Defender Adam El-Abd explained how Albion's opening day defeat to Hull helped Albion in their goalless draw at Pride Park.
Derby County held Gus Poyet's side to their second stalemate of the season and the Egyptian international told seagulls.co.uk, "After Hull we had a chat in the dressing room about being away from home with the game at 0-0 with ten minutes to go, and how maybe we need to take the point.
"By being a little bit less aggressive in winning the ball we stay goalside to players, rather than stepping in front.
"I'm not saying that we don't want to win the game, and if the chance arises for us to win the game then we take it, but we have to bear in mind that we are away from home and it is not a bad point.
"The Hull game was on our minds today so we made sure we took at least a point and that shows signs of improvement.
"We played so well and probably had the better of that game in Hull, but we got sucker punched in the last couple of minutes. We made sure that didn't happen today."
Albion kept their fourth clean sheet of the season against Nigel Clough's Rams side and Poyet's men still boast the meanest defence in the league.
"It is a solid unit. With have a great team shape with the big man [Tomasz Kuszczak] behind us, who is on fire and Liam in front of us.
"Defensively we are doing well but we can still improve and we are always striving to get better. Not only defensively but also with our contribution on the ball and in the attacking areas.
"The first ten games have been good and we will have the international break now and look to improve after it."
Meanwhile David Lopez made his first start for the Albion since his deadline day move, and El-Abd has been impressed with the former Athletic Bilbao player.
"He showed his quality today and he has come from immense pedigree. His CV speaks for itself. He showed exactly the class he has at times and I am sure the more game time he gets the more he will show us."
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