Albion defender Guy Butters insists he has no regrets about signing for the Seagulls.

The former Portsmouth centre half has been out of first team contention since featuring in Steve Coppell's first match in charge against Sheffield United in October.

Butters, reduced to a spectating role for today's south coast derby at Withdean, declared: "I've no regrets at all about signing.

"The lads at the moment are playing really well and we seem to have a good squad now.

"We haven't had the rub of the green the way results have gone. I think we should be higher up the table.

"I never give up hope of getting back in, it's all down to circumstances at the end of the day.

"Although the lads are still bottom of the League they have been keeping clean sheets, so you can't really moan at the moment."

Butters, signed on a free transfer from Gillingham in August, made the first of his seven starts for Albion in the 4-2 defeat at Portsmouth earlier in the season.

He wants Pompey to make it to the Premiership but warns chairman Milan Mandaric will probably walk away if they don't.

Butters, who played more than 150 League games in seven seasons at Fratton Park, said: "They are having a wobble just of late, but they have got strength in depth and the ability to go into the transfer market.

"That's the difference really with a bigger club like Portsmouth compared to Brighton. Sheffield United have gone on an unbeaten run, so they are liable to catch them up, but I hope they go up.

"I've still got a few friends at the club. If they don't go up now they will be really disappointed and I'm not too sure if the chairman is going to hang around for too long."

Albion received a boost as fellow strugglers Sheffield Wednesday lost 3-1 at neighbours United in the Steel City derby.

Wednesday, who remain four points clear of bottom spot but having now played two more games than the Seagulls, led through a 47th-minute Alan Quinn strike.

United hit back through Steve Kabba, Michael Brown and Wayne Allison to move to within three points of Leicester City going into the weekend's programme.