Albion are suffering from the drain game.
And nowhere is it hurting them more than in the central midfield battleground.
Beram Kayal and Dale Stephens, by common consent, are one of the best partnerships in the Championship.
They have been influential and inspirational all season.
But they are paying the price of being so heavily relied upon.
Their performances have still been good during Albion's recent slump in form, just not quite so obviously good as they were before.
This is understandable when you consider their sapping workload.
Nobody in the Albion camp, taking into account international appearances as well for Israel, has played more matches this season than Kayal.
Friday's 1-0 defeat against Wolves at the Amex was his 28th game of the season, crammed into 21 weeks.
Nearly all of them have been full games. Kayal was so surprised to be withdrawn by Chris Hughton in the second half against Ipswich last week that he kicked a water bottle in frustration.
Kayal and Stephens top the list of players Hughton can least afford to be without.
The impact of their simultaneous absence against Preston at the Amex in October was blatant.
Albion could only draw 0-0 with a struggling side during a period when they were still in prime form.
It is the only Championship fixture either of them have missed. According to the search engine Squawka, Kayal has already played 2,134 minutes for Albion this season, Stephens 2,156 minutes.
Kayal admitted: "I think we play too many games. We are playing from the beginning of the season, from pre-season as well together. I think we have done a good job for the team.
"Every time the manager wants us to play, we love to play and we have the hunger to play in every minute in every game and every minute.
"But of course we need to find a moment to get a break, especially with me playing the international games. Maybe this week we will have a good opportunity to get a break."
The FA Cup diversion could not have come at a better time for Kayal and Stephens. Hughton is sure to rest them for Saturday's third round tie at Hull, to save their legs for away games at Rotherham and Blackburn the following week.
Kayal is not immune to the unique demands of British football in the winter after five years at Celtic.
He played 42 games for them in 2012-13, so he is equipped to cope with the rigours of the Championship, although in Glasgow the demands were not quite the same.
"They didn't have as many games in a row as I've had here in Brighton," Kayal said. "I had a lot of injuries there, so thank God now I am fit and ready to play every minute.
"At Celtic as well we had a bigger squad. We are unlucky to have so many injuries, key players missing at the same time. It hasn't helped us.
"We are just waiting for these players to come back and help us."
Other factors, apart from fatigue, have contributed to Albion's six-match sequence without a win.
The rub of the green was with them earlier in the season. Now, as so often happens when you are stuck in a poor run, fortune is going against them.
Kayal said: "We were unlucky a few weeks ago when we drew in the last minute against Derby with a penalty, which I didn’t think was one.
"On Tuesday (against Ipswich), Jamie Murphy scored a goal which was not offside.
"We have been a bit unlucky but we need to be strong. There are enough good characters in the dressing room. We believe in ourselves and in every player in the squad."
Albion's form reversal has included a hat-trick of home defeats on an Amex pitch which is not in great shape.
Bruno, who in company with goalkeeper David Stockdale has played in every Championship game this season, remarked after the Wolves defeat: "It doesn’t help us because we need to play quick. Playing on pitches like this, you need to take an extra touch."
Kayal said: "I agree with Bruno 100 per cent. I think it's not looking good, heavy. It's everywhere in England at the moment, the weather.
"Of course it doesn't help us to play our normal game, controlling the game in the middle and at the back, so it's a little bit tough for us."
Even when he is not quite at his best, Kayal remains a formidable force. Wolves manager Kenny Jackett said after his side's backs-to-the-wall win: "On the ball, Kayal was a stand-out player."
The plaudit was scant consolation to the combative 27-year-old as he chewed over the latest setback to Albion's promotion challenge.
"It's nice to hear things like that from the other manager but I was disappointed with the result," Kayal said. "I try to bring my best energy and quality to every game I play."
There have been too many games for Kayal and his accomplice Stephens to play. Albion need them refreshed to drive the team on again when the Championship campaign resumes at Rotherham a week tomorrow.
