Chris Hughton is plotting the latest FA Cup shock on Sunday, as his Brighton and Hove Albion side face holders Arsenal.
The former Spurs player and coach has only been in the Albion hotseat for a matter of weeks and now has the chance of upsetting Arsene Wenger’s men.
Brighton v Arsenal
FA Cup Fourth Round
Amex Stadium
4pm Sunday 25 January 2015
Live on BT Sport
Winners receive £90,000
And with a sell-out crowd expected at the Amex Stadium following an upturn in fortunes and a win over Championship high-fliers Ipswich Town in midweek, Hughton believes it’s a good time for the Seagulls to tackle this match.
“There's real excitement ahead of the game, in a week when we’ve had three home games,” said the ex-Birmingham City, Newcastle United and Norwich City boss.
“We’re expecting a record crowd on Sunday, so we know what the game means to the fans and the football club.
“It’s a nice game for everybody concerned and especially our supporters, who have been brilliant this week.
“There’s not one player who doesn’t want to play and it’s great for the club to be involved at this stage in the competition playing a team of Arsenal’s magnitude.
“I hope the fans can go away and say we gave them everything and that they enjoyed what they saw”
Chris Hughton Brighton boss
Following a disappointing start to the season under former boss Sami Hyypia in which Albion lingered in the lower reaches of the Championship table, Hughton was appointed on New Year’s Eve to turn things around.
It has been a promising start since his arrival with the Seagulls edging up the league and gaining confidence.
And he is hoping that feel-good factor will be evident on Sunday afternoon when Wenger’s men arrive on the south coast for the final tie of the day.
“I just hope that we can make it a really good day for everybody and if it’s a game we’re not able to win, then I hope the fans can go away and say we gave them everything and that they enjoyed what they saw,” added Hughton.
“Everything about how we’ve been this week has been positive. We couldn’t fault what the players gave us [against Ipswich] on Wednesday and now this is a challenge that everybody wants from myself, to the club, to the players – who certainly won’t need motivating.
“It’s a really good opportunity for them to play against some of the best players in the country and every one of them will want that opportunity.
“It’s about making a good account of ourselves and we need to play well enough on the day; if we do that it gives us a chance.
“I’m looking forward to what will be a very good occasion.”
