Rocky road for Brighton

BRIGHTON manager Chris Hughton believes whichever teams win promotion from the Championship will have done it the hard way. Brighton, second going into this weekend’s games, face Reading, one of the teams trying to muscle into the automatic promotion places, in the early evening kick-off. Elsewhere leaders Newcastle are at home PLOT TWIST: Hughton says going up is tough to struggling Bristol City while play-off rivals Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday meet at Elland Road at lunchtime.

Reading are fourth, some four points behind Huddersfield, who travel to Barnsley in another Yorkshire derby, and eight adrift of the automatic places.

Hughton believes there are still plenty of variables ahead between now and May.

“Every time that we play a game that we feel is a big game, we look at the fixture list for the other teams and their games are equally as tough,” he said.

Reading manager Jaap Stam knows how much of a challenge awaits his team.

“If we want to stay part of this top six and if we want to finish this season with a very good prize then we need to do well against these teams,” he said.

Leeds are in fifth, but ahead of Wednesday only on goal difference. Head coach Garry Monk is hoping the Elland Road faithful can help them to make the most of home advantage against their rivals from south Yorkshire. “Our supporters have got us over the line a number of times at home,” said Monk. “Saturday will be another occasion for them to come out in big numbers, be very vocal and really give the backing to the players to help us get the result.”