Brighton better equipped to avoid repeat of play-off heartache

The Championship is an exceptionally unforgiving league, as Brighton found out last season. The nature of the play-off system means that the season ends in high drama, to the delight of the neutral but at times the despair of fans of the clubs involved.

The format is a popular one in general but does have its critics, usually coming from the club that finishes third in the league and inevitably fails to secure promotion. That was the fate of the Seagulls last season, who could scarcely have come closer to automatic promotion, missing out to Middlesbrough on goal difference following a straight shoot out for second on the final day of a remarkable campaign.

There was a sense that, having put so much effort into trying to salvage a spot in the top two that they had held for so long, Brighton’s eventual heartache at the Riverside took its toll on Chris Hughton’s side. They would lose over two legs in their play-off semi-final with sixth placed Sheffield Wednesday, who finished a full 15 points below Brighton in the regular season.

It was a cruel end to a campaign that the Seagulls really deserved more from. They lost just 5 games all season, four of which came in the space of five matches in what was a torrid festive period and start to the New Year for the club. Indeed, were it not for a wobble that saw Brighton pick up just 3 points from 21 available between the middle of December and middle of January, Hughton’s side would have strolled to promotion.

The fact that just one month of misery could effectively end a team’s chances of success highlights just how important consistency and concentration can be in a long an arduous 46-game campaign. It’s fair to say that Brighton will hope to have learned their lesson, desperate to avoid the drama of the play-offs this time around.

Despite a superb season last time around though, Brighton were not a strong favourite to go one better this season. Relegated Villa, Norwich and, in particular, Newcastle, were all tipped to bounce back at the first time of asking. While Hughton’s men were among a group of sides including fellow play-off victims Derby and Sheffield Wednesday to be there or thereabouts, the experienced Premier League trio all had more support with the bookies.

It makes Brighton’s most recent victory over Chris Hughton’s former side Norwich an even stronger signal of the side’s intent not to see a repeat of last season. The 5-0 win sent a real message to the rest of the league that the Seagulls are a force to be reckoned with once more, with a side that is undoubtedly better equipped to sustain a promotion push.

The south coast club are in a very healthy position, three points behind Newcastle in second, with a tally of 31 points after 15 games identical to this stage last season. However, with more goals scored and fewer conceded this time around, Brighton are more convincing challengers.

At times last season, as the club continued to stretch an outstanding unbeaten start the campaign, there was a sense that they were really clinging onto that mantle. Accused of concerning themselves more with avoiding defeat then going all out to win matches on occasion, that certainly isn’t the case this time around.

While still winning plenty of games by the odd goal - five to be precise thus far - the side is now looking even stronger at the back but, more pertinently, a real threat going forwards. The return of Glenn Murray on loan is rightly being lauded as a masterstroke given the striker’s record at this level, with a hat-tick last time out taking his league tally to nine for the season, but in reality there is an unquestionable star in this well organised side.

Once settling into his new surroundings after joining on a permanent basis from Leicester in January, Anthony Knockaert’s impact on the side has been huge. In 35 league starts for the club the Frenchman has been on the losing side just five times, with the club scoring markedly more goals with his inclusion since the start of last season (1.69 per game) compared to without him (1.32).

The 24-year old has six goals to his name this season, and while he’s yet to register an assist the fact that he has created the most chances for Brighton this season (24) suggests the fault lies elsewhere in that regard.

Moreover, a total of 61 dribbles is the highest in England’s second-tier, while an impressive average of 2.3 tackles per game also highlights that Knockaert is committed to this side and doesn’t shirk his defensive duties. Such an excellent all round contribution sees the winger rank second in WhoScored.com’s ratings in the Championship (7.85). Therefore, while Murray is certainly emerging as the difference maker from last season’s ultimately failed attempt at securing a first ever Premier League berth - boasting a strong 23% conversion rate - it’s Knockaert that consistently stands out as the side’s most destructive force.

However, to get out of this league you need more than just a bright spark in attack, and in Dunk and Duffy Hughton has a young and commanding centre-back pairing that look capable of doing their bit to ensuring Brighton can usurp last season’s finish. A tally of just 9 goals conceded is at least 3 lower than any other side in the league, while a total of nine clean sheets is another record in the Championship thus far, with Dunk recently named WhoScored.com's Championship Player of the Month for October.

With games against Bristol City, exceeding expectations, and Villa, unbeaten under Steve Bruce, either side of the international break, we’ll know more about Brighton’s chances of avoiding last season’s fate before long. For the time being they appear to have everything in place to secure a spot in the top two. Star quality, a proven goalscorer, solid defensive pairing and a manager with an excellent record at this level, the Seagulls are soaring right now and will take some beating once again this time around.

Will Brighton secure an automatic promotion spot this time around? Let us know in the comments below