Brighton manager, Fabian Hürzeler believes that his Seagulls “deserved much more than one point,” in a 2-2 draw at Aston Villa.
Simon Adingra put Brighton into a 12th minute lead only for Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers to put Villa ahead, before Tariq Lamptey struck in the 81st minute to rescue a point for Hürzeler’s seven-match winless Seagulls.
The draw left Hürzeler feeling that his players on merit should of won the match, but felt that Watkins’ equalising penalty was unfair, following Joao Pedro’s foul on Rogers whilst a foul on Bart Verbruggen was dismissed.
“I think we deserved much more than one point, I thought we were the better team.
“We dominated the first 20-25 minutes but then we concede a penalty when it’s not possible that it’s a penalty. Bart was being blocked at the corner.”
“You can give the penalty but also a foul on Bart. I don’t understand why it’s not a foul.”
Hürzeler also was critical of his defence and their maturity amidst conceding two goals from set pieces.
“It was too easy how we conceded two goals from set pieces but otherwise we defended good. In some moments, though, we were not mature enough.”
Brighton eventually settled for a point following Lamptey’s late equaliser but Hürzeler felt that they could of won, if hadn’t dropped intensity following Rogers’ effort.
“After the second goal we struggled for a bit and weren’t intense enough, but I thought in the last 30-35 minutes we did enough to win, the reaction was very impressive.
“We played well in and out of possession. We had big chances to get a third goal.”
Looking ahead to the second half of the season, Hürzeler was optimistic about Brighton’s positive direction in terms of development.
“After a game like this and no win for seven games it’s obviously disappointing for us but we also have to see the positive things,” noted the 31 year-old.
“We have high expectation of ourselves but we’re still in a development process and have to keep working hard.”
