Sunday 24 September 2017 07:20, UK
Brighton manager Chris Hughton insists there have been no huge surprises so far with life in the Premier League for his newly-promoted side.
Brighton, playing their first season in the top flight for 34 years, have four points from their opening five games having earned promotion in second place behind Newcastle in the Sky Bet Championship last term.
Newcastle are the visitors to the Amex Stadium on Super Sunday, live on Sky Sports Premier League at 4pm, and Hughton has earmarked the clash against his former side as winnable, adding that the intensity and challenges of the Premier League have not surprised him so far.
He told Sky Sports: "We know Newcastle well from last season, for us it's a home game, and in this division there are a group of teams that you know it's very difficult to get a result against.
"Then there is also a very big group of teams you feel you can get results from, and Newcastle come into that category. I don't think it's detrimental to say that, because plenty will say that about us. It's a real good opportunity for us.
"There haven't been huge surprises in these first five games. We have to be conscious we are a new team coming into this division, and we're going to find it hard.
"We're going to lose more games that we previously have, and these are the things we have to get used to and accept. But we have a good platform here, we think we've added good quality to that."
Hughton - who has also had spells at Norwich and Birmingham City - was sacked as Newcastle manager in 2010, just months after leading them back into the Premier League.
The 51-year-old insists, however, that he isn't out to prove a point, and is only focusing on his own side and their fortunes.
Asked if he had a point to prove, Hughton said: "No. My remit is to make sure we are a Premier League team next season, and all my focuses and goals have always been on the job I'm doing at that time.
"That's my goal and focus. So no, I've never felt I have a point to prove. What I've always felt is that I want to be managing at the top level, either taking the team there or having a job there.
"We want to be a consistent Premier League club over the years and we certainly know the difficulties in this division, but it has to be in the division next season.
"Would we settle for 17th? We never like to speak that way because we don't know what the season holds, and some fare better than others. We've given the club a good opportunity to grow and develop.
"It has certainly been a learning curve for us. The pleasing thing is that we feel like we've been in the five games we've had so far and we've had good contributions in all five games."
Watch the extended interview with Chris Hughton on Super Sunday - Brighton v Newcastle - from 3.30pm on Sky Sports Premier League.
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