Manager Chris Hughton has said he was pleased with Brighton’s performance in the game against Watford yesterday, but he did know it was a missed opportunity for the win.
Heading to Vicarage Road for the game, the hosts were reduced to ten men following a straight red card for Miguel Britos but despite having greater possession and chances, we couldn’t break the deadlock and register the first three points of the year.
Speaking to the Official Site as he met with the media following the game, Hughton explained that there were plenty of positives he could take from the match but having the man’s advantage and not making it count was frustrating.
‘I`m pleased that we managed to get off the mark but I`m disappointed because I felt it was a game we could have won and should have won. Watford showed their quality and what they are; a team with good pace on the counter attack. But we had a lot of good chances and a penalty that should have been given.’
Hughton went on to say.
‘We`ve got to find a way of winning these games. We hit the post twice, and you felt like the goal was coming. On the balance of play, when you get into the areas that we did today, the delivery could have been a little bit better at times. I thought it was a game that we could have taken all three points.’
With a penalty shout in the first half, but with the referee awarding an indirect free kick, Hughton went on to say.
‘My first impression was that he caught him. Certainly seeing it again and seeing the blood down Anthony Knockaert’s nose, then he certainly has caught him. He wasn’t sure whether there was contact or not, so if he’s not sure then he can’t give the penalty. So that’s the decision that the referee has made, he had to make a spur of the moment decision. I could see how the referee has made the decision, but he’s definitely caught him and it’s a penalty. It`s one that the referee has got wrong.’
With the transfer window closing on Thursday, Hughton also commented he was hoping to be busy over the next few days.
‘We are working as hard as we can. It’s a very difficult market for teams like ourselves, but I certainly hope we are busy.’
