Season Review: Brighton boss Hughton proves credentials in the Premier League

Chris Hughton has endured a fairly rough time as a manager, most would say undeservingly so.

After winning the Championship with Newcastle in 2010, the Magpies sacked Hughton before Christmas that year despite the fact the club were 11th at the time.

Fast-forward eight years and Hughton has led Brighton to the Premier League and secured their top-flight status at the first attempt.

The Seagulls finished seven points clear of the bottom three and the task for Hughton next season will be to improve on this season’s 15th place finish.

SUCCESS – PASCAL GROSS

Brighton’s first signing of last summer proved to be their best one this season. Hughton’s side shelled out a measly £3m to sign Pascal Gross from German side Ingolstadt and the 26-year-old has been a revelation for the Seagulls this term.

Gross played a direct hand in 44% of the goals Brighton scored in the Premier League this season, scoring seven goals and providing eight assists for Hughton’s side.

Furthermore, no Premier League player created more goalscoring opportunities from set-pieces than Gross this season (36) and it would be a surprise if no team expressed an interest in his services this summer.

FLOP – ANTHONY KNOCKAERT

After inspiring Brighton to promotion from the Championship last season, Anthony Knockaert has failed to make the same impact in the Premier League this term.

The 26-year-old finished last season as the highest WhoScored rated player in the Championship (7.60), but it’s been a different story for the Brighton No.11 this term.

Knockaert has only mustered three goals and one assist in 33 league appearances for Brighton this season.

He isn’t the first player that has struggled to make the transition from Championship to Premier League football, nor will he be the last, but Hughton will hope for a better return next season.

Grade - B