The promotion to the captaincy of Lewis Dunk for Albion's last two matches is a telling indicator of a weakness in the squad Sami Hyypia is trying to haul out of relegation trouble.

This is not a criticism of Dunk, quite the opposite.

The 23-year-old centre-half has been Albion's most consistent performer so far this season.

But when Hyypia assessed his captaincy options for Fulham's visit to the Amex in the absence of the injured Gordon Greer, there were precious few candidates.

Only one other, in fact, in the starting line-up. Bruno, the experienced Spanish right-back.

Inigo Calderon, Greer's customary deputy, was on the bench.

Aaron Hughes, Greer's vastly experienced replacement, is not a natural leader like his predecessor Matt Upson.

Cast your mind back to last season, when Albion over-achieved to finish in the top six under Oscar Garcia.

The squad contained strong characters in Upson, Stephen Ward and his under-estimated fellow Irishman Keith Andrews. They were all big influences in the dressing room.

Andrews made more than 30 Championship appearances for Oscar. Significantly, half of them were from March onwards.

When the heat was really on in the chase for a play-off place, Oscar depended on a player who knows the game, knew what was required out on the pitch without having to be told.

Andrews is particularly relevant in Albion's current predicament, because it is in the midfield engine room where the Albion squad has a lack of nous.

The loss of the unfortunate Andrew Crofts since early October to further serious knee damage has been especially cruel for Hyypia in this respect.

Jake Forster-Caskey and Gary Gardner were overwhelmed at Derby on Saturday as the leaders put the game to bed in the opening 20 minutes.

The introduction of Rohan Ince stemmed the bleeding but, like Forster-Caskey and Gardner, he is still learning the game.

Forster-Caskey is only 20, on-loan Gardner and Ince both 22. They have only 100-plus Championship appearances between them.

They need help. It is asking a lot for them to lead Albion out of the mire in the midfield battleground.

The trouble is, with Crofts sidelined again, the Seagulls no longer have an Andrews in their ranks.

Or, going further back, a Dean Hammond, Charlie Oatway, Paul Rogers or Richard Carpenter.

Hyypia would love to have that type of player to call upon right now.