HUGHTON HAUNTED BY COVENTRY

CHRIS HUGHTON cannot help but think back to an iconic FA Cup final in 1987 as he prepares his Brighton side to dodge a banana skin against Coventry City in today’s fifthround tie at the Amex.

League Two Coventry may be 63 places below Brighton in the pyramid 31 years on, but Hughton knows only too well their fine FA Cup pedigree.

He played in the Tottenham team which went into the 1987 final as strong favourites against Coventry, who had never been in the final before.

But despite fielding players such as Glenn Hoddle, Chris Waddle, Ossie Ardiles, Richard Gough, Ray Clemence, Gary Mabbutt and Clive Allen, Spurs lost 3-2 in one of the most memorable finals.

‘It was a brilliant day for them, but a real difficult one for us,’ said Brighton boss Hughton (right). ‘We were big favourites going into the game. But we came up against a very spirited Coventry side.’

Hughton hopes he can prevent another giant-killing. ‘I’ll be telling the players an incredibly motivated Coventry team are turning up and anything can happen,’ he added.

He will remind them that last season they lost 3-1 to nonLeague Lincoln in the fourth round. ‘That’s one we will bring up too,’ said Hughton.

‘The players involved that time will know the affect it has on you. It’s a horrible experience that you don’t want to go through too often.’

Jurgen Locadia, a £14million signing from PSV Eindhoven, will make his debut up front for Brighton and Leonardo Ulloa, signed on loan from Leicester, is also expected to start. Coventry manager Mark Robins said: ‘For us it is a win-win. We are going down to play in front of a full house. We have sold all our tickets again. ‘If you can’t go and enjoy a game like this then you need to give up. We want to build the club and take on the challenge. We are trying to do everything within our powers to get back to where we belong.’