ALBION 0 LEEDS 0

Graham Potter annoyed a few fans when he said he might need an Albion history lesson.

Just as some of them annoyed him with boos at the end of this latest draw.

The boos were short-lived and fairly low level - but boos all the same.

Potter was not the only one surprised to hear them.

Albion’s performance deserved praise. Their finishing deserved criticism.

Personal opinion: It felt like booing took that criticism too far.

The history to which Potter presumably refers is one which has never seen Albion finish in the top half of the top tier.

Which has seen them outside the elite for all but nine seasons of their existence.

And which had them in the third tier little more than a decade ago.

The history on the minds of fans feeling unsettled by recent results - more than performances – is probably a lot more recent.

It is a recollection of last season, certainly, and possibly the season before.

A maddening habit of seeing their side not getting what they deserve. The uncrowned kings of xG.

The feeling that, after a bright start to the season when the narrow margins went their way, life is following that more frustrating pattern.

They have seen a brighter future and sense it slipping way – for now, at least.

Albion’s history includes two seasons in the bottom two of the Football League, partly overlapped by two seasons playing home games in Kent.

A reminder of that turbulent period is shown on the big screens shortly before kick-off at the Amex.

They have come from there to scale heights they have only known once before.

And that might be another relevant chapter of their history.

In early December 40 years ago, Albion made the trip they will make this Saturday – along the coast to Southampton.

Saints needed victory to go top of the Football League but the Seagulls ripped up the script.

They won 2-0 to leave themselves sixth in the top flight.

It remains the highest the club have ever been at such an advanced stage of a season.

Yet back then there were still complaints – that the football was boring, too defensive.

Which tells us one of two things.

Either that Albion fans, or fans in general, or people in general, are never totally happy.

Or that, over the course of a long 38-game season (42 games back then), life will not always be a bed of roses.

The balance Albion try to strike is appreciating and celebrating their history while not leaning back on it too much.

Their progress, the baton of which is now in Potter’s hand, depends on measured aspiration.

The irony is that those who booed, or quietly grumbled, or clapped the team off, share the same concerns and hopes as those in the home changing room, technical area and the boardroom.

Everyone wants the same thing.

No one more so than Tony Bloom, whose ambition and vision for the club is unmatched.

Albion’s performance on Saturday did not deserve boos.

But there will be key issues debated over a pint in the concourses which are probably also discussed at a high level at HQ as the club and team strive to improve.

Potter was clearly irritated when he spoke to us via Zoom some time after the game but that was fine - good to see, in fact - as he backed his players in no uncertain terms.

His coach Bruno went on Instagram soon after to show support of the team.

Don’t under-estimate that.

The former skipper does not post after many games.

It tends to be when he thinks they deserve special praise or a bit of extra support.

This time he wrote: “What a performance! The boys were outstanding, they fought for 93 minutes. Deserved to win. It will come.”

We know what was missing. How to put that right?

Those in key positions at Lancing will know how much they feel they can get from the current squad or the means and possibilities which exist to strengthen from outside.

There is a popular theory, given an airing again by Sky Sports’ pundits on Saturday, that Albion just need someone to stand in the middle and put away all the chances their football creates.

Is that really the case? Can their way of playing and creating really support someone who just waits in the box?

Neal Maupay and, when fit, Danny Welbeck offer a lot more than that and play a part in the team pattern, both attacking and defending.

But it is hard to get away from the fact that chances are created which one would expect a Premier League player to convert.

Not just Maupay in this match. And not just in this match.

Every team sees points and chances get away but it seems to happen more to Albion.

The big plus on Saturday was how much they created and the style in which they did it.

Maupay looped a tentative left-foot prod over an almost open goal and later failed to get proper contact with his right.

Jakub Moder hooked efforts over the bar in either half.

Illan Meslier got fingertips to a Leandro Trossard drive which crashed off the post and, in the second half, saved twice from sub Solly March.

Much of this danger followed moments of exciting wing play by Tariq Lamptey, who enjoyed himself.

It was a surprise his marker Junior Firpo lasted until half-time without being sent off or substituted.

Leeds came into the game later on and four saves of increasing difficulty by Robert Sanchez culminated in his alert scramble and scoop away as a shot span towards his bottom corner.

History tells us Leeds have still not scored here since a more feint deflection off Luciano Becchio beat Tomasz Kuszczak in front of the same North Stand back in 2012.

It tells us Albion have not had it so good since 1981, if ever.

But the future can be even brighter.

That’s the goal. The chance no one wants to miss.

Albion: Sanchez; Veltman, Dunk, Webster; Lamptey (March 76), Bissouma, Gross, Cucurella; Moder (Sarmiento 82), Trossard, Maupay (Locadia 68). Subs: Steele, Mac Allister, Mwepu, Lallana, Duffy, Richards.

Yellow card: Bissouma (81) foul.

Leeds: Meslier; Dallas, Llorente, Cooper, Firpo (Shackleton 46); Forshaw, Phillips (Struijk 46); Harrison (Roberts 63), Raphinha, Rodrigo; James. Subs: Klaesson, Gelhardt, Cresswell, Klich, McCarron, Jenkins.

Yellow card: Firpo (5) foul, Llorente (66) foul, Shackleton (85) foul.

Referee: Craig Pawson.