Hughton on a high as Brighton stay up
Pascal Gross scored the goal which sank Manchester United 1-0 to guarantee Premier League football for Brighton next season.
The German midfielder, Albion’s undisputed player of the year, fittingly hit his seventh goal of the season to take the Seagulls to the magic 40-point mark last night.
Chris Hughton’s side can now look forward to another season in the top flight having assured they are mathematically safe ahead of trips to Manchester City and Liverpool.
It is some achievement for Hughton, who guided Brighton into the Premier League for the first time last season, and for a club who 21 years ago this week needed a late equaliser at Hereford to save themselves from dropping out of the Football League altogether.
Hughton said: “I’m particularly pleased with the performance.
“Normally when you win these games it’s because your goalkeeper has had to make saves and they’ve missed chances.
“But I don’t think they had a clear-cut chance and we were good value for the win. “It’s a relief because even going into the game I felt, for our season’s work so far, that we deserved to stay in this league. “So it’s a relief that we’ve done it and I’m really proud of the group of players.” United boss Jose Mourinho questioned his players’ desire. Victory would have all but secured second spot but Mourinho made six changes and it backfired in a horribly disjointed display. The United boss said: “It was clearly a difference in emotion. And emotion is a big part of the game. They were here ready to give everything, and we were not able to motivate ourselves.
“I am disappointed because second is important for me.”