Chris Hughton is on course to upstage even the legendary Alan Mullery in Albion folklore.

Victory over Wigan at the Amex today will effectively clinch promotion to the Premier League for the first time in the club's history.

They have gone up to the top flight once before, of course, back in 1978-79 under Mullery.

It was called the First Division in those days but Albion did not finish first in getting there. Arch-rivals Crystal Palace pipped them to the title by a point.

Beating Wigan will not only see them over the promotion line, it will also leave Hughton's side two wins away in their last three games from going up as champions.

The Argus: Nearest challengers Newcastle provide a link to Hughton and the charismatic Mullery (above) stretching beyond their respective strong histories with Spurs.

 

It was Newcastle that Mullery's Albion defeated to go up 28 years ago, and it was Newcastle that ditched Hughton within months of their runaway success in the Championship seven seasons ago.

Finishing above the North-East giants would certainly be something to shout about.

You will not find Hughton, the calmest manager on the planet, raising his voice - except occasionally to his players.

Dale Stephens, Albion's midfield general, revealed: "He shouts when things are going wrong. It's great that he can do that.

"He's a calm character - I'm sure you know that - but when things are not going right he makes it known.

"He's got the respect of every player and every member of staff. He has since he walked through the door, purely because of his pedigree at this level."

Hughton said last week he has nothing to prove in the Premier League after his brief spell in the top tier with Newcastle and less than two years at Norwich.

One thing you can be certain of next season. Albion will not be lacking in meticulous preparation.

"He works hard at it," Stephens said. "We're on the training pitch every week working on how we're going to play. We don't really change for anybody.

"We play the way we play and what he thinks suits us. He has got us playing the way he believes and that is reaping its rewards."

The Hughton way is primarily a resilient, compact 4-4-2, not unlike Burnley, the club that was so desperate to sign Stephens last summer that they made six bids.

"Yeah, possibly," he said. "I think you have seen as well when we have gone ahead in games we can adapt and go to a five in midfield.

"It's something he believes in and has played previously. If you can master a couple of formations it will suit us."