Two-goal hero Sam Baldock has hailed boss Chris Hughton after firing Albion back to the top of the Championship.

The striker's double in the 2-0 win at Barnsley, the first of his Albion career, gave Hughton the 50th league win of his reign to celebrate his 100th match in charge.

Baldock told The Argus: "I think you will struggle to find many better in the Championship or outside the Prem. All the boys like him, he treats everyone the same.

"He doesn't have favourites, he speaks to everyone the same.

"There's so much respect for him. He doesn't demand it, he's earned it for what he has done for us over just over two years now. He is a big figure as to why we are where we are."

 

Baldock's second half brace followed two defeats and a draw from the previous away league games at Brentford, promotion rivals Huddersfield and Preston, plus a home draw with Ipswich on Tuesday.

Baldock said: "The main point we wanted to get across was to get back to the way we play football, get a clean sheet, attack from a solid foundation.

"I think we did that really well. We had a couple of half chances in the first half, but we never really looked like conceding.

"Our two banks of four were really solid and we, at a minimum, matched their workrate which is something you have to do in the Championship."