Brighton want title after securing promotion

BRIGHTON’S first-ever promotion to the Premier League was guaranteed after Huddersfield drew 1-1 at Derby yesterday evening and now boss Chris Hughton wants the title.

The Seagulls’ squad had celebrated on the pitch at full-time after their 2-1 win against Wigan at the Amex Stadium earlier in the day effectively sealed a return to English football’s top flight for the first time in 34 years.

The south-coast club’s first-ever appearance in the Premier League — they were relegated from the old First Division in 1983 — was later guaranteed after Huddersfield conceded a late equaliser at Pride Park.

They can win the title with a sixth straight win at Norwich on Friday and Hughton said: “It’s a massive motivation for this group of lads.

“One thing we spoke about afterwards is it’s a wonderful achievement, particularly after last season, to get promotion. That’s the first thing.

“But what these lads want to do — whenever it is, two years’ time, three years, 10, 20 years’ time — is they want to be able to say they won the division and went up as champions.

“That will add something to all of their CVs, all of their thoughts when they’re looking back.”

Newcastle remain second, but their winless run was extended to three games after a 3-1 defeat at Ipswich.

Daryl Murphy equalised for the Magpies against his former club after Freddie Sears had given Ipswich the lead, but the home side scored twice more through David McGoldrick and Emyr Huws.

Leeds slipped out of the top six while play-off rivals Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Fulham all won.

Bobby Mann