Albion manager Mark McGhee today revealed plans to vigorously defend the club against an FA charge of failing to control their players.

McGhee believes the Seagulls should escape with nothing worse than a warning when he attends a hearing with chairman Dick Knight tomorrow afternoon at the FA's headquarters in Soho Square.

Albion and Stockport have both admitted the offence following the mass confrontation near the end of the 1-1 draw between the teams at Edgeley Park on February 28, but McGhee will argue there were mitigating circumstances.

The incident was sparked by Stockport boss Sammy McIlroy thrusting the ball into the stomach of Albion defender Dan Harding and ended with a booking for goalkeeper Ben Roberts.

McGhee said: "We feel the translation of events was not correct. We were very diplomatic in our response to what happened in terms of Sammy McIlroy.

"It was worse than the referee described, that he (McIlroy) handed the ball back to Dan Harding. I am not saying it was deliberate, but if they are making an issue out of it then fine, so are we.

"If we are going to get dragged in front of the FA then we are going to start to say what we really think about the incident. We feel very strongly about it. I would hope the outcome is it is dismissed with warnings to both sets of players to behave themselves in future. I think that is the very most which should happen. Nobody got hurt.

"Even when Ben Roberts ran across all he did was jump up and down, shout and bawl. He shouldn't have done that and everyone at the time saw how angry I was with him, but it's not as if he punched somebody."

The hearing has been put back until tomorrow and moved from Birmingham to London because Stockport are submitting written evidence.

Albion's superior goal difference means three points from their last three games will secure a play-off place if Luton fail to beat Bournemouth at home tonight.