DALE STEPHENS slammed referee Chris Kavanagh after he nearly derailed Albion’s promotion push.

Kavanagh awarded MK Dons a last-minute penalty for handball on the advice of his linesman as Stephens attempted to clear a corner.

Carl Baker missed the spot-kick as the Seagulls hung on for a 2-1 win against ten men but Stephens felt Chris Hughton’s men would have had a far more comfortable afternoon but for some questionable decisions from Kavanagh.

The Albion midfielder said: “It got a bit nervy towards the end. I would have thought we would have been able to see the game out but the referee made some poor decisions which almost let them back into the game.

“I think the ref had a poor game to be totally honest. A couple of decision that were blatantly in our favour didn’t go our way but we can’t dwell on that and fortunately we still managed to win.

“When he gave the penalty I was a bit confused. We all ran to the linesman asking who handballed it and he couldn’t give us an answer.

“I’ve watched it again and it could have looked like I handballed it but I didn’t touch the ball so I think he has guessed. I couldn’t believe it when he gave the penalty but these things happen in games and luckily we got away with one.”