Hughton hails ‘big’ result as Baldock ends the dip

This was Brighton at their clinical and efficient best. Celebrating Chris Hughton’s 100th game in charge of the club with a revving of the engine and an acceleration through the gears to banish question marks over their fortitude, as they returned to the top of the Championship.

The spluttering of late, a solitary victory from four previous outings may have deprived Brighton of an impregnable league position, but, against tricky, awkward opponents in Barnsley, this was a welcome reprisal of the full throttle displays that have served them so well during Hughton’s tenure.

An entertaining first period was characterised by profligacy on both sides, with neither team holding sway. Yet while the hosts offered stout resistance and provided Hughton with plenty of uncomfortable moments, Brighton’s greater quality in front of goal eventually told.

The opening goal, from Sam Baldock, which proved the catalyst to a landmark 50th win for Hughton, was testament to that fact.

While there was a touch of good fortune about the way in which Anthony Knockaert’s toe-poked pass fell neatly into the stride of the forward – who had earlier been booked for diving – Baldock’s finish from 20 yards was unerring. The velocity of his volley left the Barnsley goalkeeper, Adam Davies, a mere bystander.

“I thought his work ethic deserved that,” Hughton said of Brighton’s goalscorer.

“In the first half we had the better chances but Barnsley got into some good areas. Maybe it was going to take that sort of goal to break the deadlock and then at that stage the game has to open up and I thought we had some really good chances at the end.

“We had to make sure we were back to perhaps what we do best, which is keeping the game tight and showing that quality in whatever period of the game we can.

“It’s a big result. The challenge was just as much as the other games. It’s probably more about us at the moment and we have probably not been as good as we were away from home in this last period.

“That’s just how the league is. It’s very difficult to keep those levels high throughout and you’re going to have little dips. By our standards we’ve had a dip.”

When Knockaert and Baldock combined again in the 68th minute to administer a second goal, Brighton’s downturn was officially over and the Seagulls then spurned several opportunities to extend their margin of victory.

“They were clinical at one end and gave us nothing at the other,” Barnsley manager Paul Heckingbottom said.

“[It was a] great finish from Sam [Baldock] but we were three yards out of position and they were never three yards out of position all game and that’s the difference.

“We were wasteful and they weren’t. I think Brighton are one of the best teams, the hardest to play against, when they’ve gone in front. Just how organised, how disciplined they are and then the players they’ve got to hit you on the counter with.

“First half we did great, but didn’t score when we were on top. As well as we may have been playing, they still limited us to very few chances.”