Is this the year Brighton and Hove Albion finally earn promotion to the top flight of English football?
Brighton’s Glenn Murray celebrates
As Brighton and Hove Albion sit just one point below leaders Newcastle United in the Sky Bet Championship going into Christmas, eight points separate The Seagulls and third-place Reading.
One would forgive a club with that sort of cushion to already having one eye on the promised land of the Premier League come next season. Except Chris Hughton’s men will know better.
Brighton manager Chris Hughton
For two of the last three seasons, the East Sussex side have sat pretty in the top two over the festive period, only to let slip a commanding position, ultimately suffering play-off heartache on each occasion.
Never mind the seven-year itch, for The Seagulls, two years of disappointment in the last three has been hard to stomach for the fans, who can almost taste top-flight football.
In 2013, sitting in eighth spot going into the festive period, Brighton surged up the table to secure a playoff spot by May. Oscar Garcia’s men however met an in-form Derby County in the semi-finals and were thrashed 6-2 on aggregate.
A dejected Leonardo Ulloa of Brighton and Hove Albion after the game
Having narrowly survived relegation the season following, the Seagulls then went unbeaten until the Christmas period last season, sitting in second position.
Then between December 19 and January 12, they lost four of five games and slipped into the top six. Losing just one more before the final weeks of the campaign, Brighton knew wins versus the Rams and/or Middlesbrough could be enough.
Chris Hughton’s men however drew both, as the playoffs lottery beckoned again. The South coast side froze once more, losing 2-0 at Hillsborough, before a 1-1 draw at home to Sheffield Wednesday consigned Brighton to more anguish.
Brighton’s Tomer Hemed hits the post against Sheffield Wednesday
So what of this season? Eight points is a considerable margin. Brighton have lost just twice this term, but more importantly have won 14 of 22 games.
The Christmas schedule is once again set to be pivotal, with the visits of lowly Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff City representing the chance for six points, before a tricky trip to an improving Fulham on January 2.
Do Brighton have the goals and defence to carry them to promotion this time around?
Brighton’s Glenn Murray celebrates scoring their third goal
Glenn Murray has netted 14 times in The Championship alongside Anthony Knockaert’s seven, but psychologically the French midfielder was part of Leicester City’s promotion to the top flight in 2015 and could be key later this season.
The defence has been resolute also and will look to Lewis Dunk and Dale Stephens to guide them through any potentially murky waters that lie in wait.
Brighton then are in the best position yet to finally earn promotion to the Premier League. The Seagulls however will know that until the line is in sight, nothing will be taken for granted. Even when it is, no Championship chickens will be counted.
But May of next year could very much be a case of third time lucky for the south coast side.
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