Albion can sustain their Championship promotion challenge, according to the rival manager who has watched their last two matches.

Gary Rowett saw his Birmingham side’s best away record in the division dented by the Seagulls’ 2-1 victory on Saturday.

Rowett also watched Chris Hughton’s pacesetters the previous week at Burnley as a guest for Sky’s live coverage.

He told The Argus: “I think Brighton can stay in there, certainly. A lot of people have suggested their run can’t carry on forever but they are a really, really solid team.

“They’ve got a really good balance. They have invested as well, like some of the other teams, so they are not doing it on a shoestring, but they have been really consistent.

“They are a hard team to play against and have good individuals and goals in them, so I’ve got no reason to suggest they are not going to be up and round there.

“There are some good teams in the Championship, some really strong teams. It has settled down a little bit. If you look at the top five they are probably what most people, maybe apart from Brighton, would have predicted in the summer.”

Birmingham yesterday confirmed Rowett will remain at the club amid speculation linking him with the vacant positions at Fulham and QPR, who host Albion on December 15.

Meanwhile, Albion have revealed they paid agents’ fees totalling over £900,000 for players signed between October last year and September this year.