James Tunnicliffe has urged Albion to pick up six Christmas points and stave off any new year relegation fears.

The big central defender is targeting wins at home to Leyton Orient on Boxing Day and at Wycombe next Monday as the Seagulls face two festive six-pointers.

He would love to avoid a springtime of relegation worry similar to that suffered by the Withdean faithful earlier this year.

Tunnicliffe, a regular at the back since Gus Poyet’s arrival, said: “We don’t want to be going into the second half of the season struggling.

“Boxing Day is a definite must-win game. We can’t even be dropping two points.

“I’ve been in this position when you come down to the last two months and you need to win six of the last eight games to stay up.

“It was one of my first years at Stockport. At Christmas we were four or five points adrift at the bottom of League Two.

“Then Jim Gannon came in and we went on a pretty decent run.

“It came down to the last game of the season which we drew but fortunately the other results went well for us.

“At the time it prayed on our minds but it’s an experience I’ve learned from massively.

“You don’t want that on your mind.

“If we can pick up six points and then go into the FA Cup, which is another very winnable game, hopefully we push on in January.”

Albion know a two-goal win will take them level with Orient on points, goal difference and goals scored while anything better will ensure they finish Boxing Day clear of the drop zone.

Tunnicliffe stressed the need for a good start against the O’s and added: “In games where we have gone in front or are level at half-time we have gone on to win.

“I thought we started well at Swindon.

“It was just unfortunate with the penalty, whether you thought it was a penalty or not, but Boxing Day is where it all starts now.”