Duffy says Brighton can't get ahead of themselves

The Irishman was on target in Brighton’s 2-2 draw with West Ham on Wednesday but is remaining focused on the task ahead rather than getting carried away.

Albion currently sit in 13th place on 26 points, with a ten point gap separating themselves from the relegation zone, and are only five points off seventh-placed Leicester.

Looking ahead to the second half of the season, Duffy said: “We’ve got to take it game by game and we’ve got to keep going. You can’t get ahead of yourself, we know we’ve got to beat the teams around us as well.

“We’ve got two tough fixtures coming up now (Liverpool and Manchester United), anything happens in this league. We’ve got to believe. We’ve got the confidence. We’re on a good run of form at the minute so anything can happen.”

The Seagulls have had a pleasing return over the festive period, picking up five points from their last three games against Arsenal, Everton and West Ham.

Duffy said: “It’s been three tough games on paper, more in the way we play. We’ve played well in all three games so that’s pleasing and five points is still good in this league.

“We’re disappointed coming away to West Ham and not winning and I think that’s the progress we’re making over the couple of seasons we’ve been in the Premier League. It’s good signs but we need to learn from tonight, it’s a big disappointment.”

Albion took a two-goal lead in the second half at the London Stadium as Duffy grabbed his fourth goal of the season to double the advantage after Dale Stephens’ opener.

But two strikes in as many minutes from Marko Arnautovic saw West Ham deny Albion all three points.

On his goal, Duffy said: “It was a bit of a hit and hope. I felt like I’d get a few chances all night, I was happy it dropped to me and I just tried to take it down first and saw the keeper didn’t react so I’m happy to get another goal but disappointed we didn’t win the game.

“We knew they’d throw everything at us and probably two individual mistakes cost us.

“The feeling in the changing room after was disappointment, so it shows we’re coming a long way.”

Brighton boss Chris Hughton was frustrated not to hold on to all three points and said: “We scored two goals reasonably quickly and so have they. I’m hugely disappointed because there won’t be too many opportunities, particularly away from home.

“They showed after a difficult start what a good side they are. I thought our first half was very good so the overriding feeling is one of disappointment.”

Looking ahead to the rest of the Premier League season, Hughton said: “We’re still very much trying to get to the magic figure of whatever it is and making sure we can keep as big a gap between ourselves and the bottom three as possible.

“There are certainly pluses about our season. In the last three games we’ve had, albeit two of them at home, against tough opposition to get five points from nine is a good points tally for us.”

The Seagulls take a break from Premier League action tomorrow when they travel along the south coast to Bournemouth for a FA Cup third round clash.

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