Albion boss Chris Hughton has already beaten Middlesbrough rival Aitor Karanka to a Championship prize.

Hughton has been named manager of the month for April.

And the Seagulls have completed a morale-boosting double ahead of tomorrow’s promotion decider with Anthony Knockaert landing the players’ award.

Albion go to Boro with the chance of a top two finish thanks to 16 points from 18 last month.

They also scored 18 goals and conceded only five against Burnley, Birmingham, Nottingham Forest, Fulham, QPR and Charlton. That was enough to ensure first blood went to Hughton in the race to reach the Premier League.

He came out on top from Karanka, Rotherham’s Neil Warnock and Dean Smith of Brentford.

The modest Albion boss said: “I’m picking this up on behalf of a group of lads that have not only excelled over this month but over the season.”

Knockaert had an outstanding April, scoring four goals and also providing four assists.

The French winger, a key hope for Albion at the Riverside Stadium tomorrow, was chosen over Brentford striker Scott Hogan, Derby wideman Johnny Russell and central defender Michael Keane, whose late equalisers against Albion and Boro helped Burnley to promotion.

Albion fans worried about the supposed manager of the month ‘curse’ need not be concerned. Research has shown the average number of points picked up in the game after winning the award is 1.95, equating to a promotion total of 90 over the season.