Millwall v Brighton & Hove Albion: The key points from Chris Hughton's post-match press conference

Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton. Picture by PW Sporting Photography.Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton. Picture by PW Sporting Photography.
Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton. Picture by PW Sporting Photography.
Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton felt their penalty shoot-out victory over Millwall to book their place in the FA Cup semi-finals 'means everything' to the players and the supporters of the club.

The Seagulls went 2-0 down but a late double from Jurgen Locadia and Solly March forced the game into extra-time before the Lions' Jake Cooper blazed over the bar in the shoot-out to confirm Albion's place in the final four.

On the threat of division-below Millwall:

"We could not have done anymore this week on the training pitch. In the videos that we showed we knew what the threat was.

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"This is a club that has a great record in the cup competitions. It is a very difficult place to come as we saw in the Everton game.

"I don't think we played at a level to be a big enough threat. If we had scored early then maybe the game changes and it opens up and Millwall have got to take more chances.

"I think they were always in the position where they weren't going to change the way they played and they looked for their moments."

On what a FA Cup semi-final means to the club:

"We have a lot of people associated with the club that have been through the more difficult times so it means everything.

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"When you are a club the level of Brighton it is very difficult to get to this stage of the competition.

"You know it's not going to come round very often, but when it does you have to big up the occasion as much as possible and praise those that got us there and try to enjoy it the best we can.

"In all honesty I don't think it means as much as to what it means to other people, like the players or the supporters.

"Our support has been outstanding all season. We've had full houses (at the Amex) and we've got a board and a chairman, and a chairman in particular who has bankrolled this club to where we are.

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"As a manager and an individual these are the moments that you want. You want promotions, you want your team to do well, and of course you want to get to the latter stages of this competition."

On their semi-final clash with Premier League title-chasers Manchester City:

"Yes of course we can (upset the odds) but at this moment we are delighted and chuffed to have got through.

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"The three of us (left in the FA Cup) would have all wanted to avoid Man City. At this moment they are one of the best teams in the world and they are going for four competitions.

"As showed today, and as showed yesterday, teams can get close and there can be upsets.

"If you have enough going for you and the opposition don't have one of their better days, who knows what can happen."

On the lack of VAR at today's game:

"The only reason I know this is because people look and tell me. For Duffy we should have had a penalty and I think their was a foul for their first goal.

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"Although their goal was well worked it was a foul, and Montoya was well through and, my first impression was that the flag has gone up so he must have been offside.

"I was told not so long afterwards that he wasn't offside and I don't think it would have been the case of the Millwall defenders realising that in getting back.

"There were moments in the game that go against you and there is three things that have gone against us but Solly's bit of fortune has gone for us.

"If I'm a team that has benefitted from it in one game then I don't think it's fair on the teams that don't have it."

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