The Stars who shaped the Premier League Qualification of Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton & Hove Albion became the first team to secure promotion to the English Premier League for the 2017-18 season from the English Championship, when they beat Wigan Athletic 2-1 on Monday, thus ending a 34-year hiatus from English top-flight football. The Seagulls, who currently lead the points table in English football’s second division, had been suffering disappointments right when they were within touching distance of promotion since the past three seasons(getting knocked out in the playoffs). This time though, they ensured their first ever appearance in the Premier League becomes a reality as they secured an automatic promotion to the most elite football tournament in England. Here’s a look at the major aspects that have been responsible for making Brighton & Hove Albion the 48th club to have graced the Premier League:

The Manager:

When Chris Hughton was appointed as Brighton & Hove Albion’s manager in 2014, the club was struggling in the relegation zone of the English Championship. He not only managed to prevent the club from getting relegated, but has also established them as one of the strongest sides in the league in the past couple of years. He has already won the Championship with Newcastle United, and is on course to become the first manager to have won the tournament with two distinct clubs. Under his stewardship, Brighton & Hove Albion have lost just 12 of their last 90 Championship games. The former Republic of Ireland defender employs an effective 4-4-2 formation, with the modus operandi being counter-attacks, courtesy of the quality wingers he has at his disposal.

The defence:

It wouldn’t be wrong to say that the seagulls have been rock solid at the back, as they have conceded the least number of goals in the league(36) so far this season. Lewis Dunk, Shane Duffy and former Borussia Dortmund centre-back Uwe Hünemeier have been proficient in keeping a check on opposition attackers throughout the season. Full-backs Bruno Saltor and Sebastian Pocognoli have provided ample attacking support to their team’s counter-attacking style of play, apart from doing their defensive duties ably.

The midfield:

Teams in top leagues have midfielders like N’Golo Kante, Luka Modric, Sergio Busquets, Arturo Vidal, etc. who control the game from the centre of the park. Brighton & Hove Albion have two such players, Englishman Dale Stephens and Israeli International Beram Kayal. Kayal has exceptional interception skills and has been instrumental in winning back possession for his team. Stephens is the one who makes them tick, extending support to the centre-backs, thus enabling the full-backs to make overlapping runs. Championship player of the season, Anthony Knockaert, who has scored 15 goals in the Championship, and local lad Solly March have been phenomenal on the wings, thus maintaining their manager’s strategy of attacking predominantly from the flanks.

The Attack:

Brighton & Hove Albion have scored the second highest number of goals(73) in the Championship so far, just three less than Newcastle United, who have scored the highest. England International Glenn Murray, who is second on the goal-scoring chart(behind Leeds United’s Chris Wood(25 goals)), has scored 22 goals and partners either his countryman Sam Baldock or Israel’s Tommer Hemed in a two-man strike force. The fact that Baldock and Hemed have scored 11 goals each proves how sharp the forwards have been in finishing the chances created by their team-mates(mostly wingers) for Brighton & Hove Albion.