Manager Chris Hughton held his pre Stoke City press conference yesterday and he knows Brighton will have to be at their best to secure all three points from Paul Lambert’s side.
Heading to the Bet365 Stadium for the game this weekend, Hughton explained that he felt that Stoke were incredibly unlucky to lose in their last game against Bournemouth and he knew we’d have to be ready for the game as they’ll be out to get the right result after that disappointment.
Speaking to the Official Site he explained.
‘It will be a difficult game and we`ll need to show some of the qualities that we showed in our last away game against Southampton. I`d like to think we`re in good form and we`ll need to show that. I thought they were unlucky to lose against AFC Bournemouth last weekend. From what we`ve seen they`re playing at a high tempo and looking to push players forward from midfield.’
Hughton had praise for Lambert as well as since replacing Mark Hughes in the hotseat he’d clearly reinvigorated the group with their improved performances.
‘The managerial change has given them a lift and they`ll look to create an atmosphere at home – it can be a tough place to go and we`ll have to deal with that. What I know of Paul is that he did an outstanding job at Norwich City and he likes to play on the front foot. He likes to play a very attacking style of play and he`s very experienced – he can set up teams against any opposition but it`s generally entertaining – that`s what all supporters want to see. You can only prepare on what we`ve seen and they`ve got a lot of options in the squad to vary their style and you must not over prepare for one more than any other.’
Turning attentions to ourselves, Hughton felt we were in a good vein of form at the moment and following victory over West Ham United, he was looking for us to build on that now.
‘We`re on the back of what I would class as our best home attacking performance last weekend. I think that can give us a lift and we`ve got a lot of players who are fit and available, so there`s good competition and there`s a good mood around the place. You have to be able to maintain that level of performance every week in this division because it`s so tight and competitive. There`s a big group of teams and those who hold their nerve and show they can win games will get themselves out of it – so you have to put yourself in a good position to be able to do that.’
With January arrivals starting to make their mark in the group, and Jurgen Locadia expected to play some part this weekend having overcome the injury he arrived with, Hughton went on to say.
‘I`ve seen the impact the two new arrivals have given to the club off the field and everyone in the squad wants exactly the same thing. When you bring players in you know that it will make it tougher for some more than others, but generally the whole squad want the best one possible and the better squad we have the better chance we have of staying in this division. These two have come in because they want to play and if you have a squad that`s pushing to do that then you hope you can get the best out of them.’
