Club news

Hughton: We Showed Character To Hit Back

By Kieran Cleeves • 17 April 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton highlighted the character shown by his players to promptly react to Tottenham Hotspur’s opening goal at the Amex Stadium, as the Seagulls claimed a point in a 1-1 draw this evening.

Albion extended the gap to the Premier League relegation zone to eight points, and Hughton felt his team showed the concentration needed to keep their opponents at bay throughout a hard-working performance on the south coast.

He said, “It’s a step [towards safety] and what I was most delighted with was the character of the team.

“To concede when we did, which was probably our own fault with the mistakes we made, it was great to see the reaction from the players.

“We played a big part in the game and showed great character and quality in the important areas when we needed to.

“Against these sides, you’ve got to give everything. If that percentage is below trying your best, they’ve got the ability to really hurt you.

“It’s about concentration - not allowing the quality that they’ve got to have really good opportunities. We limited them to chances, but no real clear-cut chances.”

Harry Kane opened the scoring for Spurs, before Pascal Gross equalised from the penalty spot minutes later, and Hughton commented on the eye-catching ability of this evening’s visitors to the Amex.

“They have such quality and sometimes unless you’re there watching them at ground level, you can’t fully appreciate that.

“The speed and the quality that they’ve got and their appreciation of space, you’ve got to be disciplined around that.

“Probably in the first half, in the periods we didn’t play so well, we gave the ball away too readily - and when you give the ball away too readily to these teams, they can hurt you.

“But we also had some good spells where we kept the ball and that’s what you have to do, because that eats up the time as well.”

Over 30,000 supporters watched Albion claim another point at the Amex, and Hughton was full of praise for the club’s supporters, who were in good voice throughout a tense match against Mauricio Pochettino’s men.

“They’ve been excellent all season and our performances at home over the season have been good. We’ve only lost four games here and three of those were to the big six.

“We’ve needed them - and with any support, if they see an effort and determination from the team, they react to that as well and that’s what we got.”