Albion boss Chris Hughton says more is expected of leaders Newcastle in the Championship promotion race.

And he wants his players to enjoy the pressure of the fight to reach the Premier League.

The Seagulls face successive showdowns at the Amex with fourth-placed Reading tonight (5.30) and Newcastle on Tuesday.

The North-East giants are a point above Hughton’s side with a chance to stretch their lead at home to relegation-threatened Bristol City before Albion kick-off.

Hughton told The Argus: “There’s no doubt the expectation is more on Newcastle than ourselves, simply because of the stature of the club.

“They were a Premier League club last season and have been for an incredibly long time.

“Pressure is something we all go through, whatever position in the league you are.

“We all have to be able to cope with the pressure. Even here expectations have risen as the season has gone on.

“You have got to be able to, as much as possible, enjoy that type of pressure, because it’s the pressure you want to be under.”

Newcastle under Rafa Benitez beat Aston Villa 2-0 at home on Monday to regain top spot from Albion.

Hughton said: “I heard Rafa’s comments before the Villa game, explaining how difficult this division is.

“Aston Villa have found it difficult this season and that is how this division can be. We’ve all felt that and it’s about trying to keep the standards as high as you can for as long as you can.

“We all go through the pressure of being where we are and you have to be able to take that on.

“I have no doubts about an ability to be able to cope with it, or dealing with the pressure of this period of the season.”

The Seagulls currently have a four-point cushion over third-placed Huddersfield, who visit Barnsley today.

Hughton added: “Ultimately for a team that doesn’t achieve what they want, it’s about the division.

“It’s impossible to get all the results you want, to play at a level you want all the time. It’s about when that doesn’t happen can you still get results?

“And when you’ve got a group of teams like we have at the moment, that are such good teams, capable of winning so many games, it’s just going to be on the level of performance for the remainder of the season.”