Hughton '˜very relieved' as patient Albion beat Blackburn

Chris Hughton admitted he was '˜very relieved' to take all three points as Brighton & Hove Albion edged closer to promotion from the Championship.
Chris Hughton, manager of Brighton & Hove Albion (photo: Paul Hazlewood)Chris Hughton, manager of Brighton & Hove Albion (photo: Paul Hazlewood)
Chris Hughton, manager of Brighton & Hove Albion (photo: Paul Hazlewood)

The Albion manager praised his side’s patience as a second-half Glenn Murray strike saw them edge out Blackburn Rovers at the Amex.

It keeps them a point behind Newcastle United in second place in the Championship, but go nine points clear of third-placed Huddersfield, who suffered a late 1-0 defeat at home to Burton.

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Hughton revealed he was pleased to hear the full-time whistle, saying: “I was very relieved and it is because you can’t cover all areas.

“We have been in a similar position. You are behind, it’s the end of the game and they are going very direct and have the big lad Gallagher up who can cause problems.

“They are getting a few free kicks and corners they are always nervy moments. So yes it was a big relief.

“The talk at half-time was about the game opening up and it always does in the second-half period, either by a goal or nature of the game.

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“You are going into periods of the game where people get tired and do not press as well. You are not going to go through 90 minutes of a game without a couple of chances. It was about making sure we stayed solid and increase the tempo of our game.

The Albion boss also said that the most important result of the day was their own victory rather than Huddersfield’s home defeat to Burton.

He added: “It feels like a significant day because we have won more so and I think that is how it’s going to be in these last seven games.

“Each one of these seven games individually will be a massive game and that is how I feel. I am far, far more pleased with our result than the results that have gone our way.

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“I think the division keeps them level headed. If you need something to keep them level headed then it is today’s performance. I thought out of the two teams, particularly because of our second-half performance, if you had to say one team that deserved to win then it was more us than them, but there wasn’t a lot in it.

“There is no bigger leveller than that, there is no big leveller than losing at Leeds in our last game. That’s the thing that keeps them grounded.”