WE CRIED A RIVERSIDE BUT IT WAS THE MAKING OF US

CHRIS HUGHTON today takes his Brighton team back to the scene of one of his lowest moments in football.

Seagulls can’t forget the day they went to the Riverside in May 2016 with a chance to win automatic promotion to the top flight – but saw it ripped away in cruel fashion (right).

Boro’s point in a 1-1 draw, after Dale Stephens had been controversially sent off for the visitors, saw them promoted and Brighton miss out on goal difference.

So there is a bit of an edge going into today’s FA Cup fourth-round tie even though Brighton went up the year after and Boro are back in the Championship. Hughton said: “Of course I remember that day – it was one of the biggest disappointments I’ve been involved in. I remember being in the changing room and seeing a group of players as disappointed as I’ve ever seen.”

A large number of Brighton’s squad from May 2016 are still at the club so Hughton admits today’s trip could bring back memories for some.

He said: “Will there be players thinking about it? Maybe, but we ended up from the disappointment of that day in the Premier League a year later so I think the players will just be thinking about getting through rather than about what happened. As a team we are in a much better place.”