Hughton is confident of recovery

CHRIS Hughton is expecting Newcastle United bounce back from their horror start.

The Magpies have not picked up a win in nine matches but Hughton feels there is plenty of time for Rafa Benitez’s side to recover.

Hughton said: “There have been spells like this before. “If I look at last season, there was a difficult period and eventually what happened was they turned it around and, of course, managed to finish tenth. “One thing that’s obvious it that they have got quality on the pitch and any difficult period that they have, I’d always be confident Rafa would turn that around.”

Like Newcastle, Brighton also faced some top six sides and struggled but have now won back-to-back games. Hughton added: “There are, of course, a series of games now that are not against the top six – probably not as much has been made of the fact they have played five of them already, so I’m sure they will be fine.” Hughton said the three points did not give him any special satisfaction – despite being sacked by Mike Ashley in 2010. He said: “I can honestly tell you it’s no different to anywhere else. “This is a club that I have got very, very fond memories of, and I always want to do well, so no, it’s no different to anywhere else. “For us, it’s a big away three points, and we are not used to getting so many of them. “That’s more than the fact that it’s here.”