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Hughton: "It's a very significant fixture"
Written by Dan King
Chris Hughton admits there's no getting away from the importance of Brighton's game against Newcastle on Tuesday night.
But the Seagulls' boss knows that nothing will be decided this week in the race for promotion from the Sky Bet Championship.
Hughton led Newcastle to the Championship title in 2009/10, and now he's looking to achieve the same feat with Albion, who returned to the top of the table at the weekend.
Newcastle are one place behind but Hughton told the official Brighton website: "The major significance of this game is that it's the next one. I don't think Newcastle are under any more pressure than we are. It's the pressure that you want at this end of the table.
"They're an exceptionally good side with exceptional players, hence why they've been right at the top end of this division all season and are probably, in most people's eyes, the favourites to win it.
"There's no doubt that it's a big game because of where we are in the division. It's a very significant fixture but there are a lot of games to play afterwards.
"I would expect the majority of those games to be very difficult ones as well. Newcastle is the next one and that’s how we have to treat it. We're at home and it's a game that we want to win."
Brighton just missed out on promotion last time around, but are on course to reach the Premier League.
And Hughton believes that taking the Seagulls into the top flight would rank alongside his memorable title-winning campaign at St. James' Park seven years ago.
"In any player's career or manager's career, you look back on big moments and that was certainly a very big moment for myself," he said.
"It was my first managerial role, so it was something that was very special for me. More importantly, it was very special for the football club.
"It's certainly the highlight. As a manager, you want to be part of winning teams, whether that's winning leagues, promotion or cups.
"But the achievement here would be greater, because of where we are as a football club. Newcastle have been an established Premier League club with massive support.
"This is a club that has never been in the Premier League, so as an achievement it would certainly be greater."
"There's no doubt that it's a big game because of where we are in the division. It's a very significant fixture but there are a lot of games to play afterwards."