ALBION boss Chris Hughton has no regrets about the way he has set the team up against the big guns of the Premier League.

And he has hit back at claims by TV pundits Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville that the top flight is becoming boring.

Albion’s 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on Boxing Day stretched their record to six defeats out of six against the top six, with 14 goals against and one for.

Hughton, asked if he would change the way the Seagulls played against Chelsea and company, said: “No. The scoreline that we found most difficult was the Liverpool game and if anyone saw that, we tried to play our part in that one and lost (5-1) to six shots on target, five goals, brilliant counter-attacking play that everyone wants to see.

“So a lot of people don’t realise how difficult it is against that top group. Would I have done anything different? Possibly in some games but that would be true in every game we play.”

Sky pundits Carragher and Neville were scathing of the negative approach by tomorrow’s hosts Newcastle under Rafa Benitez in their 1-0 defeat by runaway leaders Manchester City at St James’ Park on Wednesday evening Hughton said: “I heard some of the comments and I understand that they are there to give opinions about what they see.

“I don’t see that (boring) because we are one-and-a-half seasons away from Leicester winning the Premier League. Man City are extraordinary this season I think but the nature of our game is that next season they may not be.

“So no, I still think it is the most exciting league in the world and there is always going to be and there has always been that difference between a Chelsea or a Manchester United (and the rest). Probably it’s a reflection of how Man City are at the moment.”

Albion avenged Newcastle beating them twice last season and pipping them to the Championship title with a 1-0 win at the Amex in September.

Striker Sam Baldock, sent-off in the 2-0 defeat in the north-east, is still waiting for his Premier League debut following summer calf surgery as the Seagulls try to end an away goal famine spanning seven hours.

Hughton said: “Sam is pushing really hard, looking really good in training.”