BRIGHTON v NEWCASTLE BOOTIFUL!
Hughton: Getting the sack from Toon was the making of me as a manager
CHRIS HUGHTON firmly believes being sacked by Newcastle was the making of him as a manager.
Hughton was harshly given the boot by Magpies chairman Mike Ashley in 2010, months after masterminding their promotion to the Premier League.
The Brighton boss has always been reluctant to comment on his controversial exit from St James Park but broke that vow of silence ahead of today’s reunion with Ashley.
Hughton said: “From the moment I left I have very rarely spoken about it and have always wanted to look forward. What I have done is I used that as really good experience. The three years I had there has certainly made me a better manager.”
Guaranteed
Hughton is still regarded fondly by Newcastle fans and will be guaranteed a warm reception from the travelling Toon Army.
Former Norwich and Birmingham chief Hughton said: “That is something I am really pleased with.
“There’s the professional side of the game but also the emotional side of the game and I thoroughly enjoyed my time there, especially the promotion we managed to get. They were good times and I see and speak to a lot of Newcastle supporters on my travels and it is generally very good.”
Hughton’s Seagulls were pipped by his former employers to last season’s Championship trophy as the two clubs were promoted side by side.
But he insists he will not be on a revenge mission when RAFA BENITEZ is refusing to give in-form Matt Ritchie a slap on the back and has told the Newcastle winger: “You can do better.’’ Toon boss Benitez insists Ritchie, who has produced four assists this season and set up his side’s last three goals, can still find room for improvement. The 28-year-old Scottish international (left) sacrificed a Premier League career with Bournemouth when he chose to drop into the Championship and join Newcastle in a £12million Rafael Benitez’s men arrive on the south coast.
He said: “They deserved to win the title. We had opportunities in that last three games to clinch the title and were not good enough to be able to do that at that time.
“It’s not about revenge. We are up against a team in good form and it could be Newcastle or anybody.”
Newcastle’s last visit to the Amex Stadium ended in a 2-1 win thanks largely to Mo Diame’s freak goal when he shot against his own foot to send the ball looping into the net.
Hughton said: “I remember it well and sometimes you need that little bit of luck and little bit of quality and they got both in the same game. But they are a good side and the second goal they scored was one of top quality.
Perform
“I just hope we can perform well enough and can show the qualities we have shown in good phases already this season to win the game.”
Hughton claims last season’s tense title tussle with Newcastle gave his players a taste of life in the big time.
Hughton said: “Because of where we were in the division, and it was very much us and Newcastle last season in the top two, they were both big profile games and both on television as well.
“The fact both of us are here now hopefully put us in good stead for what we are about to come up against.
“We’ll approach this match the same way we approach every game, particularly at home.”
Brighton have won only one of their opening four Premier League games and were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Bournemouth in midweek. FollowF us on Twitter: @peoplesport who is doing well but still, believe me, he can do better.’’
Long-serving Newcastle keeper Tim Krul this week joined Brighton on what is understood to have been a free transfer.
The Dutchman, available for this afternoon’s game, was initially said to be on loan, but Benitez made it clear the intention was that it would be a permanent deal.
Benitez has hinted that Spanish under-21 midfielder Mikel Merino – on a season’s loan from Borussia Dortmund – is on course to win a permanent move to Tyneside next summer.