Albion boss Chris Hughton has hailed his depleted team’s latest draw as their best away point of the season.

The Seagulls are still undefeated 17 games into their Championship campaign and second in the table behind Hull on goal difference after yesterday’s 1-1 draw at Burnley.

Bobby Zamora’s first-minute goal was cancelled out within three minutes by a controversial Andre Gray penalty, awarded against Lewis Dunk for shirt-pulling from a corner, for fifth-placed Burnley at Turf Moor.

Hughton, already without injured trio Gaetan Bong, Kazenga LuaLua and Sam Baldock, also lost Uwe Huenemeier, Andrew Crofts and Rohan Ince from the squad to knocks and Inigo Calderon due to illness.

Albion have now drawn seven of their last ten games but Hughton told The Argus: “It’s a really big point for us. Because of those factors (absentees) and a few others.

“We went 1-0 up and they drew level very quickly. Sometimes you might see a little drop in levels after that and it’s a very tough place to come.

“I don’t think Burnley will lose many games at home. They are a good side. They’ve got strength in depth. They have managed to put out nearly the same eleven on the pitch every game.

“Taking all that into consideration, certainly away from home, I think Ipswich was our best performance but this was certainly our best point.”

Long-term victim Bong (thigh) and Baldock, who sustained thigh damage in the last home game against MK Dons, will be missing again for sixth-placed Birmingham’s visit to the Amex on Saturday.

Hughton expects Huenemeier (ankle), Crofts (hamstring), Ince (groin) and Calderon to all recover in time. He also hopes to have LuaLua (groin) available for the first time since mid-September.