PUT THE FOCUS ON US SAYS HUGHTON

CHRIS HUGHTON is well aware of the problem of taking a big scalp. The focus falls on the big-six club and the crisis talk which ensues, just as it did for Manchester United and Arsenal when they lost at Brighton last season. Amid the meltdown of United’s second defeat at the Amex in three months, the excellence of Brighton’s performance can easily be lost. But Brighton deserve so much credit for setting the tempo and the standard, for running United ragged, for showing far more desire and determination. The job that Hughton (above) has done at Brighton should never be understated as he kept them up last season, improved them in the summer and after an opening-day defeat at Watford, got the reaction that every manager wants. They are disciplined, regimented in the way they are set up and were in hardly anyone’s tips top go down this season. That is because if you look at performances like this, there is no way you can see them being relegated and if anything, can build on last term. Now the target for Hughton is to ensure they raise the tempo every week and not just for the likes of United. He said: “Very proud of the performance and particularly the reaction from last week and with the knowledge that with the quality United have got that if you allow them to play their game they can hurt you. “Both sides of our game were really good. What we’ve got to make sure we do that it’s not just a home game against Man United. “I know once it’s a big-six team others will look at it a bit different. “But I would like to think people will look at it as us being good rather than Man United being poor.”