Chris Hughton rues 'unfair scoreline' as Brighton lose to Leicester
Saturday 31 March 2018 20:15, UK
Chris Hughton felt Brighton were on the wrong end of an "unfair scoreline" as they lost 2-0 to Leicester on Saturday.
Glenn Murray saw a his 77th-minute spot-kick saved by Foxes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel before late goals from Vicente Iborra and Jamie Vardy compounded Brighton's misery.
The defeat means the Seagulls remain six points above the Premier League relegation zone.
"It's hugely disappointing and a game that we didn't deserve to lose," Brighton boss Hughton told Sky Sports.
"They got a bit of momentum after the penalty and that gets them the first goal. It was up to us to regroup again and look to get that goal or not to concede, and unfortunately we did.
"It's a very unfair scoreline but that's the game and it can hurt you."
Brighton were awarded the penalty when Jose Izquierdo was sandwiched in the box by Leicester's Harry Maguire and Wilfred Ndidi.
Hughton said the miss by Murray spurred the visitors on.
"The penalty miss gave them the lift they needed," he said. "At that stage I was fairly comfortable that we weren't going to concede but that's the change in moments of the game and you either benefit or you don't.
"If you can't see your team losing, then it's about going to win the game. For the strengths that they have, I thought we nullified them very well, had chances ourselves.
"But you've got to put them away in those moments otherwise what can happen is what happened today...I think it's a moment that changes the game. If we'd scored, I think we would have gone on to win the game. But it happens.
"I didn't see us drop from that moment but what I did see is them get a lift."
Brighton now turn their attention to a crunch clash against relegation rivals Huddersfield next Saturday.
"It's a very important game," said Hughton. "To get that survival that we are so desperately after we have to put points on the board."
