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Chris Hughton confident Brighton can end Man Utd's unbeaten home record

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Brighton boss Chris Hughton has backed his side to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford this Saturday

Brighton manager Chris Hughton believes his side can become the first team to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford in over 14 months.

United's last home defeat came against rivals Manchester City on September 10, 2016, but since then Jose Mourinho's side are yet to lose in any competition at Old Trafford, winning all of their home games this season.

Brighton have never won at Old Trafford while United's only home defeat against a team in their debut Premier League season came in 1997 - a 3-1 loss to Derby.

But despite the history books being against Hughton's side, he still feels his team can win on Saturday.

Chris Hughton during the Premier League match at the Liberty Stadium
Image: Chris Hughton is yet to beat a Jose Mourinho side in his managerial career

Asked if Brighton can upset United, Hughton said: "Of course we can. We know what we'd have to do to do that.

"There aren't many teams at our level that are going to go there and win. You've got to play at a very high level and you've certainly got to have that bit of luck that goes with a win away from home at any one of the big clubs.

"But these are the days you've worked so hard for as a team and it's what we got promoted for. What we hope to do is to make a good account of ourselves there and we hope we can do that.

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"You can't go there with fear because if you do then it's inevitable what will happen. You have to go there with a belief and a confidence that you can get something.

"For all the things said about the stats and nobody expecting us to get a win, at some stages teams do and surprise everybody.

Brighton's only visit this season to a top-six club came in October at The Emirates where the Seagulls lost 2-0 to Arsenal.

But since that defeat Brighton are unbeaten in their last five games, and although Hughton feels his side can take confidence from that run, he knows his newly-promoted side are underdogs at United.

Nacho Monreal scored Arsenal's opener
Image: Brighton's only trip to a top-six side this season ended in defeat at Arsenal

"The pressure is off because of expectations," the 58-year-old said.

"I am being realistic when I say that a large majority of people in football would not expect us to get a result on Saturday. In some ways that's not a bad starting position because it takes the pressure off the team and we know that anything that we can get will be a bonus.

"But we are going there in good form and we've been a good team so far this season, so what is important is that you stay in the game because these are the types of games that if you don't then you can get beat big."

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