ALBION fans remain optimistic despite slipping to defeat in the first leg of their bid to reach the Premier League.

More than 27,000 fans crammed into the American Express Community Stadium as the Seagulls fell to a 2-1 loss in the Sky Bet Championship play-off semi-final to Derby County.

Despite the foul weather and the fact the game was being televised, the Albion faithful were still in full voice as they tried to cheer their team on to the final and the chance to play for an expected £100 million boost.

Albion now travel to the iPro Stadium on Sunday and fans are confident they can pull back the one goal deficit.

One fan making the trip north is Adam Murdoch from Brighton.

He said: “We can definitely do it. “The Derby fans were celebrating as if they’d already won it but this is not over by any means.

“One early goal and it’s effectively nil-nil so it’s game on.”

Darren Sharpe, from Brighton said: “It’s still winnable, but we won’t celebrate like they did.

“They are making out as if they are already up.”

Before the game the fans avoided the elements by flooding into the club shop to pick up some extra layers to stay warm.

The North Stand was awash with white and blue and one man in amongst the sea of fans was Karl Gardener, from Brighton.

He said: “I’m obviously disappointed with the loss but we’re being told we’re playing badly – getting to the play-offs is by no means a bad season.

“We can turn this deficit around.”

The referee, Roger East, came in for some criticism from the Albion faithful and one of the biggest cheers of the night came when Jake Forster-Caskey sent the ball high into the night sky having crashed it into the official’s head.

It was not all positive from fans, with Robbie Morgage labeling the performance “embarrassing” and Jesse Akehurst believing the Seagulls have left themselves too much to do in the second leg.

Darren Trussell, from Brighton, said: “I think it comes down to them having a better attack than us. “We failed to penetrate the final third and we keep bringing on wingers who cross the ball badly.”

One youngster who will never forget his night is Callum Clubb, who graced the turf of the Amex as captain’s mascot.

He posed for a photograph with Gordon Greer before kick-off as he celebrated his 10th birthday.

Callum, who was bursting with excitement before the game, thinks the Albion have got what it takes to make the final.