Chris Hughton will urge his Brighton players to stay out of their comfort zone this Christmas despite a strong fist half of the Premier League season.

The Seagulls are nine points clear of the relegation zone and start their busy festive schedule with Saturday's trip to Bournemouth before hosting Arsenal and Everton and travelling to West Ham.

"We're in a better point position than this time last season but it never feels comfortable," Hughton told the club's official website.

"Whenever you look ahead to your next game it can be quite daunting in this league with the levels of some sides.

"But we're developing side that still has to prepare correctly for every game and make sure we give everything.

"We're not the type of side that can go into matches and not put in a performance and expect to get a result.

"But in comparison to last season, I think we've been in games more and given most teams a good test, we have to keep those standards up."

Meanwhile, midfielder Pascal Gross is encouraged by Brighton's two away wins in the league so far this campaign but insists it must not stop there.

"We need to play the same as we do at the Amex. It's a football pitch and the other pitches are the same, just with a different crowd," Gross said.

"It effects you a little bit and most teams win more games at home, but we have to try the same style away from home.

"We've done it a little bit this season — we've had some big wins away from home against teams behind us, but we want to improve every day and every week."