Hughton: We're Adapting Well At This Level

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton believes his team are adapting well to the quality of the Premier League, but stressed the importance of not getting too comfortable as the season moves into the final 11 matches.

The Seagulls stretched their unbeaten run to four games with a 1-1 draw against Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium on Saturday, and Hughton thinks his players have shown they belong in England’s top flight in the majority of matches this season.

He said, “I think we have [felt at home] all season. Every game is a difficult - I can’t think of an easy game that we’ve had, even the ones that we’ve won.

“It’s just the levels. We’ve had two bigger defeats, which are Liverpool and Chelsea, and in neither of those two were we embarrassed in the game.

“We’ve felt comfortable in it [the division], but you don’t want to feel too comfortable, because it’s going to be a very tough end to the season for a lot of teams.”

Mathew Ryan’s late penalty save allowed the Seagulls to hold on for a point against the Potters, but Hughton admitted his disappointment at not being able to take all three points back to Sussex.

“There’s a bit of frustration because we got into some really good areas. Davy Propper probably got into more forward areas than he has done for a while.

“The chance at the end that he had, he probably could have shown a little bit more composure.

“We were up against a changed side that are playing in a different way. It’s a difficult place to come, particularly with the way they’re playing.

“We were under pressure in that second half at times, but I felt we coped with it very well. They had the header off the line, but I can’t think of too many clear-cut chances that they created.

"I’m frustrated that we didn’t come away with all three, as the away team.”