Bailey's got belief in PNE

The Lilywhites have taken points off all the teams above them in the table, getting a draw at Brighton in October’s reverse fixture.

Being able to go one better and beat Chris Hughton’s fourth-placed side on Saturday is a target for defender Wright and his PNE team-mates.

“Our results against the top teams have been generally very good,” Wright told the Evening Post.

“Those games tend to have a better atmosphere, with the other team bringing more fans or our attendance goes up.

“That can spur us on and maybe it makes for a better game of football.

“We aim to play well against whoever we play, no matter where they are in the table.

“With us being where we are in the division, we want to push higher and see where that takes us.

“It is a real boost if we can beat someone higher up, someone with a bigger budget.

“Sometimes it is not about bigger budgets, it is about the group of lads you have and being prepared to work hard for each other.”

Brighton travel north on the back of successive 4-0 wins over Bristol City and Leeds.

The victory over Leeds was televised, giving Wright the opportunity to have a look at what they would be up against.

Said Wright: “Brighton have had a good season so far.

“We got a good draw at their place earlier in the season at a time when they were unbeaten and on a good run.

“They are in good form at the moment and pushing for automatic promotion.

“Watching their win against Leeds the other night, they played some good football.

“We are on a good run ourselves and we can’t let one result at Cardiff get us down.

“That was never going to be an easy game, with Cardiff strong at home.

“When you look back at Cardiff, it was probably a game of contrasting halves.

“We were much better in the second half and who knows how things could have worked out had Adam Reach’s goal not been disallowed?

“There are still plenty of games left and we remain confident of a high finish.”

Wright believes that a clear midweek might have come at a good time for PNE, enabling them to freshen up after three games in a week against Sheffield Wednesday, Charlton and Cardiff.

“So far this week, we have been able to have some time on the training ground and get some rest,” said Wright.

“We have hopefully got the batteries re-charged and will be ready to go again.”

Several of the squad got a run-out in a friendly against Burnley on Tuesday.

John Welsh, Ben Pearson, Callum Robinson, Marnick Vermijl, Eoin Doyle and Jordan Hugill were among those who played in the 2-0 defeat at the Clarets’ Gawthorpe training ground.