By accident and/or design, Albion and Norwich have pursued their Premier League ambitions in contrasting ways.

The Seagulls have hung on in there, aware every season among the elite can be precious learning time.

Pretty much every win has felt like a big deal but there have been long, dispiriting periods without such highs.

While obviously not wanting to lose games and suffer relegation, the Canaries appear to been more prepared to take the drop and come back up again.

They have done that second bit brilliantly, dominating the Championship last season in a way in which that most awkward of divisions does not like to be dominated.

Two titles in three years. Very much highs and lows compared to constant progress.

Since the summer of 2018, Norwich’s season-by-season tally of wins in the league has read 27, 5, 29, 0.

Albion’s league win totals in that time have been 8, 9, 9, 4.

That is a lot more wins for the Canaries in three-and-a-bit seasons, with 59 compared to 30.

But, in terms of Premier League wins, the Seagulls take it by an emphatic 30-5 (not to mention the nine they had in 2017-18 before Norwich came up).

Not that you only learn when you win, course. Far from it.

But you have to win enough matches to stay up and gain that Prem know-how, experience, reputation, respect, self-belief bit by bit.

Potter spoke about the long game when asked why Albion are picking up more points this term (and, yes, it’s early days).

He suggested more wisdom in making the most of their chances could be key.

The Seagulls boss said: “Well, it sounds simple, doesn’t it, but we’ve just scored when we’ve had the opportunities to do - more so than previously.

“It sounds simplistic but it has also been a bit of a process the team has gone through.

“When we first came, the team had finished with 36 points the season before and we tried to change the playing style, which can take a bit of time in terms of not just performance but results. “We’re still not there yet in terms of being really consistent in terms of our performances and results.

“But we’ve taken steps, and last year was probably a really good learning experience for us all. A real development experience.

“Our performances were good, we were playing well in lots of games and we didn’t get the points.

“You have to deal with that, and all the feelings which come with that.

“That’s actually the time that you grow and develop as a player and as a team.”

Potter suggested there is no short cut when it comes to building that Prem expertise.

He added: “I think lots of the players have got more mature or more used to the level.

“They understand more about what’s required and they are getting the margins on their side.

“We’ve only played seven games, it’s a small sample, so I’m not getting too carried away.

“We need to keep working with the team, keep fighting for each other, but what I see every day, I have no doubts at all that will happen.”

Norwich’s results over the last three-and-a-bit seasons suggest the chasm between the Premier League and Championship is unmanageable.

What is going on elsewhere indicates otherwise.

Asked about the gap in standard, Potter said: “You could look at how Brentford have gone and make a counter-argument to that.

“I think the gap between the Championship and the Premier League is big.

“The Championship is still difficult and still brings its own challenges but I think the Premier League is a completely different animal in many ways.

“They’ve had a tough start and, when you have a tough start, you can be under a bit of pressure.

“There’s a story there already in terms of not winning games.

“From our perspective, we’ve been there a little bit as well. You just have to deal with it and carry on working.

“There’s good people at Norwich.

“I’m pretty sure they’ll be doing that, which is getting on with the job, working hard and trying to change it around.”

Last time Albion fans travelled to Carrow Road, they were popping Champagne corks and celebrating the fact promotion had been secured earlier in the week.

The Argus:

MATIAS NORMANN'S BRIEF ALBION CAREER - AND THE TEAM WHO BEAT BENFICA

They have not looked back since.

Well, maybe just the occasional nervous glance over their shoulders at times.

But they would not be football fans if they did not feel slightly wary today of the fact Norwich have not won yet.

Every team wins a game at some point.

Potter said: “They are here on merit.

“They are here because they deserve to be and they will want to get that win as soon as they can.

“They will look at this game as a chance to take points.

“We have to make sure we’re ready.”