Chris Hughton has praised the quality of the Championship as he reaches the climax of one gruelling marathon while preparing to start another.

Albion's manager will send more than 12,000 runners on their way over 26 miles in the Brighton Marathon on April 9.

The Seagulls will, by then, be in the home straight of their promotion challenge, with five matches left of the 46-game slog.

Hughton believes the second tier has been not just about stamina but style as well.

 

He told The Argus: "I think in Europe it still has the fourth largest attendances after Germany, Spain and the Premier League.

"That says something, but the added bonus to the Championship this season is the quality.

"I know there are some bigger clubs perhaps not in the positions people would have expected, but with the likes of Leeds, Reading, Huddersfield, Fulham, Barnsley, the brand of football has been very exciting, very expansive.

"The quality has been excellent and with that you have got the normal competitiveness of this division."

Albion already have as many away wins this season (nine) as they managed in the whole of last season as they head to Leeds tomorrow (5.30). They have collected six more points compared with their away record at the corresponding stage a year ago.

Hughton and his players are blanking out any thoughts of dropping into the play-offs for the fourth time in five years.

"It's not something we're thinking about," he said. "We are thinking about making sure we do the very best that we can in these forthcoming games and if we do well enough then it gives us a great opportunity to get promotion."