Hugh and cry as Gray gains new Bee-plus
Brighton Brentford
BRIGHTON’S new gaffer Chris Hughton questioned defender Lewis Dunk’s soft red card as Brentford escaped to victory.
Striker Andre Gray scored the game’s only goal with a deflected first-half goal – his 11th of an outstanding personal season – and condemned the Seagulls to defeat in Hughton’s first home game.
Bees boss Mark Warburton was happy to get the win that keeps them flying high, but he was not totally satisfied.
He said: “To come to Brighton and get three points is very pleasing, but it’s not always about grinding out a result.
“Had we taken our chances it would have been a more comprehensive result. It looked a hard-earned victory, but we have to be more clinical.
“I have enormous respect for Brighton and Chris Hughton, but we didn’t take our chances and getting two or three more goals would have given us more belief.”
Brentford’s lofty position in the table follows promotion last season and Warburton admitted: “People always underestimate teams coming up. We knew we had a good-quality squad.”
Brighton played the final 30 minutes with 10 men after Dunk picked up his second booking for pushing over Jota.
Shove
The rival managers disagreed over the referee’s decision, although both agreed there was not much in the foul.
Warburton said: “It was a gentle shove but it’s a second yellow so he has to go.”
Hughton said: “It was a real soft booking. Dunk put himself in a position to be sent off but Jota made a meal of it.
“The push was not head height, it was in the chest, and the referee could have managed it better.”
Hughton, who wants to add an experienced midfielder and a striker to his squad in the January transfer window, conceded that his side’s first defeat in six games was a reminder that they had plenty to do to climb out of the relegation zone.
The former Newcastle, Birmingham and Norwich manager said: “I’m learning more with every week and every game.
“I know that we’ve got a good group of players and my responsibility is to get this team as strong as possible.”
Hughton wants Brighton to avoid suffering their worst season at the Amex. So far they have only beaten Bolton and Wigan.
He said: “Home form is an indicator for the league position and we must make this a tough place.”