Chris Hughton was proud of his Brighton players as they lost to Manchester City, who he feels should have been reduced to 10 men.
The Seagulls lost their FA Cup semi-final 1-0 as Gabriel Jesus grabbed the only goal, but amid the natural disappointment of losing a second ever FA Cup semi-final, Hughton was proud with Brighton’s display. “I am incredibly proud,” Hughton said. “After conceding after three minutes I don’t think there was anyone in the stadium that thought the second wasn’t going to come.
“We hung in and to go through the 90 minutes and, apart from the goal, I struggle to think of a real clear chance.
That wouldn’t have happened often. if at all, to them this season.” Meanwhile, City defender Kyle Walker had a coming together with Brighton’s Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the first-half but avoided a red card following a Video Assistant Referee review.
Hughton has seen the incident back three or four times and was disappointed that Walker was not sent off. “In my opinion, it was a red card,” Hughton said. “We ask the players to be honest. “Alireza doesn’t make a big meal of it.
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We certainly would have seen in the past players clutching their head, rolling on the floor, so I don’t think he makes a big deal of it. “But certainly if I look at the action, which I have done, there would have been numerous circumstances where that exact same action would have got somebody a red card.
“I think there was sufficient force in the action to warrant that.” Asked if the unsuccessful VAR review made it all the more galling, the Albion boss said: “Yes, because I think we’re at a stage now where everybody is pushing for it. “I’m probably one that has been converted a little bit and I am still not sure how far it is going to take us. But, yes, I’m even more disappointed with the fact this was a VAR (decision).”
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