Brighton boss Chris Hughton insists players have not 'downed tools' in battle to avoid relegation

Brighton boss Chris Hughton says his players have not "downed tools" in the club's battle to avoid Premier League relegation.

The Seagulls have failed to score during a five-match winless streak but Saturday's 0-0 draw against Wolves at Molineux halted a run of four successive top-flight defeats.

Hughton has dismissed suggestions his side, who are three points above 18th-placed Cardiff, have given up in their battle to beat the drop.

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"I don't think anybody could accuse a group of players at Wolves on Saturday of it not meaning enough or downing tools. Absolutely that's not the case," he said.

"We are a team of our level playing in the Premier League and up until probably the last month or so we've been in a decent enough position in the league.

"Probably our poorest period came at the worst time, but that happens when you're playing in a division as difficult as this one and when you are the level of club that we are.

"We have to find formulas and pull out results to get the points that we need."

Cardiff's 2-0 loss to title-chasing Liverpool on Sunday means Brighton retain a three-point cushion on their rivals, in addition to a vastly superior goal difference and a game in hand.

However, Albion have taken just nine points from a possible 42 in 2019 and Hughton acknowledges they must take responsibility for their failings.

"You have to accept whatever criticism there is," he added.

"The biggest thing from the players and the response I felt on Saturday was their own feelings that we'd let ourselves down in the games that people would have expected us to do better in, particularly the home games.

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"As a team we've felt we haven't been good enough and we've had to react to that."

Brighton's game in hand comes on Tuesday evening against Tottenham, live on Sky Sports Premier League, and will be Hughton's first visit to Spurs' new stadium.

The 60-year-old won two FA Cups and the UEFA Cup with Tottenham during his playing career, but admits his enjoyment of the occasion will be dependent on his team's display.

"I was there all in all for 27 years and I have lots of memories as a player and as a coach," he said.

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"I haven't been [to the new stadium]. Of course, at one stage this looked like it was going to be the first fixture there but because of our exploits in the cup that wasn't the case.

"I'm looking forward to going there. How much I'll enjoy it will be down to the performance the team put in but I'm hoping I can enjoy it."

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