It is meant to inspire, but in Albion's case it backfired spectacularly.

The players are abandoning the pre-match huddle after a disastrous experiment.

Many of the Seagulls' Second Division rivals gather together for a spot of male bonding just before kick-off.

Albion used the technique themselves before last Saturday's home game against Bristol City and were thrashed 4-1.

Captain Danny Cullip said: "We won't be doing it again. Because of the way things have been going we got ourselves together for a little reminder of the things we needed to do, but it obviously went in one ear and out the other."

Cullip is still depending on Albion's renowned team spirit to pull them out of their form slump.

"All of us have got to stick together and put things right," he said. "It's not down to one person and it's definitely not down to the manager. We are the ones that go out on the park and at the moment it isn't good enough."