Brighton and Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton has said he is not going to set a points target for his side as they look to gain promotion to the Premier League.
The Seagulls are currently in second place in the Championship table, level on points with league leaders Newcastle, and have occupied an automatic promotion spot for the vast majority of the season.
Despite his side’s fantastic campaign so far, Hughton told West Sussex Today that he will not reveal a set points target, citing the heartbreak of last season as his reason.
He said: “We got 89 points last season and normally that’s enough for automatic, I think it’s probably going to be more than that.
“But setting a points target? No. I could tell you one now and it could be completely different.”
Albion were pipped to second place by Middlesbrough on the final day last season, missing out on promotion to the top flight on goal difference.
Although last season’s points tally of 89 would have seen the Seagulls promoted as champions in three of the previous five Championship campaigns, Hughton added that the strength of the league this year is different to other seasons.
“I think it has had to be as with Derby, Villa and Norwich, they are three clubs that everybody expected to be in the top six. I think we have all probably benefited from that.
“For the teams up there, to be ahead of the three I have mentioned, they have really had to up their game. I have been really impressed by some sides, Huddersfield, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds have been strong this season.”
Brighton travel to Elland Road on Saturday to take on fellow promotion contenders Leeds in a huge game at the top of the Championship.
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