Were they? They actually finished the season dreadfully. They lost all of their final four games, scoring once and didn't win at all in May.
If that's what's deemed as "playing well" then standards must have really slipped.
I'm always careful not to be one of those "I can't believe they sacked Hughton" fans when it comes to other club's sacking managers because you never know what conversations happen behind the scenes and whether or not he was on the same page as the heirarchy.
What I will say if that they would...