ALBION boss Chris Hughton says staying in the Premier League this year would be just a good as last year.

The Seagulls have a cushion of five points over Cardiff, who are at the Amex on Tuesday after Bournemouth's visit tomorrow.

They also have a game in hand of the Welshmen and a superior goal difference.

Hughton said: "It would be as big an achievement (as last season) because we are still not at the level that three, four, five years in the Premier League allows you to be.

"We're still learning about the division, the highs and lows, up and downs, the performance gaps as such.

"We're still learning a lot about this division and that's why we are so desperate to make sure we stay in it."

Albion finished 15th last season on 40 points. They are currently 16th with 33 points and seven matches left.

Hughton said: "We have made progress in the team and the way the team is playing.

"We've changed a system to what we predominantly played last season. Probably the true calculation is about where you finish and how many points you finish with.

"It's not a true evaluation because I think you can still finish on the same amount of points or less points and feel you've improved or developed as a team.

"It may just so happen the teams around you have been better.

"I think we have improved, certainly in some aspects of our play, but it's also about where we finish in the league and how many points we finish with."