fraught – at Aston Villa.

IT’S NOT ALL BAD

Albion are also second in the table for most equalisers scored with nine.

That said, five of them were in the first seven games, seven were before Christmas and only four were enough to earn a point.

Their nine equalisers is one fewer than Wolves but the same as Leicester, Manchester United and West Brom and one more than West Ham.

Again, those five other teams mentioned have something in common.

They have all come from behind to level versus the Seagulls. West Ham did it twice.

In other words, six of the nine equalisers Albion have conceded have been scored by teams who score a lot of equalisers. Whch makes sense.

ONE OBVIOUS ANSWER

Lead by more than a single goal. That is something Albion have done just once since beating Bournemouth 2-0 midway through last season.

It sounds easy of course but is not so simple in practice at this level.

Still, this is another aspect in which Albion’s failure to take chances is coming back to bite them.

They were able to remain on the front foot against Tottenham and Liverpool. Closer to 2-0 than 1-1.

ALBION IN "TOUGH DISCUSSIONS" OVER INTERNATIONAL CALLS

Maybe the substitutions helped them.

“Not enough goals when dominating games, and then sloppy mistakes especially last five minutes,” commented reader Tristan De Wolfe on our Albion-dedicated Facebook page.

“We don’t get the second goal,” added Mathew Sowerby.

If they don’t, they might need a bit of luck at the end (as at Norwich late last season).

Or nerves of steel.

We have seen it can be done.