Gus Poyet insists his Albion side have not over-achieved by hitting top spot in an “absolutely crazy” League One.

But he has refused to be drawn on whether the Seagulls are equipped to stay there.

Albion are three points clear with a quarter of the season gone ahead of Saturday’s visit to Charlton.

Asked if they have over-achieved so far, Poyet told The Argus: “I don’t think so, not at all. If we were ten points clear and had taken our chances in the games we haven’t won then maybe you could say that but right now we are not over-achieving.

“The league has been absolutely crazy. Everyone is beating everyone and it’s unbelievable, really open. We need to keep our consistency.”

Albion’s only defeat to date came at Sheffield Wednesday. The Yorkshire giants were pre-season favourites for promotion with Southampton but neither of them have been able to match the Seagulls’ impressive early form.

Poyet, quizzed on whether he has the squad to stay ahead of the chasing pack, said: “That is a good question and it is very difficult to answer. It is my first time as a manager in this position, my first squad.

“It would be great to have the answer. I would like to say yes but I cannot say it for the sake of it.

"We'll see. I think if we have got an opportunity and we'll try as hard as we can."

Poyet's target before a ball was kicked was a top ten finish. "It wasn't that I was not being optimistic, I think I was being realistic," he added.

"The year before I remember reading in the paper that Brighton were one of the teams to be in contention and they were coming from an incredible salvation.

"It didn't happen. Going from a relegation battle to promotion like that in one second was not realistic, so I was trying to be realistic.

"We'll see, it's early doors. If you see where Southampton are at the moment it's not real. Let's see what is real at the end of the season."