SEAGULLS AIMING TO KEEP IT CLEAN
Hughton’s boys seek to build from back
BRIGHTON boss Chris Hughton believes shutting out Leeds United tomorrow night will be the key to ensuring his side don’t lose ground at the top of the Championship table.
The Seagulls kept their 11th clean sheet in 33 Championship games this season in Tuesday’s 4-0 win at Bristol City, a refreshing sight for Hughton after last Saturday’s horror show against Cardiff in which they suffered a 4-1 defeat – their heaviest in two seasons.
The Bristol City win kept them firmly on the coat-tails of Hull, Burnley and Middlesbrough, the top three heading into the weekend.
And the former Tottenham Hotspur defender believes resilience is the key quality a successful side must possess at this stage of the season.
“The ability not to concede gives the team that solid feel, because you always feel you can score goals,” said Hughton.
“We needed to get back to that on Tuesday, because it was unlike us on Saturday at Cardiff.
“Our performances have been better, but in front of goal things went for Cardiff on Saturday.
“The clean sheets have been valuable, there’s no doubt about that and it gives the team something to build from.
“A reflection of that is if you look at the teams at the top – they are all top teams that can score goals, but also teams that can win 1-0. That shows the strength of keeping clean sheets.”
The common denominator at the back this term has been goalkeeper David Stockdale.
The Leeds-born 30-year-old has
been an ever-present in the Championship, adding to his 42 league appearances from last term.
And Hughton has been thrilled with the displays from the dependable former Fulham stopper.
“He’s been excellent for us,” said Hughton.
“You judge a keeper normally by an all-round performance and saves he has had to pull off. But I’m delighted with the team around him that have tried to limit the amount of activity the goalkeeper has had to have.
“But it’s impossible to have had the season we have so far without a good keeper between the sticks.
“Your keeper is always going to have to make good saves and put in good performances.”
After three consecutive games on the road, the Seagulls are back at the Amex Stadium, where they are beginning to show signs of the strength seen in the first half of the season.
Only four points were dropped in the opening ten encounters on the south coast, before Middlesbrough, Ipswich and Wolves were all able to breach the home fortress with Brighton failing to score in all three contests.
They are back on track now, though, having taking maximum points from the visits of Huddersfield, Brentford and Bolton.
And Hughton says getting over that slump was vitally important as they head into the business end of the season and attempt to get the better of their rivals.
“We’ve managed to pick back up some home form again after a disappointing period,” he added.
“And we’ll need that on Monday because Leeds are a good, competitive side.
“Generally their games are quite close ones, but we’re at home and we have to try and take advantage.
“Points are very valuable now with how close it is at the top.”