Chris Hughton will have one target in mind after digesting Albion's Premier League fixture list for 2018-19.

How do they get to 40 points again?

The traditional safety target has been downgraded in recent seasons. The mid to high thirties usually gets the job done.

Thirty-four would have been enough last season, so as it transpired Albion were actually safe after beating Arsenal at the Amex in early March.

They did not appreciate that at the time, of course. Safety - and that magical mark of 40 - was guaranteed with another Amex upset against Manchester United in the final home game (below).

The Argus: The route to survival, or hopefully even better, has parallels with Albion's debut campaign in the top flight once you dig beneath the surface.

At first glance, four of the first seven fixtures against the 'Big Six' represents a horribly hard start.

After starting at Watford on August 11, Manchester United are Albion's opening opponents at the Amex this time.

Although currently scheduled for August 18, that is likely to be one of numerous date amendments for live TV.

A week later it's Liverpool at Anfield, where Albion's season closed last month with a 4-0 defeat.

Then September ends at home to Spurs and away to champions Manchester City.

Albion launched life back among the elite last August against City, who went on to take the title so impressively under Pep Guardiola.

Watford at Vicarage Road, although tricky, is friendlier than that.

The Argus: The Seagulls picked up their first Premier League point there after Anthony Knockaert was chopped at the knees by the red carded Miguel Britos (above).

Hughton will be keen to bring a point or three back from Hertfordshire again, because of the severity of those first seven games.

Having said that, over the same, less daunting period last season, Albion averaged a point per match.

A home game against Fulham, the first of the promoted teams to be faced, and a short journey along the south coast to Southampton after the first international break, will provide an opportunity to gain at least as many points overall from those inital seven fixtures.

That is followed by a potentially crucial period.

Last season, between mid-October and the second week in December, Albion took ten points from nine games.

The final table demonstrated that was below-par. Four of them were against teams that finished in the bottom five.

An improved haul looks plausible this time, from West Ham's visit on October 6 through to Burnley away on December 8.

This section includes the other promoted clubs, Wolves and Cardiff, and none of the top six.

The chance is there to be ahead of where Albion were after 16 games last season, on 17 points.

It gets tougher once more in the seven matches either side of Christmas, a sequence which last season included Spurs and Chelsea, four away fixtures and only six points.

Chelsea, Arsenal (on Boxing Day) and Liverpool at home, Manchester United away, accompanied by two more short journeys to Bournemouth and West Ham (New Year's Day) and a visit from Everton will put the emphasis this time on the Seagulls' formidable form at the Amex.

The most profitable period of last season came between late January and late March, when Albion collected 12 points from a possible 27 from fixtures which primarily repeated the October-December sequence.

Richer pickings appear within range once more, Stamford Bridge in February (below) the only assignment falling into the 'anything a bonus' category.

The Argus: Much was made of Albion's stern finish last time, at home to Manchester United and away to City and Liverpool.

The last six games produced five points. Spurs at the new White Hart Lane starts the sequence on this occasion and the finale is a daunting replica, the Emirates and the reigning champions at the Amex.

The 36th fixture, at home to Newcastle, follows Bournemouth at home and Wolves away. If it all goes according to plan, Albion will not be fretting about 18th, 19th or 20th place by then.