Brighton and Hove Albion 2015/16 Season
League Position: 3rd (2014/15: 20th)
Average league attendance: 25,583 (2014/15: 25,644)
Top league goalscorer: Tomer Hemed (17)
From a 20th placed finish 12 months ago, Chris Hughton oversaw a magnificent resurgence on the South Coast last season. Unbeaten in the league until December, The Seagulls missed out on automatic promotion to the Premier League on goal difference before suffering the heartbreak of Play-Off defeat to Sheffield Wednesday.
Club hero Bobby Zamora returned to Brighton from Queens Park Rangers on a 12-month deal in the summer while Fullback Gaetan Bong [Wigan Athletic] and goalkeeper Niki Maenpaa [VVV-Venlo] were also added to the squad. Brighton let both Craig Mackail-Smith and Paddy McCourt leave for Luton Town, while Aaron Hughes joined Melbourne City in the A-League. Academy product Bradley Barry was sold to Swindon Town and defender Germaine Agustien left upon completing a year of his contract.
If, after avoiding relegation by just six points during the 2014/15 season, media and pundits expected another season of struggle at The AMEX Stadium they were quickly proved wrong as Brighton roared out of the traps, taking 19 points from a possible 21 as they led the table until November. A run of seven league games without a win, including their first defeat of the season at the hands of Middlesbrough, over the Christmas and New Year period saw them drop to sixth but the additions of Rajiv van La Parra [Wolverhampton Wanderers] and James Wilson [Manchester United] in the January loan window added renewed impetus to The Seagulls' season.
Four straight wins in January and February, including a 3-0 success over The Bees, moved them back into contention. Following a 4-1 defeat to Cardiff City in late February Hughton's men went 14 games unbeaten to the end of the season, a final day draw against Middlesbrough not quite enough to see them over the line automatically as The Teesiders took second spot and a place in the Premier League. Despite finishing 15 points above sixth placed Sheffield Wednesday, it was The Owls who prevailed 3-1 on aggregate in the Play-Off Semi-Final to put an end to Brighton's fairytale season.
The Ground
American Express Community Stadium Village Way Brighton BN1 9BL Click here for directions to The Amex
The Manager
Chris Hughton took charge of The Seagulls in December 2014 and is the fifth longest serving manager in the Sky Bet Championship. His first game in charge saw a 2-0 FA Cup win over The Bees as he guided Brighton away from the Championship relegation zone in his first five months in charge. His managerial career so far has seen him get Newcastle United promoted back to the Premier League, reach the Championship Play-offs with Birmingham City and save Norwich City from Premier League relegation.
The former left-back spent over a decade playing for Tottenham Hotspur before moving to West Ham United and finally Brentford in 1992. He earned 53 caps with the Republic of Ireland, for whom he acted as assistant manager between 2003 and 2005. Hughton's performance with Brighton this season saw him pick up two Manager of the Month awards, in August and April, as well as the Football League Championship LMA Manager of the Year.
The First Meeting
11 September 1920, Football League Division Three - Brentford 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 0 Brentford: Durston, Hodson, Rosier, Challinor, Levitt, Amos, Smith, Thompson, King, Morley, Henery Goals from Challinor and Amos secure a second ever Football League win for The Bees
The Last Meeting
5 February 2016, Sky Bet Championship - Brighton and Hove Albion 3 Brentford 0 Brentford: Button, Colin, Dean, Barbet, Bidwell, McEachran, Woods, Swift, Judge, Saunders, Vibe A night to forget on the South Coast as Brighton ease to victory
Head to Head
Brentford wins: 36 Draws: 16 Brighton wins: 38