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Chris Hughton disappointed but unsurprised by Claude Puel sacking

Claude Puel and Chris Hughton, Brighton vs Leicester City
Image: Chris Hughton (right) has sympathy for sacked Leicester boss Claude Puel

Chris Hughton admits he is disappointed Leicester sacked Claude Puel but says it is not a surprise in modern football.

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Leicester parted company with Puel on Sunday in the wake of their 4-1 home defeat to Crystal Palace, their sixth defeat in their last seven matches in all competitions.

Brighton play Leicester at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday and Hughton is waiting to see what their opponents' reaction will be to the sacking of their manager.

"Any time a manager goes, whether it's a Premier League manager or one throughout the leagues, it's always very disappointing," said Hughton.

"We've got to the stage in our game where there are not so many surprises but of course you always feel for the manager.

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Jamie Redknapp felt that Claude Puel had lost the support of both the Leicester players and fans before being sacked on Sunday.

"There is no doubt the hard work he would have put in to get them where they are. It's disappointing news but in this day and age, it's not a surprise.

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"They are a very good team and if we are talking about a manager going on the back of a result [the home defeat to Crystal Palace], it was a very good performance. Certainly, they are not a team who deserved to lose 4-1 to Crystal Palace.

"They have a lot of ability in the team and very good individuals. How it will affect the team and the group, the answer is I don't know.

"We have to concentrate on the things we feel can get us a result and we need to start picking up some points."

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Chris Hughton has admitted he is concerned by Brighton's form, with the Seagulls yet to register a Premier League win in 2019.

Brighton were due to play Carabao Cup finalists Chelsea at the weekend and have cup commitments themselves when they face Millwall in the FA Cup quarter-finals on March 17.

That may leave them with a Premier League fixture backlog towards the end of the season, something they can ill afford after slipping dangerously close to the drop zone in recent weeks after picking up just two points from their last six league matches.

"You have to be concerned but that's our job and that's the level of club that we are," added Hughton on the subject of fixture congestion.

"We've gone from being, about three Premier League games ago, in a good position in the league, seven points clear of the relegation zone, to where we are now [just three points clear] on the back of three disappointing results.

"These are the facts and we need to start picking up points in whichever way we can do that.

"The fact we are still in the cup, I think it's a plus for us as a club and for the momentum of the team.

"But we need to start picking up some Premier League points and Tuesday night at Leicester gives us the first opportunity and then we go into a very big game at home to Huddersfield on Saturday."

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Hughton also provided an injury update, with striker Glenn Murray and centre-back Lewis Dunk back in training and likely to be fit for selection against Leicester.

"Leon Balogun is the only one not available," he said.

"Murray, Dunk and [Jose] Izquierdo are all back - we have some decisions to make today.

"Solly March is also fine and has trained in the last few days - as has Jurgen [Locadia], he's one we have to make a decision on too."

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