Club news

Hughton Reflects On Great Season After Difficult Afternoon

By Kieran Cleeves • 13 May 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton admitted it was a difficult afternoon for his team at Anfield - as the Seagulls lost 4-0 against Liverpool - but moved quickly to highlight a great debut season for his side in the Premier League.

Two goals either side of half-time sealed all three points for the Champions League finalists, and despite coming up short against Jurgen Klopp’s team, Hughton reflected on a successful opening campaign in the top flight.

He said, “I just spoke to the players and we have to speak about the season as a whole. We’ve been in nearly every game and we’ve had some very good performances.

“As the season has gone on, we’ve also had some very good performances against the top six, particularly at home.

“The next stage for us is away from home. The difficulty of playing the top six away from home, where you need to try and stick in there.

“But our season has shown more good than bad. It’s just a shame that we haven't finished the season in perhaps the way we would have liked to.”

The Seagulls struggled to find any rhythm at Anfield as the Reds dominated possession and constantly applied pressure on Hughton’s team, and the Albion boss shared his thoughts on the difficult contest.

“It was a very hard afternoon for us. We knew that we’d have to play at a certain level, as we also knew in midweek [against Manchester City], to get something from the game.

“They needed to be below their best and you have to stay in the game for as long as possible.

“But they caused us so many problems - we dealt with the majority of them, but when it’s relentless, it becomes far more difficult.

“You have to defend ever so well and have periods on the ball. The only disappointment today was that we didn’t keep possession well enough.

“But credit to them, they needed the result and they showed their quality.”

Albion goalkeeper Mathew Ryan made a number of key saves to prevent the hosts from extending their lead further, and Hughton praised the Australian for a positive opening season in the Premier League.

“He’s been excellent for us and as the season’s gone on, he's got even better. He’s a different type of goalkeeper, he’s not a six-foot-seven goalkeeper with physicality.

“But what he has is that agility, and that’s sometimes the balance when it comes to goalkeepers.

“He goes away to the World Cup and we certainly wish him a good tournament. He’ll got there having had a very good season for us.”