Chris Hughton has revealed how a rousing finale from Albion’s players and fans kept him going during a tough summer.

The Seagulls are aiming to impress a television audience as they go to Newcastle tomorrow.

They are off to a solid start with eight points from four matches after the double hammerblow of missing out on promotion, then a play-off final last term.

Hughton has told his former rival boss Ian Holloway how Seagulls fans stayed until the very bitter end of the play-off semi-final at home to Sheffield Wednesday.

He believes that – sparked by the team’s performance in the 1-1 draw – helped him through the close season.

Hughton said: “It was very difficult at the end of last season but what helped me was the performance in the second leg at home.

“The support thoroughly appreciated what they had given me all season.

“We couldn’t have started that game any better. We were so good on that day.

“Generally before the end of the game a certain percentage of supporters are trying to avoid the traffic and get trains.

“But the percentage of support that was still there and stayed was an appreciation of what they had seen all season.

“It wasn’t a bad summer. The way we finished in that last game made me feel very proud of that team.”

Hughton told Holloway, was visiting Albion’s training ground on behalf of Sky Bet: “The players applied pressure on themselves to maintain standards and they want more of that this season.”