Chris Hughton wants the "safety net" of 40 points for Albion.

The Seagulls are five points and five places above the Premier League relegation zone following the 0-0 draw at home to Watford.

They secured safety last season with two games to spare by beating Manchester United to reach 40 points.

Fewer points than that has been enough in recent seasons but Hughton is not taking any chances.

He told The Argus: "It never is (40 needed) but we still always do (aim for it). That's your safety net as such.

"I think that's a sensible one to look to achieve and of course the quicker you can get there the better."

Hughton was happier with the performance than the result.

Albion recovered from shipping four second-half goals at Fulham to be the first team to prevent Watford scoring away since early December, Lewis Dunk denying sub Andre Gray late-on.

Watford keeper Ben Foster made several second-half saves to stretch the sequence without a goal at the Amex to three matches in all competitions.

Hughton said: "The initial reaction is disappointment, because it's a game we should have won. If it wasn't then you'd be more happy with a draw.

"Ultimately it's about points. You always look back on games you should have won but in the end it's a good point.

"In the last ten minutes when they had the chance you are thinking it's going to hit the back of the net, so you are thinking you are going to come away with nothing from a good performance against a good team. So there are pluses to the point."