Brighton & Hove Albion boss Chris Hughton has praised Steve Clarke ahead of his side's clash against Reading at the Madejski Stadium.

Clarke has helped stabilise the Royals in the Championship this season as well as guiding them to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they face a replay against Bradford City next week.

Hughton is confident that Reading will be a successful outfit in the near future as the players become accustomed to the Scot's methods.

He told Brighton's official website: "He did a wonderful job at West Brom and he's now got a project at Reading; I'm quite sure he'll be successful.

"He's a good coach and a good manager. He is managing a team in a very tough division with a lot of good clubs in it and I've got no doubts that his influence on the team and the club will reap benefits.

"They have got the possibility of going through to an FA Cup semi-final. I'm sure that if you had told him at the beginning of his role that he would achieve that, then he would have been delighted with that."

Brighton are one place below Reading in the Championship ahead of their match.