MX23RW : Sunday, February 3 23:05:29

Chris Hughton delighted with strength of Brighton squad

Chris Hughton delighted with strength of Brighton squad
© Reuters
Albion are seven points clear of the Premier League relegation zone.

Brighton boss Chris Hughton says January signings were unnecessary as he has cover for every position and is "delighted" with the strength of his squad.

Hughton has resisted the temptation to bring in senior players this month and is not expecting any first-team arrivals before the transfer window slams shut late on Thursday.

Albion sit seven points above the Premier League drop zone in their quest for survival, despite Tuesday's second-half collapse at Fulham condemning them to a third-successive top-flight defeat.

"Our thoughts approaching this one was that we didn't need to do any business," said Hughton.

"And any business we would have done would have been because somebody became available that we didn't think (was), or an injury.

"I'm delighted (with Brighton's squad). And I can tell you now, if I felt that we needed to do something, I would have been pushing and I would have made sure that we can't take any chances.

"For us, it's very much making sure we stay in this division.

"I think what we've got, and the level of competition, we are covered in every area.

"We're close to a full squad and a full squad means a competitive squad."

Brighton appeared on course for a significant success in midweek when an early brace from Glenn Murray put them two goals ahead against Claudio Ranieri's struggling side at Craven Cottage.

But the second-bottom Cottagers battled back to win 4-2 and keep the 13th-placed Seagulls looking over their shoulders.

Veteran striker Murray has scored 10 of Albion's 27 top-flight goals this season, with centre-back Shane Duffy, who has found the net four times, the only other player to have contributed more than two.

Ahead of Saturday's home clash with Watford, Hughton called on the rest of his squad to chip in and ease the burden on 35-year-old Murray.

"What we want is a contribution from the team and certainly not only a reliance on a centre forward," said Hughton.

"Certainly we would like that load distributed throughout the team. He's in good form, Glenn, and we've needed that."

While it has been a quiet transfer window at the Amex Stadium, the club had some activity on Thursday concerning their under-23 side.

Iceland Under-21 international Stefan Ljubicic joined non-league club Eastbourne Borough on loan until the end of April, while fellow striker Arron Connolly agreed a new contract which keeps him with the Seagulls until June 2022.


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Glenn Murray scores for Brighton & Hove Albion on December 4, 2018
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool24194155144161
2Manchester CityMan City25192466204659
3Tottenham HotspurSpurs25190651242757
4Chelsea25155545232250
5Manchester UnitedMan Utd25146549351448
6Arsenal25145651361547
7Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2511593332138
8Watford259793334-134
9Everton2596103636033
10Bournemouth25103123744-733
11Leicester CityLeicester2595113031-132
12West Ham UnitedWest Ham2494113037-731
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2576122736-927
14Crystal Palace2575132633-726
15Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2566132133-1224
16Southampton2559112742-1524
17Burnley2566132646-2024
18Cardiff CityCardiff2564152246-2422
19Fulham2545162555-3017
20Huddersfield TownHuddersfield2525181346-3311

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