Hughton fails his audition to step up to next level
AT the age of 60, Chris Hughton’s best chance of winning a trophy as a manager may have just slipped by.
That will sadden many who admire his dignity and organisation skills. But when push came to shove the Brighton boss was unable to conjure up the bit of devilment that allowed Roberto Martinez to lead Wigan to an FA Cup final triumph over the same opponents, Manchester City.
The comparison is apt. Hughton has many qualities that Martinez lacked; defensive structure among them. But Martinez gave his teams freedom, that’s why he was chosen by Belgium to take Eden Hazard and Romelu melu Lukaku to a World Cup up while Hughton was sacked by Newcastle because Mike Ashley felt the job was too big for him.
Hughton matched Pep Guardiola for sartorial elegance at Wembley — looking his normal composed, d, dapper self in a smart, rt dark suit as he strayed as far out of the technical area as the officials would prohibit.
His underdogs didn’t disgrace themselves — far from it, they played at their maximum and ran the quadruple-chasers close. But neither did they surprise City.
The Seagulls wanted to keep a solid unit whenever City had possession, with five spread across the back and four in front of them, leaving Glenn Murray as a lone striker. Alas, the plan to defend 0-0 as long as possible lasted less than four minutes when Kevin De Bruyne’s cross to Gabriel Jesus put City in front.
Perhaps a more adventurous approach would have stopped City scoring early, though you have to say Brighton worked manfully after the setback and you could tell Hughton, who won the cup as a player with Spurs, had done his work on the training ground.
Lewis Dunk kicked and headed everything away, Alireza Jahanbakhsh wound up Kyle Walker until the pair locked heads and the England full-back was relieved to see yellow, not red.
In the second half, Brighton — whose fans dominated the stands — attempted attem to pepper City with w set pieces, coming com closest when Shane Sh Duffy’s header h was hooked away a by Aymeric Laporte from right underneath Ederson’s E crossbar.
Guardiola cut the more m animated figure fig given the brief spell spel of Brighton pressure, pressu while his rival remained looking thoughtful, which he undoubtedly is.
Hughton has done good work at Newcastle, Birmingham, Norwich and Brighton, and is something of a promotion specialist.
This was his great chance to step up and show he’s more than that — that he can lift silverware and deserves to be mentioned when bigger jobs come along.
He failed, albeit narrowly and courageously, and now it’ll be back to the day job — keeping Brighton in the Premier League. As ever, the neutrals will wish him well. He’s a proper football man, but unfortunately not one destined to have a W for winner by his name.