Hughton: We'll need Premier League know-how

The Seagulls finished 15th with 40 points in their debut Premier League campaign last year and have picked up four points from as many games this time around.

Albion travel to Southampton tonight looking for their first away league win since November.

Brighton's players have spoken about having more Premier League know-how this season and asked if that's something he's had to teach, Hughton said: "You’d like to think it comes…the balance coming into this season was, and will continue to be, is there going to be that bit more maturity having experienced it last year or it can go the other way where players feel they have made it and there is a little bit of inconsistency that sets in.

"So I think that’s the first one, that we can use the experiences of last season because I certainly think we will need it this season.

"The three teams that have come up, and we have spoken about the money that has been spent, I think will come up better prepared than at any other time so I very much hope it will be that first one."

Over the international break, much had been made of whether Albion had changed tactics for the new season.

A stats-based piece by Football365 showed Brighton have made more interceptions, fewer clearances and given away more fouls this season.

Asked about this, Hughton said: "Our approach probably hasn't changed so much. Sometimes it is due to the type of game. We certainly wouldn't have had those stats in the first game at Watford.

"But then you have a game like United where, as regards motivation and everything you need, you have to perform for 90 minutes.

"Then Liverpool was confidence that we were always in the game and then the Fulham game.

"In mentality we haven't changed, I don't think, too much from what we always do."