Albion chairman Tony Bloom has revealed he never doubted manager Gus Poyet.

The Seagulls lost five of their first seven League One games under Poyet last season but he celebrates his first anniversary tomorrow with his side eight points clear at the top of the table.

Bloom, speaking in an exclusive two-part interview in The Argus on Wednesday and Thursday, said: "He inherited a team which was conceding a lot of goals and was not that confident going into matches.

"Although we were still struggling near the bottom in January, results and performances were reasonable and I expected them to improve, as they did, and for us to progress."