Chris Hughton
Image by: Paul Hazlewood
PUBLISHED
09:00 18th January 2015
by Paul Camillin
Our finishing is a part of our game that we need to improve"
Chris Hughton
Chris Hughton
Chris Hughton says his Brighton & Hove Albion side must improve on both their home form and finishing if they are to*climb the table and continue their recent move away from the Championship drop zone.The Albion boss felt his side showed a defensive solidity against Brentford in his first game at the Amex since taking charge – despite conceding a sloppy goal – but has pinpointed two weaknesses which he feels the squad need to address quickly.
Speaking after yesterday's 1-0 defeat to Brentford he said, "Our finishing is a part of our game that we need to improve. We need to create better opportunities in games like this, where it was always going to be tight.
"We were the home side and at times we were prepared to take the game to them, but we just need to be that little more clinical.
"I'm still finding out about the players. Of course we've been good away from home, quite resilient and managed to get enough goals to win, but when you're at home and the expectation is to come out a little bit more.
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"It's also about making the Amex a tough place to come. Although Brentford missed some chances, they went away thinking it was a tough enough game for them. Now we've got to make sure that's always the case, but of course with a different result.
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"Our home form is something that we need to do something about. At the end of the season it's about how many points you get and it doesn't matter where you get your points from, but we need to get more points at home."
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Hughton and his squad will have plenty of practice: they are back in training*this morning in preparation for their second of three successive home games, with Wednesday's visit of Ipswich Town to the Amex.
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Craig Mackail-Smith, Greg Halford and Jake Forster-Caskey all picked up minor niggles during the game against Brentford, but the Albion boss is hopeful the trio will be able to shake off their injuries ahead of the game.
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He added, "I need to assess the injury situation from Saturday. They will be in on Sunday morning and we'll see how they are, but we need to have as many bodies as fit as possible.
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"Craig rolled his ankle, but he was okay to come back on, so hopefully it won't be too bad. Greg felt his calf slightly so hopefully it’s not too bad, but he hasn't played a lot of late, so hopefully that’s not too bad either."[h=3]ALBION V IPSWICH
[/h]WEDNESday 21ST january, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
[h=3]Albion v ARSENAL
[/h]SUNDAY 25TH JANUARY, kick-off 4pm
[h=3]Albion v nottingham forest
[/h]SATURDAY 7TH februARY, kick-off 3pm
Original article