Skipper Adam Virgo has called on fans to show patience as Albion plan the long climb up the table.

The Seagulls are back to 23rd in League One after Saturday’s results but will be feeling a lot better about themselves as they report for training this morning thanks to Friday’s battling 1-1 draw at Millwall.

Virgo admits victory at home to Wycombe on Saturday is a must but insists the signs are still there for a season of progress.

He said: “I’m so happy for the players.

“We’ve come under a little bit of criticism recently and the manager as well but credit to the fans.

“They kept behind us and I’ve got a good vibe about this season.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to be patient in football.

“But if people can stay behind us and keep believing in what the manager and chairman want to do, then the club is only going to have a bright future.”

He added: “We have had 17 players released and seven or eight brought in.

“Sometimes it clicks. If you look at Man City, they have brought a lot of players in and it has come together straight away.

“For us, this season will be a process of building.

“If we can finish as well as possible, then hopefully the season after we will have an established team and squad to really move forward.”

Albion have already lost at home to Walsall and Stockport, as well as crashing 7-1 at Huddersfield.

However Liam Dickinson and Nicky Forster have bagged four goals between them in the last three games. Gary Hart returned from injury as substitute at The Den and boss Russell Slade plans further transfer activity.

Virgo said: “We can’t excuse some of the performances so far. They haven’t been good enough.

“But I think you saw Millwall are going to be a good team, going forwards into the play-offs possibly, and I felt for a good period of the game we outplayed them.

“We’ve tried to stay as positive as possible.

“When you lose 7-1 and 4-2 and then go to Millwall, people think the writing is on the wall after five minutes when you go one down.

“But there is resilience in the squad. I think everyone can see their performances are getting better.

“Liam is getting better, Fozzy is getting his fitness back again, Harty is coming back into the team and Elliott (Bennett) is a new player. I could go on and on.”