Markus Suttner is confident of avoiding a relegation double-whammy with Albion.

The Austrian defender and German team-mate Pascal Gross suffered that sinking feeling from the Bundesliga with Igolstadt last season.

One win in 12 games has raised fears of an immediate return to the Championship from the Premier League for the Seagulls, but Suttner (below) refuses to contemplate thoughts of a second successive top flight disappointment.

The Argus: He said: "It's not the same situation. In Ingolstadt we had a bad start with seven losses, then we were not good enough to make up the points.

"Here, everything is possible. We are in the middle of the table so it's not a bad situation.

"There are teams all close together. We have to look at ourselves, not look at the other teams, concentrate on our performance, and if that is right we'll get the points.

"If you only counted the games with the new trainer (at Ingolstadt) we were in 12th position, so it was a good run and I also believed there. We are not in nith position any more but I don't think about going down because we have enough quality and enough games."

Suttner has brought left-back competition to Albion with Gaetan Bong since his summer switch and classical culture to the dressing room.

He prepared for Albion's last home League game against Bournemouth, on New Year's Day, in unusual style at The Dome in Brighton.

He told The Argus: "I was at a New Year's concert in the afternoon with my wife, because I also like culture.

"Then I went home and went to bed at ten o'clock, so I didn't recognise midnight!

"It was a Viennese gala, classic music, many things from Strauss. I know all the songs because in Germany there are so many theatres, classic music, operas, everything.

"It was nice to have a little bit of a feeling of home. I don't know if it's typical or not. I like to see everything. I saw everything in my home town. In Vienna, also Ingolstadt, in Munich. I visited cultural things."

Manager Chris Hughton has found it tough to choose between Suttner's attacking instincts and the defensive dependability of Bong (below).

The Argus: Suttner has started 12 of Albion's 23 Premier League fixtures, one more than former Cameroon international Bong.

He said: "The first weeks I had to adapt to the League and improve myself, because it's a different game from Germany and Austria.

"I think it's getting better and better. We have good competition on the lefthand side with Bong and me.

"I think I have done well in my last games but I think I can also improve in the offence, because normally I have a few assists and goals per season. I hope it will come soon.

"There's no surprise, everybody knows how the Premier League is. It is how everybody speaks about it, it's tough, physical and different tactics from Germany. We have done well but we've had a tough period and now we have to get some points.

"Everybody wants to play every game, that's normal, but we have a good squad with good competition. We have no problem with each other (Bong), what's best for the team is best for us."

Suttner's appearances included the 2-0 defeat by Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Boxing Day, where Albion continued their recurring bad habit of conceding goals from set pieces.

Both Chelsea goals came at the start of the second half, an Alvaro Morata header from a cross and a Marco Alonso header from a corner.

Albion aim for quickfire compensation at the Amex tomorrow (12.30) to boost the survival bid.

Suttner said: "We have to be confident with the ball. We know we will be more on the defensive. We had a good period in the first half with the ball (at Chelsea) and we have to be confident also in the final third.

"You saw how they scored their goals. We have to pay attention to set plays and we also have to block the crosses.

"We work hard on it (defending corners). We analyse things. I think it's not a real weakness. We have to concentrate and we will make it better.

"For me it's not a big difference (playing home or away). We've had a good run at home, we haven't lost many games, so perhaps there's a chance."