Could a pair of lucky socks take Brighton into the Europa League?

Like thousands of other Brighton fans, I started this season receiving the gift pack containing the lucky socks. Can socks be lucky simply by having the word “lucky” printed on them?

I am not a superstitious fellow, but the only game I wasn’t wearing these socks so far this season was the defeat to Everton. Make of that what you will.

Personally, I think it is much more down to Graham Potter’s coaching and organisational ability, and the implementation of his plans by the players than what I have got on my feet. But if you think I am going to wear any other type of sock on future matchdays then you have got another thing coming.

Albion’s terrific start to the season continued with a narrow 2-1 victory over Leicester City. It is certainly true that Lady Luck smiled on us that day.

I try to look at all decisions made in favour of the Albion and wonder how I would have felt had they been given against us.

While you can make a case for all three decisions that impacted the result hugely as being the right calls, had they all gone against Brighton I, for one, would have been fuming.

However, Jannick Vestergaard’s handball and both Harvey Barnes’ offside calls would sit firmly in the “I have seen them given” camp.

And, hey, we are certainly due a bit of luck. Over the last couple of years, you could argue that it has been in relatively short supply.

We all remember Leandro Trossard hitting the woodwork about a million times against Manchester United, not to mention the penalty for handball after the final whistle had gone.

And the less said about Lee Mason’s laughable handling of the free kick incident against West Brom when Lewis Dunk scored, did not score, scored again, did not score again, the better.

But this was not just a victory built on good fortune; there were plenty of other important characteristics on show too.

Grit and determination are certainly words that have been used to describe the Albion across their Premier League era, with Lewis Dunk and Shane Duffy proving once again that on their day, they are up there with the best central defensive partnerships in the division.

Neal Maupay looks an invigorated player so far this season. The confidence with which he dispatched his penalty past one of the league’s best goalkeepers in Kasper Schmeichel was mightily impressive. As was Danny Welbeck’s glancing header a few minutes into the second half.

Brighton have been scoring all types of goals this season, and the last couple of games have even seen wins without Pascal Gross, who has been the Albion’s most creative player in the Premier League by some distance.

Most of the plaudits in September so far, however, have been reserved for Marc Cucurella – and rightly so. He was superb on his home debut.

He looked assured both defensively and going forward. He had the most touches and the most successful passes of any Brighton player. And his hair is magnificent. It looks like Potter and his scouting team have unearthed a gem of a player here.

I do not think any Brighton fan is getting ahead of themselves, realism is in our supporting DNA. But pundits and so-called experts have been saying for a long time that Brighton are better than their league position suggests, and with a little bit of luck could achieve great things.

So, with Brighton currently sitting in the top four and eminently winnable fixtures coming up against Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Norwich City, why shouldn’t we be thinking about a potential round trip to Belarus or Azerbaijan on a Thursday night next season?

Maybe Potter’s coaching, recruitment and tactical implementation are all going to click this season, and Brighton fans can afford to be cautiously optimistic. Then again, it may be the lucky socks…