Promotion to the Premier League has become a “genuine possibility” for Brighton

Despite a stop start beginning to the season, Brighton and Hove Albion find themselves in seventh position and just five points off the top of the Championship after eight games.

The Seagulls started the season well with back-to-back 3-0 home wins against Nottingham Forest and Rotherham United respectively, after they had drawn 0-0 at Derby County on the opening day of the season.

However, a 2-2 draw at Reading was then followed by a 2-0 loss at Newcastle United with Chris Hughton’s side completely outplayed by their manager’s former club, which was followed up by a very disappointing defeat at home to Brentford by the same scoreline.

Back-to-back league wins have seen Hughton’s Brighton move up to seventh spot in the standings – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Bereft of confidence, the side’s collective low ebb was epitomised by Gaetan Bong’s sluggish start to the season as he looked totally lost at left full-back, shaky when driven at and incapable of finding a man with a ball into the box as he struggled to create any understanding with Jiri Skalak.

The Albion were also coping with Dale Stephens’ deadline day transfer request, following an offer in excess of £8m from Premier League newcomers Burnley, which was rejected.

The 27-year-old midfielder later wrote a statement on Twitter declaring how he “recognised this could be my final chance [to play in the Premier League].

At the beginning of the season, I wrote a piece on how losing out on signing Tottenham midfielder Alex Pritchard could be symbolic to the rest of the squad as a lack on intent on the club’s behalf, and there’s no doubt that players such as Stephens are concerned that the club aren’t looking to go one better than last term and go up automatically.

However, the famous chant of ‘one nil to the Albion’ reverberated around the AMEX Stadium last Tuesday, the 13th, as Brighton beat table topping Huddersfield Town.

The chant has been synonymous with supporting the Seagulls, especially throughout their time at the converted athletics track that was the Withdean Stadium, as a single goal victory would be grounded out amongst the backdrop of a single firework being set off in the distance to celebrate the goal.

The Terriers had started their campaign strongly, including an impressive 2-1 victory at St. James’ Park when they travelled to Newcastle.

The game was hardly a classic, but with the maverick Stephens restored to the side, Hughton’s men impressed in patches with last season’s 17-goal top-scorer Tomer Hemed looking the most likely to score.

Eventually, the winner came from Anthony Knockaert.

Midfielder Stephens has played the full 90 minutes in both of the Seagulls’ slender wins over Huddersfield and Burton – Photo: Marc Atkins / Offside.

Four days later, it was once again courtesy of some magic from the Frenchman that the Albion were able to earn a penalty, which Hemed converted for an 88th minute winner away at Burton Albion.

The former Leicester City winger has rejuvenated the attacking line-up with his jinking runs and slick close control that bamboozles full-backs.

Away from the riches of Newcastle and Aston Villa, the 24-year-old is a cut above the standard of the Championship and will surely be playing in a higher division next season – joining Stephens, even if the Albion don’t make it.

These back-to-back wins have put the Seagulls in a commanding position as the manic months of October and November approach, with the automatic promotion spots now a genuine possibility – instead of a mere hope.

This has come after manager Hughton identified the weakness at the back, as he narrowed the back-line and bought in Stephens to play in a more defensive role alongside Beram Kayal.

With these changes, and despite Brighton’s mixed start, it may well be time to look up and more promisingly as the manager continues to rectify any problems with his starting eleven.