Boss Chris Hughton believes Albion can take confidence from finishing above Newcastle into the Premier League next season.

The Seagulls will be promoted as champions if Hughton's old club lose at Cardiff tonight.

If Newcastle draw, then a matching draw for Albion against Bristol City at the Amex tomorrow would also be enough.

A fifth straight home win since losing to Newcastle at the end of February guarantees the title for Hughton's side, irrespective of the Toon's fortunes in Wales.

Ending the season above the North-East giants seemed an unlikely target back in August.

Hughton told The Argus: "If we are able to win on Saturday, then the confidence the players will have is that we are going up as champions and, yes, I think the confidence of finishing above Newcastle.

 

"You'd like to think the players could take that into next season. I feel that what ever teams go up from the Championship start at a decent level.

"There are always going to be a group of six or seven teams in the Premier League that can possibly go down. Any team that goes up starts in that six or seven."

Newcastle clinched promotion under Rafa Benitez a week later than Albion by beating ten-man Preston 4-1 at St James' Park on Monday night.

Hughton and Benitez have been in touch about their respective triumphs. "I spoke with him a couple of days ago," Hughton revealed.

"He was the winning manager both times but when we played them this season we had really good conversations afterwards. I'm really pleased for them as well.

"As a manager, you are in a competitive league all season. You meet all the managers afterwards. Everybody's fighting the best way they can and you probably don't want to have preferences.

"But I spent three years at Newcastle, so as a club I'm very fond of them. Certainly in the Championship they are giants, with their stature and support at home.

"There are always the capabilities, when they get it right, that they are a big team in the Premier League as well."

Newcastle's simultaneous return to the top flight will make it that much tougher for Albion to survive in the Premier League.

But they have demonstrated the strength in depth of the squad by responding without two prominent players since Benitez's team snatched victory at the Amex.

The Seagulls have turned around a two-point deficit to surge four points clear, even without central defender Shane Duffy and striker Sam Baldock.

Duffy broke a bone in his foot the game after Newcastle's win at the Amex - in the defeat at Nottingham Forest.

Baldock has been sidelined by a glutes injury throughout the April surge to promotion.

The Argus: Uwe Huenemeier (above) has been an effective deputy for Duffy next to Lewis Dunk, Tomer Hemed likewise for Baldock alongside Glenn Murray, despite the fact they are similar-type target men.

Albion powered to promotion with seven wins and a defeat after losing Duffy, and they reeled off five victories in a row without Baldock.

Hughton said: "They are, and have been, big players for us in the period of time when they played.

"But when you have got a bit of continuity and momentum in the team, which we have had, it just goes to show.

"Anthony Knockaert has been a big player for us this season as regards his goals and assists but it's not about individual players, it's very much about the team."