Nigel Clough believes Albion will go up this season – and will reap fringe benefits of last year’s near miss.

The Burton boss highlighted the hosts’ superiority in both penalty areas after their 4-1 win over his side on Saturday.

He also spoke of what the visitors seemed to feel was a discrepancy in the way Stephen Martin refereed the two teams.

But it was perhaps his theory on how the Seagulls might prepare for life in the top flight which was most interesting for home fans fervently hoping their side are, indeed, on their way.

He said: “I think it is their year this year without doubt. Having been so close last year, everything is set up for it. The whole club is set up now.

“I don’t think, with hindsight, it will do any harm having that extra season. I think that will make you stronger for staying up when it happens in the summer.

The Argus:

“I never believe you can go up too soon but I don’t think this extra season in the Championship will have done any harm.”

Clough was disappointed with how his side played in the first half.

But he felt they should have been teeing up a penalty just before the interval for a foul by Dale Stephens on Lucas Akins.

Clough said: “We should have had a penalty ourselves in the first half with Lucas Akins on the far side.

“They get one which is iffy, we don’t get one. There are little things like that you could do without coming to Brighton. It’s hard enough as it is."

Akins was asked if he was fouled in the box and replied: “I believe so. I’ve got to the ball first and touched it and the lad took me out.

“I asked the referee at the time and he thought the contact was minimal. He admitted there was contact.”

As the questioning continued, Akins replied: “It is difficult for a club like ours to come here and get big decisions.

“I don’t want to bemoan decisions too much. We still had opportunities to get back into the game.

“I think the club is in its first season in the Championship and, coming to places like here where they are trying to get into the Premier League, it’s easier sometimes to give it to the home team, especially a team like Brighton with masses of fans.

“I thought quite a few decisions went against us in the run of play but that is how it is.”

Albion striker Sam Baldock gave Akins’ penalty claim short shrift.

Baldock had some empathy with the challenge facing Burton on Saturday given he is mates with former MK Dons defender Tom Flanagan, with whom he chatted at some length after the game.

But he said: “I think he’s clutching at straws. I had a clear view of it and it wasn’t a penalty.

“They were adamant ours wasn’t a penalty but I don’t know why Solly would go down when he’s clean through on goal and about to shoot.”

The Argus:

Burton offered nothing in the first half – apart from that penalty shout – but had a few flurries in the second, usually without a finishing touch.

Clough said: “I think it showed the gulf in quality in both penalty areas. That is where Brighton are strongest, defending when you put balls into the box.

“Dunk and Duffy deal with the vast majority of them.

“Then they have that bit of quality in your penalty area to hurt you. They don’t need to have lots of control of the game.

“Especially when you can bring Glenn Murray off the bench with 15 or 20 minutes to go – that helps!”