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Championship: Chris Hughton takes positives from Brighton's win over Leeds

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: The Brighton & Hove Albion manager Chris Hughton prior to the FA Cup Third Round match against Brentford
Image: Chris Hughton: Delighted Brighton kept a clean sheet

Chris Hughton felt Brighton's 2-0 home victory over Leeds was the most satisfying win he has experienced since taking over as Albion manager on New Year's Eve.

Goals in each half from Sam Baldock and Inigo Calderon gave the Seagulls successive home victories for the first time in a year before a crowd of 25,274.

Brighton are now six points clear of the drop zone and Hughton said: "We were very good in our home win over Ipswich, but getting a clean sheet against Leeds meant a lot.

"Before last Saturday's home game against Birmingham, we had successive clean sheets at Cardiff and Sheffield Wednesday so we are becoming resilient."

Albion have now taken 14 points from nine games since Hughton took charge, and the former Newcastle, Birmingham and Norwich boss added: "To be undefeated in the last four games is important for us and we must make sure that we keep that momentum going.

"There is good competition in the squad at the moment."

Hughton had special praise for Baldock, after the player had labelled as "strange" the way Brighton have used him since becoming their big summer signing from Bristol City.

Baldock prefers being used as a centre forward with a partner but has been deployed in a different way, both by ex-boss Sami Hyypia and his successor Hughton.

The Brighton manager said: "The two qualities that help Sam is that he gets into positions and he works hard. They are two good qualities and that will help him in the position he is currently playing in.

"I can imagine some frustration on his part, but he's on the team sheet."

Leeds head coach Neil Redfearn refused to be too hard on his players after hopes of a sixth win in seven games were dashed at the Amex Stadium.

He said: "We started well and nullified Brighton quite a lot. But as the game wore on Brighton were the better side, created chances, and deserved the three points.

"But I can't be too downhearted. We were the form team coming into this game and it's a measure of how far we have come that we are disappointed to come away and not to win."

Leeds have now taken 35 points in 23 games under Redfearn, who admitted the result had brought a dose of reality to his team.

He added: "We were the form side in the league but this division has a way of bringing you back down to earth.

"We were nothing like we can be, we looked a little jaded and as though we had played to the max in the last few games.

"We made bad decisions in possession, didn't press Brighton enough, and didn't break with menace.

"After the run we've had, we must pick ourselves up and, as there is an imbalance in the squad with players out injured, we may have to look at the loan market.

"We had to take Steve Morison off just after half-time with a groin injury. He put in a real shift but we got him off quickly to limit the damage."

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