Big summer ahead for Brighton

Seagulls already moving on targets

Brighton’s sorry end to the Championship season saw them throw away the chance to win the title, losing it to Newcastle on the final day. In an end-to-end battle with The Magpies throughout the campaign, The Seagulls were well-placed to go up to the Premier League as winners.

Going in to the final three games of the term, Chris Hughton’s side had an advantage over Rafa Benitez and co, forcing bookies to mark them down as strong favourites for the trophy, but one point from a possible nine saw the dreams of fans fall flat. Defeat to Norwich and Bristol City was followed with a 1-1 draw vs Aston Villa, Jack Grealish scoring a last-minute leveller, before the curtain dropped.

Brighton are back in the big time

Everyone at the Falmer Stadium, from the players and management right through to those in the stands, will be furious at the manner in which the side appeared to choke when it mattered most. It is now in the history books however, Newcastle are 2016/17 Championship winners, as was expected in pre-season, leaving Brighton to settle for a silver medal.

Every cloud, and Brighton are back in the Premier League, taking heart from sides who finished runner-up in recent years. Being best of the rest didn’t seem to affect the likes of Southampton, Watford and Burnley over the past few seasons, and each are now a familiar face at the head table.

Work done in the summer at both Brighton and Newcastle will be the difference between the two when their Premier League season kicks off in the summer, the Championship race then nothing but a distant memory.