Club news

Murray: The Team's Fortunes Are The Priority

By Alex Stedman • 08 February 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion striker Glenn Murray insists that the success of the team takes priority over his individual goal-scoring records, having netted for the third time in as many games at the weekend. 

The forward found the net seven minutes into the game against West Ham United, continuing his recent good run of form, but he was keen to stress that the fortunes of the side as a whole was more important to him, in a healthily competitive squad.

He said, “I’m happy with my form at the moment but more important than that is the fact that we’re progressing in the FA Cup and have started to pick up points in the league again.

“The competition up front is good – I’ve had an upturn in form during January, that began before Leo [Ulloa] and Jurgen [Locadia] arrived and that’s carried on throughout the period in which they’ve signed, which is obviously good from my point of view. 

“But any competition is beneficial and I know everyone in the squad is pulling in the same direction and all we want to stay in this division – it doesn’t matter who scores as long as everyone plays a part in helping us achieve our end objective.” 

The Seagulls sit in 13th position in the Premier League ahead of Saturday’s game away to Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium, and the forward highlighted the importance of the current month, as well as discussing what Albion could expect from their next top-flight opponents. 

“It’s a big month [February] and it’s another tough game this weekend against Stoke, but we’ll be going there full of energy and belief and we’ll be wanting to get a good result.

“The reverse fixture in November was one I felt we deserved to win – we showed good character to come back into the game twice on the night. 

“You’ve got to give Stoke the respect they deserve because they’re a good group of footballers who have been in the Premier League for a long time. 

“This season perhaps hasn’t gone to plan and possibly some of the players aren’t playing to their potential, but we’ve got to make the most of that and try and get something from the game.

Seven days after the game against the Potters, Albion host Coventry City in the last 16 of the Emirates FA Cup. 

The side’s place in the next stage of the competition was booked thanks to Murray’s late winner against Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium, and he insisted that success in the cup will positively influence league form - before discussing his personal objectives for the campaign as a whole. 

“The league is the priority but any positivity around the place is good and the cup gives you that chance to keep believing and then transfer that form into the league. 

“I think that’s happened in recent weeks and any win is good for the morale at the club - and that’s definitely shone through in our recent performances in the league.

“I set myself a goals target at the start of the campaign but I’m not going to tell you!

“In all seriousness it’s not just one target, I think it changes as the season goes on – even if you get to a target, it’s then reset again, but as far as I’m concerned you have to be greedy as a striker and I just want to score as many goals as I can.”