Sami Hyypia has come out fighting and pledged to stay positive in his quest to haul Albion out of relegation trouble.

The third-bottom Seagulls head to mid-table Wolves on Saturday knowing a first away win since August could dramatically improve their plight at the wrong end of the table.

Wigan and Rotherham, the sides immediately below and above Hyypia’s strugglers, face each other in Lancashire.

Two more of the bottom seven, Millwall and Bolton, collide head-on at The Den tomorrow night, while Leeds visit Nottingham Forest in a Saturday tea-time kick-off.

Hyypia has taken stock of last Friday’s 1-0 home defeat by Millwall, when he came under heavy fire from fans in a toxic atmosphere at the Amex.

The Finn, in his first interview since Albion’s third defeat on the trot, told The Argus: “Friday after the game was very difficult, with the crowd situation and everything.

“I’ve had a few days now to think about it and I’ve said before as well that the only way to continue and go forward is the positive way and that’s what I intend to do.

“When I start to be negative and to do things that don’t help the team then I would realise that and I wouldn’t be here any more.

“I will do everything I can for the sake of the team, that the team has the peace and the confidence and the power to produce a performance on the pitch that will turn it around.”

Midfielder Dale Stephens, sidelined since April by ankle ligament and nerve damage, could at last be on the road to recovery, boosting Hyypia’s options in the new year.

Hyypia said: “I have seen him outside now, so that’s very promising. He hasn’t been training with us yet but I have seen him training with the physios.

“Hopefully he can train pain-free and be back with us soon.”