Dean Hammond has tipped Albion to make another late escape from relegation.

Colchester’s captain was instrumental in the Seagulls’ Championship survival four seasons ago.

Hammond scored three goals in the last four games, including two against West Ham, as Mark McGhee’s side stayed up with a last-day equaliser by Adam Virgo at home to Ipswich.

The midfielder believes the club he still cherishes can pull it off again in League One after Monday’s 1-0 win at Colchester.

Hammond said: “If they play like that every week then they will stay up, no problem. I’ve always thought they will.

“The players they have got are too good to go down. If they have the fighting spirit they showed against us and the crowd behind them – the support was fantastic – then there shouldn’t be a problem.

“All of their players played for the shirt. They were proud to play for Brighton and that showed. They chased the ball, won more headers and tackles than us.

“They were solid at the back, where Elphs and Virgs were different class. They had willing runners up front with Harty and Lloyd Owusu, and then you have got the quality of Coxy.

“I think they’ve just had a season of injuries at the wrong time to key players and a change of manager but I think they will be fine.”

Colchester had nothing but pride to play for and Albion’s remaining matches are also against sides in no-man’s- land – Oldham, Bristol Rovers, Huddersfield and Stockport.

Hammond said: “They have got teams in mid-table and you can get trapped into thinking in that situation that the season is done.

“It can also go the other way. Because they have got nothing to play for they can be relaxed, so they could be dangerous, but once Brighton were ahead against us we never looked like scoring.”

Hammond made an acrimonious move to Colchester at the end of the January 2008 transfer window after falling out with chairman Dick Knight over new contract talks.

The Seagulls’ former skipper believes Dean Wilkins should not have been ditched as manager last summer.

Hammond said: “I’ve got my own views on things and they should not be where they are.

“They finished seventh last season and the club and the team were progressing and they were building something but that’s not down to me.

“People have different opinions at the club and things changed in the summer and it has just been a difficult season for them.

“Whatever happened at Brighton happened. That is in the past.

“The way I left was difficult but I love the club and I love Brighton. It’s my home town club but I’m happy at Colchester now.

“I am really enjoying it. It’s a great club, a club that is going somewhere.

“We’ve got a new stadium, an ambitious manager and an ambitious chairman who is willing to put his money where his mouth is.”