BRIGHTON WILL PLAY in next season’s Premier League after securing automatic promotion from the Championship.

Chris Hughton’s side knew that victory over Wigan coupled with a draw or defeat for Huddersfield against Derby would guarantee them a place in the top-flight for the first time since 1983.

They kept their part of the bargain by racking up a 2-1 victory against the Latics while, at Pride Park, an 88th-minute equaliser from Jacob Butterfield ensured a 1-1 stalemate and confirmed a top-two finish for Brighton.

With a seven point gap back to Newcastle in second, the club can claim the Championship title on Friday with a win over Norwich.

Gareth Fuller Gareth Fuller

Brighton’s story is all about perseverance. Last term, they missed out on an automatic promotion place on the final day of the season after drawing 1-1 with Middlesbrough, who went up instead.

Then in the playoff semi-finals, they were beaten by Sheffield Wednesday.

But this season, they and Newcastle have battled it out at the top of the table, with Brighton pulling away in recent weeks.

Hughton returns to the Premier League for the first time since 2014, when he was sacked as manager of Norwich.

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