Chris Hughton has praised the way Rafa Benitez has managed expectations at Newcastle.

Hughton's old club have reeled off a hat-trick of Premier League victories after opening with two defeats against a backdrop of dissatisfaction over their summer transfer business.

Albion boss Hughton, up against Benitez again at the Amex on Sunday, said: "I think he has managed them (expectations) very well. A reflection of that is always the points you have got.

"Any team getting promotion to the Premier League and starting the season with nine points out of a possible 15 is a very good achievement.

"So certainly they've had a good start and continuity from last season. They have a lot of players at this particular moment playing well who have been with them for a while now.

"He's a very good manager, very experienced and he will have gone through any situation that he's faced.

"Recruitment is not just about one window. Newcastle recruited very well last season and some of those players that are performing particularly well this season are players that played the whole of last season."