Club news

Murray Proving His Premier League Quality

By Alex Stedman • 24 February 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion striker Glenn Murray never had any doubts about performing in the top flight, with his goal tally now in double figures for the Premier League campaign.

Scoring the opening goal against West Ham United at the Amex Stadium three weeks ago took the striker onto a tally of 10 for the season – meaning it’s the forward's best goalscoring campaign to date in the top flight.

He said, “The only thing I felt I had to prove was to myself in that I could score consistently at this level. 

“I always believed I could if I was given the opportunity, and it’s my best return in the top flight – but this is the biggest opportunity I’ve been given as well. 

“I believe that given the opportunity, I’ve always produced at this level.

A further look into the statistics shows that Murray is the top goalscorer for teams outside of the top nine places in the Premier League – but he stressed that the overall aim must be for the Seagulls to stay in the division.

“That statistic is obviously pleasing but it’s about more than that because it’s about staying in the division. 

“I always want to improve and I always want more and despite my tally so far I feel like I’ve missed opportunities as well in matches.

“I think we need to create more opportunities too – it’s a difficult balance when you’re a new club to this division because you always have to weigh up how much you come out and play and how much you defend. 

“I think the thing with mostly newly-promoted sides I’ve played for is to keep the back door shut rather than outscore teams – so as a striker in those sides it’s difficult.” 

With 11 games left in the Premier League season, just six points separates Stoke City in 19th and AFC Bournemouth in 10th, and the forward admits he has never known a survival battle as tight as this one.

“I can’t really remember anything this tight but if someone had offered us our current position at this moment in time, then we would have taken it.

“But to see how close it is means that every point during every week is vital, none more so than today against a similar side it would be huge for us. 

“You have to look at other results – that’s natural, we all check the scores at the end of every game and look and see how others have got on, but we can only control what we do ourselves.”