Albion hard man Adam El-Abd is staring at his THIRD ban of the season.

The Seagulls' fierce-tackling midfielder will be suspended for two matches if he is booked again at Brentford tomorrow.

El-Abd has already been banned for a red card at Nottingham Forest in August and accumulating five cautions by the end of November.

He collected his ninth yellow card of the campaign in last Saturday's second successive 0-0 home draw against Rotherham, one short of another automatic punishment.

El-Abd's place in the team is under threat not just from referees but also new French signing Alexis Bertin.

The 26-year-old drafted in from Le Havre for the rest of the season is pushing for his full debut at Griffin Park but El-Abd is happy to have him on board.

"It's all welcome competition, because we've got a thin squad really, both in terms of experience and numbers," he said.

"He's a good lad and I'm not going to start moaning when the gaffer brings in competition for players, that's healthy.

"His English is limited at the moment. Hopefully he is going to learn, because I'm miming and it's not that easy to get my point across! But he's doing his best and I'm sure he is going to be a good addition to the squad."

Bertin's fellow countryman Zoumana Bakayogo, an unused substitute in the last two matches, is out of the squad with an ankle injury sustained in training.

Albion have not let in a goal in their last three League outings but they have also failed to score in the last three games in all competitions.

El-Abd said: "We've built a solid foundation where we are not conceding goals and we are creating chances.

"Sooner or later they are going to start going in and if we remain solid and organised there is no reason why we cannot turn the draws into wins."