CLUB captain Nicky Forster has labelled Albion’s festive fixtures against fellow strugglers Leyton Orient and Wycombe Wanderers as “must-win games”.

Forster’s 12th goal of the season was not enough to save the Seagulls from a 2-1 defeat at Swindon on Saturday.

Rock-bottom Stockport were the only other losers in the bottom nine and Albion are now three points adrift of safety towards the foot of League One.

Leyton Orient, the side immediately above them, visit Withdean on Boxing Day. Wycombe, the hosts 48 hours later, have closed to within two points of Gus Poyet’s team.

Forster admitted: “We have got two games in quick succession and they are must-win games, we know that. We have got to go and win both of them.

“We know how important they are, because if you start losing touch then you have got a mountain to climb.”

Poyet has also acknowledged the significance of the next two matches following a fifth defeat out of nine under his command.

He said: “There is nothing to hide. Now we need to win those two games and if we don’t we are going to be in trouble.

“We’ve had chances in the last two games. We have been the better team by far but we haven’t won and we have nobody to blame but ourselves.

“It is coming to the point where everything I think and want to put into a game doesn’t matter now, it’s about points.

“There are no excuses. We have only got one player out injured (Colin Hawkins), so it’s up to us.”

Poyet will have to make a midfield change against Orient, as Gary Dicker is suspended after his fifth booking of the season.