Jason Steele has welcomed Albion’s back-to-back Premier League clean sheets – but he would rather be winning matches.

His head coach Roberto De Zerbi has also played down the importance of a shut-out.

Steele has kept goal in his side’s back-to-back 0-0 draws with West Ham and Wolves.

The Seagulls had not previously managed a shut-out in the Prem this term.

Steele said: “I think I said last time that stats don’t mean anything to us.

“We’re about winning as a team. I’d rather have won 3-2, trust me.”

De Zerbi had previously said his team will concede goals partly because of their attacking emphasis.

But he has also been critical of the way they have been breached at times.

Albion did not concede in the last seven hours of playing time in the Europa League but nils had been elusive in the league.

De Zerbi told reporters: “We are working in the same way as before.

“Sometimes you are lucky and you don’t concede a goal and sometimes you concede a goal in a bad way or an unlucky way.

“Clean sheet is for the journalists, not my problem.

“I prefer to win the game 2-1 - or 4-0!”