Albion's ton-up boss says he never doubted he was at the club for the long haul.

Graham Potter completes his first century of league and cup games as the club’s head coach when the Seagulls take on Villa.

Potter says he had not given the numerical landmark a thought until he was asked about it this week.

But nor did he have doubts over the support he enjoyed at the club during testing times.

He said: “Honestly, no, because having the noise from outside is different to what you experience internally.

“I always felt the support of the players, the staff, the chairman, the board and the majority of the people I met, in terms of supporters.

“But in the world we’re in, there’s always somebody who has to be under pressure or doing not so well. And if the results aren’t going that well, then it’s how it is.

“At the same time, we knew it was a process, we knew where we were at, we knew the performance of the team could carry on improving.

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“I didn’t tend to think too much about that negative aspect of the outside world.

“Just like now, when it’s more positive, I don’t pay attention to that either.

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“There’s always a bit in between. I don’t think you’re ever as good as people think you are when you’re going well and you’re never as bad as people think you are when you’re not going so well.

“If you can keep that perspective, you’re generally okay in the middle.”

Of Potter’s first 100 games, 88 have come in the league. He will hope for a 23rd Prem win, against 33 draws and 32 defeats.