Progress can come in many different ways - Chris Hughton
The Seagulls finished 15th and collected 40 points in their debut Premier League campaign last season.
They looked on course to better both of those in the first half of this season but a run of just two points from seven games to start 2019 saw Albion slip down the table.
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Hide AdThey are 15th and five points clear of the relegation zone on 30 points with ten matches to go.
Asked if Albion are still looking to better last season's points total, Hughton said: "For me it's always been about making sure we in the division.
"There are too many good clubs who have gone out of this division and found it hard to get back in.
"Sometimes an improvement in the squad or the team doesn't necessarily equate to the amount of points you get.
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Hide Ad"You can go through a season where everybody else around you is improving and is better and it's more competition.
"You can see aspects of the club and individuals who have really come on, so progress can be in other ways.
"For me the target was always to make sure we are still in the Premier League next year and giving ourselves another opportunity to make progress."
Brighton travel to rivals Crystal Palace this afternoon and Hughton is eager for his side to make a better start than last season when they trailed 2-0 early on at Selhurst Park, before losing 3-2.
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Hide AdHe said: "It was a very strange game. We certainly wouldn't want to start that way again.
"It was a very poor start and when you are 2-0 down away from home at Crystal Palace with the support they've got, we gave a good fist of it in the end, but you give yourself a big job to do if that happens.
"So we certainly wouldn't want to have that type of start."
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