Chris Hughton has highlighted the importance of Albion’s clean sheets – in a high-scoring week for his side.

The Seagulls have hit ten goals in their last three games and have yet to concede in four matches this season.

They are off to a similar start to that they enjoyed a year ago – but have opened at home with successive 3-0 wins rather than the harder earned 1-0 victories secured at the Amex last August.

Asked if that showed the progress his side have made in 12 months, Hughton told The Argus: “There is no doubt what we have added since January to the squad is offensive competition.

“This after arguably Jamie Murphy and Kazenga LuaLua were our best two players last week (against Colchester). I thought they were both excellent.

“We have good competition and we have Solly March to come back but the clean sheets are always going to be the foundation to build from.

“If you have got enough ability in the side that can score goals, then it’s a good formula.”

Hughton said he never feared a hangover from last May’s heartbreak as the new season approached He said: “I must admit I didn’t feel any of that in the pre-season period.

“I suppose if we hadn’t started so well, people would have looked at it and thought there was a little bit of a hangover but I haven’t felt that and results would bear that out.”