Gus Poyet felt the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough highlighted Brighton's progress, while Tony Mowbray admitted the play-off race was getting tight.
Brighton boss satisfied with Boro draw; Mowbray sets target
Gus Poyet felt Saturday's 1-1 draw with fellow promotion hopefuls Middlesbrough provided further evidence of Brighton's progress, while Tony Mowbray admitted the play-off race was getting tight.
Poyet has no doubt the Seagulls deserve their spot in the top six of the Championship and believes they are in a good position with six games remaining.
A 61st-minute goal from visiting forward Marvin Emnes threatened to consign Brighton to their first home league defeat in three-and-a-half months.
But Spanish defender Inigo Calderon gave the hosts a share of the points 17 minutes from time by heading in a corner from substitute Kazenga LuaLua at the far post.
Poyet said: "It was a great game of football, very difficult for both teams and it shows we can compete.
"The longer we stay in the top six the better. There were nerves all over the place, but we are still in there so we can't complain.
"It shows how far Brighton have come and that is the key."
Poyet reckons his players are handling the pressure of the run-in in confident fashion, and has set his men a target of improving their recent away form having taken only three points from their last four games on the road.
He added: "We need better performances away from home but we are there. We deserve to be in the top six.
"We are getting closer and the players are coping well. We were not dominant in this game, but we had the best chances and competed against a very good team."
Boro reaction
Middlesbrough manager Mowbray believes his men will need to win "two or three" of their remaining six games to cement a play-off place.
Boro have drawn their last four matches and have not won in six, but Mowbray feels it is going to be desperately tight in the final few fixtures.
He said: "With four weeks to go it is very tight obviously, but we have to keep going."
Shortly after going ahead, Middlesbrough striker Lukas Jutkiewicz shot against the base of the post and Mowbray felt Brighton would not have come back from being 2-0 down.
He added: "We've drawn four in a row now and it's a very tight league. With six games to go, we'll have to win two or three of them to cement a place in the play-offs."
Mowbray appointed midfielder Barry Robson as new skipper following injuries to defender Matthew Bates, and Robson spoilt an otherwise outstanding performance by failing to stay tight on Calderon as Albion equalised late on.
Mowbray said: "Robson is annoyed at losing his man at the far post, and it was that which cost us the goal.
"But credit to Brighton. Their psychology can only benefit football. Brighton play in a similar way to how Swansea played in the Championship last season.
"We were a bit stretched defensively due to injuries, but you wouldn't have thought so."
