CHRIS Hughton hopes he is close to solving Brighton’s inconsistency problems after two successive wins.

The Seagulls made it four games undefeated with a 2-0 victory at home to Leeds United last weekend, climbing to their highest league position since September as a result.

After struggling early on under Sami Hyypia, ex-Newcastle United boss Hughton quickly restored solidity to a side that has made the Championship play-offs two seasons running when he took the job on at the start of the year.

But only now does the former Republic of Ireland international believe he is making significant forward progress – and Hughton hopes to pick up a hat-trick of wins as he brings his side to the Macron Stadium tomorrow.

“Two back-to-back wins are important,” he said. “You only have to look at Leeds' rise up the table and that is only as a result of winning consecutive games.

“That is now four games undefeated and we have to make sure we take that form to Bolton and try to get a result there. It is about keeping the momentum going and the players are in a good place at the moment.”

Hughton took on the job with Brighton sitting 21st in the Championship, having previously been linked with the vacant role at Wanderers.

He has since helped the club edge away from trouble with four wins and two draws from his nine games in charge.

Meanwhile, Hughton looks set to continue using striker Sam Baldock in an unfamiliar wide-left role against Wanderers after the former West Ham and MK Dons man scored his third goal in four games against Leeds.

“There are two qualities Sam has got that help him in that position,” Hughton explained. “One, he is a striker so he can get into positions but he is also someone who works hard.

“The balance is very much that, yes, I can imagine the frustration but of course he is on the team sheet and if I’m looking at my period here he is on the team sheet far more often than he has not been on it.

“That is the balance. Sometimes as a player you have to accept that.”

Brighton have won their last three games against Wanderers and have only once lost a league game in Bolton.

That came in March 2013 when Marcos Alonso secured a fifth consecutive win for Dougie Freedman’s Wanderers, who were getting themselves into play-off contention.