Furious Wagner insists ‘football is no fun’ after Mounie is shown red

FIRST things first, if Steve Mounie had been on his game we would not be talking about Michael Oliver.

Mounie’s sending-off after 32 minutes for scraping the shin of Yves Bissouma was a product of an easily controlled ball bouncing out of his realm and, in desperation, the Huddersfield striker committing a foul that cost his side dear.

The lack of basic hold-up play should serve as a greater worry to David Wagner than Oliver’s decision to dismiss a target man who has not scored since April. Wagner’s strikers have now amassed more red cards than goals this season.

Wagner and all connected with Huddersfield maintain that Oliver was wrong, that Mounie’s contact with Bissouma was minimal and he appeared to pull out of the challenge.

Many others, including Chris Hughton, will point to the rulebook.Wagner refused to speak with Oliver afterwards — ‘I’m not in the mood. What can I say?’ — although did make his view known publicly. ‘This is why at the moment football is no fun,’ he fumed. ‘Absolutely no fun. The referee has a big part to play and I don’t think he did his best.’

There is no doubt that Huddersfield spurned the opportunity to record consecutive Premier League victories for the first time since March only because they were a man light. Brighton, with goals from Shane Duffy on the stroke of half-time and a winner from Florin Andonewith 21 minutes remaining, took full advantage and are now halfway to survival.

‘I don’t like to be disrespectful but I don’t want to discuss anything else apart from the referee’s decisions,’ Wagner added. ‘If it was a red then [Leon Balogun’s] challenge on Erik Durm is a red card as well.’

Huddersfield’s opener, clocked at 54 seconds and the fastest in the division this season, was all of Brighton’s doing. Philip Billing’s long throw was not dealt with, Bruno hoisted back into his own box on the volley and Mat Ryan was stranded, allowing Mathias Jorgensen to simply head in off the post.

The landscape ought to have changed after Mounie’s sending off but the hosts thought they should have been awarded a penalty when Alex Pritchard was wrestled to the ground.

‘A clear penalty and a red card too,’ Wagner added.

Huddersfield were pegged back seconds before the break. Bruno took a quick corner for Solly March, who timed his whipped delivery perfectly for Duffyto power past Lossl unchallenged.

Huddersfield simply could not stem the tide and March was again the architect. His cross was perfect for Andone to nod past Lossl and seal only a second away win in 21 games.