Albion will go into promotion-decider at Boro with no fear

Albion boss Chris Hughton says his side will go to Middlesbrough with no fear on Saturday.
Chris Hughton. Picture by Paul Hazlewood (BHAFC)Chris Hughton. Picture by Paul Hazlewood (BHAFC)
Chris Hughton. Picture by Paul Hazlewood (BHAFC)

The Seagulls need to win the game to clinch promotion into the Premier League after a 1-1 draw at home to Derby this afternoon left them behind the Teesiders on goal difference.

Hughton said: “Not many people have beaten Middlesbrough when they’ve been at home but it’s about playing well enough.

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“We’ve been good away from home for a large majority of the season. If I look at the teams right up there, the Derbys and Burnleys, we haven’t lost to them away. We need to now go one step further and win a game.

“Sometimes when you go into a game knowing a draw will do, you can have a draw mentality and that can lead to a losing mentality. We know what we have to do, we just need to show enough quality to do it.

“We’re up against a very good team, who are at home, so there’s no doubt they’re favourites and they would be pleased with the result today but we’ll give ourselves every chance.

“We’ve been good away from home, we’ll make sure not to go there with any fear and give ourselves the best chance.”

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Hughton praised his side’s finish in the closing stages today as James Wilson equalised deep in injury-time. He said: “The end of the game showed a real desire to get back into the game and if we get that goal two minutes earlier, you never know with the momentum.

“It will give us something, there’s no doubt. To lose or draw the game doesn’t change too much with what the task is on Saturday.

“We’ve been up against a very good side today, we probably weren’t at our best but it’s still a game we didn’t lose.”

Lewis Dunk’s red card for two bookings means he will miss the promotion-decider with Middlesbrough and Hughton said: “It’s a big blow because he’s had continuity. Since a difficult period he had a while ago, he’s been outstanding. He will be a loss but we’ve had that at other times this season and we’ve got Gordon Greer, our captain.”

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