Hughton bans Wembley talk

Chris Hughton is adamant that there will be no talk of Wembley at Brighton as they must “focus” on their upcoming Premier League games. The Seagulls boss was delighted when his side overturned a 2-0 deficit to force last Sunday’s FA Cup quarter-final clash at Millwall into extra-time, before edging through 5-4 on penalties.

It set up a semi-final showdown against Manchester City at Wembley on April 6 with Hughton admitting there is a “real buzz” around the Amex Stadium. But, Brighton have a Premier League home game against Southampton to come immediately after the international break on March 30, before a rearranged clash against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge before the City clash.

Therefore, Hughton wants no talk about the FA Cup until they have played those matches as Albion look to edge towards the 40-point safety mark. He told the Argus: “The players know the semi-final is not next week. I don’t think it will be a problem. What we have got to do is put the semi-final on hold until it comes around.

“At the moment there’s a nice buzz, but it will get to a stage over the next few days where we won’t want to be talking about the semi-final. “I know there’s organisational things to be done, but certainly as regards myself and the players we certainly won’t want any talk of the semi-final.

“We want total concentrations on taking this good run – we are now on the back of three wins – certainly into the Southampton game and then the other games. “Everything I talk about to the players now will be the league campaign and the next game. I am not even entertaining at this moment the team I will play or any tactics against Man City.

“All I’m thinking about is getting results in these games and hopefully going into the semi-final on the back of some decent results. At the moment they are more important. What I won’t accept is any thinking about the semi-final before it comes around.”