At the beginning of the 2016/17 campaign, most Championship fans expected Rafa Benitez's Newcastle United to romp to the title this season. The Magpies suffered a shock relegation from the Premier League last year but Benitez has changed the mood on the terraces a St James' Park.
Newcastle fans are now very confident of a return to the top flight at the first time of asking but Brighton & Hove Albion could be set to pip Benitez's side to the crown as both clubs look to secure automatic promotion.
As of December 15th, both sides have played 21 matches and Newcastle are just one point ahead of Chris Hughton's side. The Seagulls have an eight-point advantage over third placed Derby County and neutrals will be cheering Brighton on after they fell agonisingly short in the automatic promotion race last season.
Hughton's men lost to Middlesbrough on the final day of the campaign to miss out on the Premier League before losing to Sheffield Wednesday in the playoff semi-finals. Furthermore, most football fans didn't particularly like how Newcastle owner Mike Ashley treated Hughton during his tenure at the club and most supporters would love nothing more than for the Brighton boss to beat the Magpies to top spot.
Punters looking for additional value should consider backing Brighton to go one better this season and finish above Newcastle in the Championship title battle. For those looking for a slightly different way to support the Seagulls, bitcoin is proving a popular way to bet on sports and bettors can back Hughton's men at 1.30 to secure their place in the Premier League.
If nothing else, Brighton look primed to push the Magpies very close indeed – especially as last year's defeat at the final hurdle seems to have made Hughton more determined than ever to lead the Seagulls back to the top flight.
Hughton's managerial record is actually worse at Brighton than it was at Newcastle and it would be nice to see the Seagulls boss mastermind his current side to top spot before the end of the campaign. With Glenn Murray firing in the goals and Brighton's solid defensive effort, anything is possible…
Brighton's talismanic striker has netted 13 goals in 22 appearances this campaign; and his home form has been second to none. 12 of those strikes have come at the Amex Stadium but the Albion forward's recent strike away at Blackburn Rovers could give him the confidence to go on a scoring run on the road.
Defensively, Brighton are sound and Hughton has one of the sternest units in the second tier at his disposal. The Seagulls have conceded 13 goals in 21 fixtures; the joint-lowest total in the division as well as keeping 13 clean sheets – an incredible statistic considering we are still in December.
If Brighton can maintain their current form at the back, there's absolutely no reason why they cannot continue to pile the pressure on Benitez's side. Hughton is one of the most organised managers in the Championship and he is the key to Brighton's promotion aspirations.
You would be hard pressed to find a manager who puts more hours in on the training ground and watching film tape, he is 110% committed to his job and the Seagulls will reap rewards from his methods and system.
With over half the season remaining, there are still plenty of points to be won and lost but Hughton could give Albion the edge at the business end of the season.
