Chris Hughton is surprised by Albion's rate of progress in his first year in charge.
And he believes they are now paying the price for over-achieving in the first half of the season.
Albion were in deep trouble when Hughton was appointed 12 months ago.
He took over from Sami Hyypia after caretaker Nathan Jones steered the relegation-haunted Seagulls to a home draw with Reading and a win at Fulham.
They were still languishing in 21st place, despite the mini-revival, but head into the visit from Wolves today in fourth spot needing a win to equal last season's final tally of 47 points.
Hughton told The Argus: "When I came here a year ago, the team had been on the back of a couple of good results, 2-2 at home to Reading having been 2-0 down and away at Fulham.
"The environment didn't feel like the position the club was in. Maybe that was to do with the infrastructure and what we have here but it didn't feel that way.
"From that period to now, I'm surprised, yes. Would I expect us to be where we are, having had the run that we had at the start of season? Probably not.
"The reality is that we finished in 20th position. Generally, the league table doesn't lie. I don't think it was a really true reflection of performances, even before my time, but that's what the league table said.
"I think to go from there to having been where we've been most of the season, I wouldn't have expected progress that quickly.
"More so because we had to bring in nine players in the summer, which is probably too many players to have to bring in to try and galvanise and integrate something. I certainly felt we could make progress but probably not as quickly as we have."
Albion equalled West Ham's post-War record in the Championship of 21 matches unbeaten at the start of a season before losing to Middlesbrough at the Amex before Christmas.
Another home defeat against Ipswich on Tuesday in a run of five games without a win and three without a goal has set alarm bells ringing, so are Hughton and his injury-ravaged squad now paying the price of over-achieving in the first half of the campaign?
"I think so," he said. "But I think it's the pressures and challenges of the game. I will certainly always rather have the pressure of doing what we've done in this first half of the season and to try and live up to that.
"The expectations have risen, there is no doubt about it, but I would rather that than be a team that's found it very difficult this season.
"I think we have over-achieved in the first half of the season but I would certainly rather be where we are, with a chance of staying in that top six, than fighting again."
Hughton's contract takes him through to the summer of 2018. The 57-year-old hopes by then Albion will be in the Premier League.
He said: "The club that we are with the facilities that we've got, the ambition is the Premier League. One small problem is the number of quality teams that are in your way.
"Even as regards to next season, you look at the Premier League as it stands at the moment and if the three promoted teams continue their form and all stay up then you're looking at three big teams possibly coming down.
"It gets harder but ultimately the aim is to get to the Premier League. As a club, we'd like to do it as quickly as possible."
Original article
And he believes they are now paying the price for over-achieving in the first half of the season.
Albion were in deep trouble when Hughton was appointed 12 months ago.
He took over from Sami Hyypia after caretaker Nathan Jones steered the relegation-haunted Seagulls to a home draw with Reading and a win at Fulham.
They were still languishing in 21st place, despite the mini-revival, but head into the visit from Wolves today in fourth spot needing a win to equal last season's final tally of 47 points.
Hughton told The Argus: "When I came here a year ago, the team had been on the back of a couple of good results, 2-2 at home to Reading having been 2-0 down and away at Fulham.
"The environment didn't feel like the position the club was in. Maybe that was to do with the infrastructure and what we have here but it didn't feel that way.
"From that period to now, I'm surprised, yes. Would I expect us to be where we are, having had the run that we had at the start of season? Probably not.
"The reality is that we finished in 20th position. Generally, the league table doesn't lie. I don't think it was a really true reflection of performances, even before my time, but that's what the league table said.
"I think to go from there to having been where we've been most of the season, I wouldn't have expected progress that quickly.
"More so because we had to bring in nine players in the summer, which is probably too many players to have to bring in to try and galvanise and integrate something. I certainly felt we could make progress but probably not as quickly as we have."
Albion equalled West Ham's post-War record in the Championship of 21 matches unbeaten at the start of a season before losing to Middlesbrough at the Amex before Christmas.
Another home defeat against Ipswich on Tuesday in a run of five games without a win and three without a goal has set alarm bells ringing, so are Hughton and his injury-ravaged squad now paying the price of over-achieving in the first half of the campaign?
"I think so," he said. "But I think it's the pressures and challenges of the game. I will certainly always rather have the pressure of doing what we've done in this first half of the season and to try and live up to that.
"The expectations have risen, there is no doubt about it, but I would rather that than be a team that's found it very difficult this season.
"I think we have over-achieved in the first half of the season but I would certainly rather be where we are, with a chance of staying in that top six, than fighting again."
Hughton's contract takes him through to the summer of 2018. The 57-year-old hopes by then Albion will be in the Premier League.
He said: "The club that we are with the facilities that we've got, the ambition is the Premier League. One small problem is the number of quality teams that are in your way.
"Even as regards to next season, you look at the Premier League as it stands at the moment and if the three promoted teams continue their form and all stay up then you're looking at three big teams possibly coming down.
"It gets harder but ultimately the aim is to get to the Premier League. As a club, we'd like to do it as quickly as possible."
Original article