Seagulls supporters could be the crucial 12th man in the club’s quest to reach the Premier League, according to Gus Poyet.

The Albion manager has urged the home crowd to roar the club on to Wembley and a place in history during tonight’s play-off semi-final second leg at The Amex.

Fans were in full voice for Friday night’s 0-0 draw in the first leg against arch-rivals Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.

And club bosses are expecting a record crowd for the return tie, with thousands of Palace fans expected to make the trip down from London.

Poyet told The Argus: “I think it’s going to be another tight game. We need to try to make sure if we create a few chances we take advantage of them.

“We need the supporters. That extra man always helps the players. I am sure we will have that and it is going to be amazing for everybody.

“I think we are in a great position.”

Norman Cook, aka superstar DJ Fatboy Slim, is probably Albion’s most famous fan.

He expects supporters to make a “deafening” noise during tonight’s clash to help propel the Seagulls to Wembley glory.

He said: “I’ll be there cheering them on and I know thousands of others will be there alongside me willing them to do it.

“We’ve waited so long so I don’t think anyone will be holding anything back. When the crowd is on song The Amex really rocks and I know it will be like that on Monday night.

“Of course the fact that it’s Palace makes it even more important that we win.”

Before the match, every Seagulls fan will be given a banner to create a shimmering sea of blue and white to greet the players as they emerge from the tunnel.

As the teams walk on to the pitch, supporters will join opera singer Donna-Marie Hughes in a rousing rendition of Sussex by the Sea.

However Paul Samrah, an Albion fan who was involved heavily in the club’s fight for a new home, said supporters must not let the importance of the match stifle their singing.

He said: “We’re at home and we have got 27,000 fans behind us. But the longer the game wears on, there will be a lot of tension.

“We have done it before on the great nights – and they have passed into history. Anything is possible.

“But we mustn’t let the tension of the evening get to us. We must get behind the team whatever happens. The key thing is not to lose faith, even if we go behind.”

Mike Costello, chairman of the Mid Sussex Seagulls, said he was “supremely confident” that Albion will win tonight’s match without too much trouble.

He said: “On Friday evening I looked at captain Gordon Greer’s face as he led out the team and he looked relaxed, completely at ease. If the players aren’t worried, I’m not worried. I think we’re going to do it.”

Pubs across the city are preparing for another bumper evening as fans without tickets gather to watch the game.

Mark Such, manager of the King and Queen in Brighton, is expecting his pub to be packed to the rafters with cheering Seagulls.

He said: “I’m expecting a huge crowd. We were at capacity on Friday night with a great atmosphere, completely electric. Everyone was in really high spirits.

“It’s a massive game for the club and for the city and we are really looking forward to it.”

However club bosses have warned supporters not to get “carried away by the atmosphere”.

An Albion spokesman said: “Rivalry is fine but when it descends into violence and abuse, people will be arrested.

“At many incidents of violence at local derbies it is not hooligans, but normal fans who get caught up in the emotion of the day and end up ruining their lives.

“Teachers, accountants and businessmen have had their lives destroyed by a moment’s madness. Make sure this is not you. Stay away from any areas of trouble.”