Chris Hughton
Image by: Paul Hazlewood
PUBLISHED
20:06 28th November 2015
by Paul Camillin
Of course the result is important, but I thought that we had a really good level of performance."
Chris Hughton
Chris Hughton was delighted with Brighton & Hove Albion's performance, as they extended their unbeaten run to 19 games with a pulsating 2-1 victory over Birmingham City, but gave extra-special praise to two players for their contribution at the American Express Community Stadium.Hughton was pleased with opening goalscorer Solly March's man-of-the-match display, and believes it was the winger's finest performance in his time as Albion boss, and also credited goalkeeper David Stockdale for an important, match-winning save in stoppage time.Chris Hughton
March also set up Bobby Zamora's winner, as his shot was deflected into the striker's path, and Hughton said, "It was one of our most entertaining performances - we should have won more comfortably - and it was Solly’s best game for us.
"I think that slowly, but surely he's got stronger and stronger. He had involvement with the England under-21s a couple of weeks ago - and that is testament to the way that he has grown this season.*
"On top of his performances, what we want from him is the assists and that is what we are getting at the moment. I'm delighted with both the way that we played and the result. Of course the result is important, but I thought that we had a really good level of performance.
"Birmingham showed us why they are so good away from home. They have got really good pace on the counter attack and caused us a lot of problems, but it was a little bit unjust coming in at 1-1.
"I thought that we got into that final third on a lot of occasions and probably didn't make the most of them, but on the balance of play it was a result that we thoroughly deserved.
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"Nonetheless we needed to rely on our goalkeeper to pull out an absolutely fantastic save right at the end. From where I was I thought that it was in, and it took that type of save to prevent it. We needed that in a game that we should have won more comfortably, and we end up thankful for David Stockdale at the end.
*
"It is fair to say that we probably need to be a little more ruthless in front of goal. If you look at today's game then both wide players Jamie Murphy and Solly both had a lot of the ball in the final third- it is exciting - especially for the supporters - to see two wide players playing as as they did today."It is a wonderful run we are on and a wonderful achievement so far. We have deserved it because our level of performance has been good. Generally the table does not lie.
"It's good to get a win after a few draws of late and that difference between three points and one is crucial. We have got a really committed team at the moment and you have to have that to win football matches in this division and we hope that can continue."
The Albion boss explained he will have to wait for a full diagnosis on Liam Rosenior after he was taken off in the first-half, and said the injury was a result of an unfortunate full-blooded, but fair challenge with Birmingham's Jonathan Spector.
"It's a knee injury, but we are not sure of the extent of it at this moment. It was a wholehearted challenge. We will have to assess it over the next couple of days, but hopefully it is not too bad.
"We looked at the left-back area before the loan deadline, but you don't always to get the players you want - but in Calde [Inigo Calderon] we have a player who is full of experience. I know it's not his main position, but as we saw today, we know what we will get from him."*
[h=3]ALBION V CHARLTON ATHLETIC*
[/h]SATURDAY 5TH DECEMBER, KICK-OFF 3PM
[h=3]ALBION V MIDDLESBROUGH*
[/h]SATURDAY 19TH DECEMBER, KICK-OFF 12.30PM
[h=3]ALBION V IPSWICH TOWN**
[/h]TUESDAY 29TH DECEMBER, KICK-OFF 7.45PM
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