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Newly promoted Brighton and Southampton both began life in the Championship with wins last weekend. The Life’s A Pitch panel expects them to continue their progress this season and challenge for a play-off place at the first time of asking.

Brighton came from behind to beat Doncaster Rovers in their first competitive game at the Amex Stadium, while Southampton strolled to a 3-1 victory over Leeds.

Dominic Fifield of the Guardian feels that with their promotion momentum, significant spending and big, full stadiums Brighton and Southampton will compete for a play-off place. “You’d expect [Brighton and Southampton] to be challenging this season with the momentum they’ve gained from coming out of League One into rammed stadiums and they’ve spent a bit of money as well,” Dominic explains. “I think Southampton will spend a bit more before the window closes.

“Brighton have made some fantastic signings. It pains me as a Crystal Palace supporter to say that they are a club that is going places. They have a magnificent set up there, a great manager [in Gus Poyet], they could go through that division pretty quickly.”

John Cross of the Daily Mirror was particularly impressed with how Southampton turned over established Championship side Leeds. ”They really surprised me,”says John. “Southampton have got a bright young manager in Nigel Adkins, and bright young players.” Despite losing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Arsenal, John says “you will see them definitely challenging for the play-offs this season, without any shadow of a doubt.”

Martin Lipton of the Daily Mirror believes much of Brighton’s success is down to manager Poyet. “He always has had a lot about him,” Martin points out. “He’s an engaging character, he’s a passionate man, he sometimes oversteps the mark, but there’s also that engaging smile when he does.

“When he was at Spurs as a number two, he was always happy to engage and chat and he’s a decent bloke. I think people will warm to him. Clearly at Brighton they did. They think he’s done a good job and rightly so.”

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