Clinical. Organised. Comfortable even when they did not have possession.

That is what Paul Heckingbottom made of Albion and why he puts them on a par with Newcastle, the team who will try to displace them from top spot tonight.

Chris Hughton was on his way to the airport by the time his Barnsley counterpart spoke to the written press.

Heckingbottom had seen the Albion boss had made it to the media room first and went away to deal with other duties.

Had Hughton heard what the home boss said then about his side, it would have been music to his ears.

Especially with Albion so focused on regaining their shape and solidity on the road.

He might not have enjoyed the bit where the Barnsley manager said his side should have had a “definite penalty” for handball by Lewis Dunk in the first half.

The Argus:

But Heckingbottom’s view of what makes Albion tick away from home will have struck a chord.

Barnsley felt they were “too soft” in losing at the Amex and wanted to trouble the Seagulls rather more this time. But it did not really happen as the 2-0 double was completed.

Heckingbottom said: “I thought it was an even game throughout but they were clinical at one end and gave us nothing at the other end.

“They were very similar to Newcastle when they were here (and also won 2-0).

“I thought in the first half we did great but didn’t score when we were on top.

“Likewise, as well as we might have been playing, they still limited us to very few chances.

“They are comfortable without the ball as well as with it.

“It was similar in the second half and the goal was a great finish from Sam Baldock. But we were three yards out of position and they were never three yards out of position all game.

“That’s the difference. That’s why they are trying to get into the Premier League. Brighton and Newcastle have done that to us. We were wasteful with what we had and they weren’t.”

Albion retained their proud boast this season of never dropping a point after going 1-0 up. That is some record for a team who have opened the scoring in 17 matches.

But Barnsley tried to respond to Baldock’s dipping opener and Adam Hammill fired their best chance over the bar with his first touch after going on as substitute. Heckingbottom saw that as a big moment.

He said: “I think Brighton are one of the hardest teams to play against when they have gone in front.

“It’s how organised they are, how disciplined they are and the players they have got to hit you on the counter.

“We knew it would be tough. If we had got that goal, I’d have fancied us more at 1-1 than I did at 0-0.

“It’s a momentum shift. Goals change momentum. When it’s 0-0 the game is fizzling nowhere.

“It’s a great finish from Sam for 1-0. We can nit-pick over why it went in but it was a great finish.

“We had what would have been a great, well-worked goal for us but we miss it and a few minutes later it’s 2-0.

“The difference when you play the top teams is they have got the players who can be clinical like that. Half-chance, goal. A bit of magic from Knockaert on the right, bang, 2-0.

“We have won games like that as well. We were clinical in midweek at Villa (where they won 3-1). There was nothing in the game but goals win games.”