There was a real sea fret hanging over the impressive Amex Stadium, but this was clearly an encouraging performance from Town.

A third and easily most satisfying goalless draw of the Championship campaign underlined the progress being made under Mark Robins.

Thumped 4-1 at this venue last season, Town worked hard for a deserved point which should boost confidence going into the big Boxing Day showdown with Derby.

As Robins noted, Steve McClaren’s Rams and Oscar Garcia’s Seagulls are the in-form sides of the second tier.

While Derby made it 28 points from a possible 33 under the former England chief by beating Doncaster on Saturday, Brighton had five wins from seven going into a game which featured rejected penalty appeals for both sides (claims of a first-half push on James Vaughan and second-half handball by Tommy Smith failing to impress referee James Adcock).

Brighton (0) v Huddersfield Town (0) - James Vaughan is pushed by Adam El-Abd but penalty not given
Brighton (0) v Huddersfield Town (0) - James Vaughan is pushed by Adam El-Abd but penalty not given

There’s a solid spine to Spaniard Garcia’s side, with dependable ex-England centre-back Matthew Upson, busy former Chelsea midfielder Liam Bridcutt and lively striker Ashley Barnes.

David Lopez provides flair and some measured passes, experienced former Valencia man Bruno Saltor, another compatriot of the manager, is a dynamic right-back and then there was Argentinian Leo Ulloa, a hat-trick scorer against Town last term, to come off the bench.

But the visitors, far more homespun in comparison to their hosts, stood firm, and while genuine chances for the visitors were few and far between, the best of them falling to the returning Vaughan, the home team didn’t have that many either.

Robins’ side worked ever so hard to stifle Brighton’s fluid passing game, with one frustrated home fan moved to urge a more direct approach late on, bellowing “You’re not Barcelona you know!”

Few teams are, but Brighton, play-off semi-finalists last season and poised to make another challenge this time, are a decent outfit.

Nobody had blanked them on their own turf previously this season, so Town, well marshalled defensively by Anthony Gerrard and with Alex Smithies making one particularly good save from Dutchman Kemy Agustien, deserve real credit.

Gerrard set the tone with an early sliding block on Barnes, who was to suffer a frustrating afternoon.

And few would have thought the two players either side, Murray Wallace (making his 10th Town appearance) and Smith (sixth), were so raw.

Brighton (0) v Huddersfield Town (0) - Liam Bridcutt and Murray Wallace
Brighton (0) v Huddersfield Town (0) - Liam Bridcutt and Murray Wallace

Left wing-back Paul Dixon put in some crunching challenges and got into some good forward positions, even if the final delivery sometimes went astray.

And Oscar Gobern, making his second successive start and seventh of the season in place of the injured Jonathan Hogg, anchored a gutsy midfield effort.

Town were true to their passing principles, with Ollie Norwood and Adam Clayton working hard to spark things and Adam Hammill getting around the pitch well, but this was a day on which they had to dig in and do plenty of the less beautiful things which football demands.

Substitutes Danny Ward, Duane Holmes and Calum Woods all rolled their sleeves up and got stuck in, and Town will have travelled home with a feeling of satisfaction.

Run of the Ball

3mins:  Ashley Barnes is played in by Bruno Saltor, but is halted by Anthony Gerrard’s well-timed challenge.

8mins:  Paul Dixon and James Vaughan combine neatly, setting up Adam Hammill, whose shot is saved.

11mins:  Martin Paterson shoots wide from distance.

15mins:  Kemy Agustien drills a shot over.

18mins:  Barnes’ header from a corner is blocked on the line by Paterson.

25mins:  Vaughan heads wide from Hammill’s flag kick.

29mins:  Stephen Ward heads wide from a home corner.

34mins:  Rohan Ince shoots too high after Adam Clayton is dispossessed on the edge of his own penalty area.

39mins:  Murray Wallace makes a fine block challenge to prevent Adam El-Abd shooting.

43mins:  Dixon, teed up from a free-kick, shoots wide.

45mins:  Alex Smithies smothers at the feet of Barnes.

49mins:  Smithies makes an excellent reaction save to thwart Agustien, with Barnes firing the rebound over.

57mins:  Barnes is well placed to meet a David Lopez centre, but heads wide.

59mins:  Vaughan is off target with a low drive.

80mins:  Kazenga LuaLua’s shot is deflected by Smithies for a corner.

88mins:  Matthew Upson heads over from a corner.