Graham Potter is hoping for a response after a poor showing against Burnley last weekGraham Potter is hoping for a response after a poor showing against Burnley last week
Graham Potter is hoping for a response after a poor showing against Burnley last week

NINE Brighton players walking selection tightrope ahead of Aston Villa after Graham Potter's Burnley admission

Brighton and Hove Albion players will be fighting for their places ahead of Aston Villa after a poor Premier League showing last time out against Burnley

Graham Potter said he is confident his team can hit back following a rare below-par display in their 3-0 home loss to Burnley last week.

Potter's team were dominated by Sean Dyche's relegation strugglers as Albion slipped to their sixth Premier League loss of the season.

A number of players struggled in the defeat which will give the head coach plenty to ponder this week as he prepares his squad to face Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa.

Potter will welcome back skipper Lewis Dunk following his suspension and key defender Adam Webster is also likely to be available as he recovers from a groin issue.

After Burnley, the Albion head coach admitted the balance of the team didn't look right and there could also be some personnel changes after a leggy and lacklustre display.

He said: “From a performance perspective it was one of the worst we have had since I have been here.

“It doesn’t happen very often. The last couple of years, the level of performance has been such that we are a bit shocked at the moment.

“That probably tells you something about the work we have done over a consistent period of time.

“I am not going to throw everything out of the window because of one bad game.

“The boys are honest, professional, committed.

“They know they weren’t quite good enough and then it is on us to try and improve.”

Potter was also displeased with the heated dispute between his goalkeeper Rob Sanchez and defender Shane Duffy during the first half. The experienced Duffy may well miss out against Villa, especially with Dunk and Webster likely to return.

Villa could well be a tricky match for Albion as Steven Gerrard will have his team fired up as they arrive on the back of two defeats to Newcastle and Watford.

Gerrard enjoyed a 2-0 victory against Albion on his first match in charge at Villa Park back in November and will be keen to record a double over Potter's men.

Villa are 12th in the league standings - three places and six points behind Albion - and will be boosted by the return of defender Ezri Konsa from suspension, while Bertrand Traoré could be available as he continues his recovery from a hamstring problem.

Scroll down and click through to see which Brighton players are fighting for their spot after a Burnley horror.