Original article
And nowhere is it hurting them more than in the central midfield battleground.
Beram Kayal and Dale Stephens, by common consent, are one of the best partnerships in the Championship.
They have been influential and inspirational all season.
But they are paying the price of being so heavily relied upon.
Their performances have still been good during Albion's recent slump in form, just not quite so obviously good as they were before.
This is understandable when you consider their sapping workload.
Nobody in the Albion camp, taking into account international appearances as well for Israel, has played more matches this season than Kayal.
Friday's 1-0 defeat against Wolves at the Amex was his 28th game of the season, crammed into 21 weeks.
Nearly all of them have been full games. Kayal was so surprised to be withdrawn by Chris Hughton in the second half against Ipswich last week that he kicked a water bottle in frustration.
Kayal and Stephens top the list of players Hughton can least afford to be without.
The impact of their simultaneous absence against Preston at the Amex in October was blatant.
Albion could only draw 0-0 with a struggling side during a period when they were still in prime form.
It is the only Championship fixture either of them have missed. According to the search engine Squawka, Kayal has already played 2,134 minutes for Albion this season, Stephens 2,156 minutes.
Kayal admitted: "I think we play too many games. We are playing from the beginning of the season, from pre-season as well together. I think we have done a good job for the team.
"Every time the manager wants us to play, we love to play and we have the hunger to play in every minute in every game and every minute.
"But of course we need to find a moment to get a break, especially with me playing the international games. Maybe this week we will have a good opportunity to get a break."
The FA Cup diversion could not have come at a better time for Kayal and Stephens. Hughton is sure to rest them for Saturday's third round tie at Hull, to save their legs for away games at Rotherham and Blackburn the following week.
Kayal is not immune to the unique demands of British football in the winter after five years at Celtic.
He played 42 games for them in 2012-13, so he is equipped to cope with the rigours of the Championship, although in Glasgow the demands were not quite the same.
"They didn't have as many games in a row as I've had here in Brighton," Kayal said. "I had a lot of injuries there, so thank God now I am fit and ready to play every minute.
"At Celtic as well we had a bigger squad. We are unlucky to have so many injuries, key players missing at the same time. It hasn't helped us.
"We are just waiting for these players to come back and help us."
Other factors, apart from fatigue, have contributed to Albion's six-match sequence without a win.
The rub of the green was with them earlier in the season. Now, as so often happens when you are stuck in a poor run, fortune is going against them.
Kayal said: "We were unlucky a few weeks ago when we drew in the last minute against Derby with a penalty, which I didn’t think was one.
"On Tuesday (against Ipswich), Jamie Murphy scored a goal which was not offside.
"We have been a bit unlucky but we need to be strong. There are enough good characters in the dressing room. We believe in ourselves and in every player in the squad."
Albion's form reversal has included a hat-trick of home defeats on an Amex pitch which is not in great shape.
Bruno, who in company with goalkeeper David Stockdale has played in every Championship game this season, remarked after the Wolves defeat: "It doesn’t help us because we need to play quick. Playing on pitches like this, you need to take an extra touch."
Kayal said: "I agree with Bruno 100 per cent. I think it's not looking good, heavy. It's everywhere in England at the moment, the weather.
"Of course it doesn't help us to play our normal game, controlling the game in the middle and at the back, so it's a little bit tough for us."
Even when he is not quite at his best, Kayal remains a formidable force. Wolves manager Kenny Jackett said after his side's backs-to-the-wall win: "On the ball, Kayal was a stand-out player."
The plaudit was scant consolation to the combative 27-year-old as he chewed over the latest setback to Albion's promotion challenge.
"It's nice to hear things like that from the other manager but I was disappointed with the result," Kayal said. "I try to bring my best energy and quality to every game I play."
There have been too many games for Kayal and his accomplice Stephens to play. Albion need them refreshed to drive the team on again when the Championship campaign resumes at Rotherham a week tomorrow.
Original article