Albion manager Mark McGhee warned his players today to brace themselves for a Burnley backlash.

Clarets boss Steve Cotterill lambasted his team for a limp display at Gillingham last Saturday and McGhee fears that could rebound on the relegation-haunted Seagulls at Turf Moor tomorrow.

Albion's penultimate away game, together with the visit to already relegated Rotherham, appear to offer the most viable routes to Championship survival as Burnley are in the mid-table comfort zone.

"If Burnley found themselves two down at Ipswich then they would be in danger of not having any desire to get back," McGhee said. "It's different against us. We aren't in the same class as Ipswich and cannot expect any help from their attitude.

"Losing at Gillingham wasn't a surprise because they were up against their old manager Stan Ternent and because of the run Gillingham have been on. It will be a major result if we get one."

Albion have not enjoyed a lead since their last victory, at home to Millwall at the end of February. McGhee believes landing the first blow could make all the difference.

"If we score first I think we will be hard to beat because we can change the team around a 1-0 lead," he said.

"We won't automatically go with a five again at the back, just because we got a result against Leicester.

"We've got to look at Ade Akinbiyi for them and Virgs (Adam Virgo) for instance, whether he should be playing at the back. That is definitely an option, but we have also got to give ourselves the best possible chance of scoring first."