Chris Hughton admitted Albion left it later than he would have liked as they won at Burton today.

But he had no doubts they deserved their 1-0 success.

Tomer Hemed guided home an 88th-minute spot kick after the Seagulls had dominated the second half but struggled to create clear chances.

Lewis Dunk hit the bar with a header as they pushed forward in the second period.

Hughton said: “Credit to Burton. They came into the game with a few injuries and with a gameplan.

“They played as Nigel Clough teams always do, with plenty of endeavour. They made it difficult for us.

“I don’t think anybody would say we didn’t deserve to win the game.

“But the later the game went, we thought possibly it wasn’t going to be our day.

“We felt we should have put the game to bed earlier than that.

“But you have got to give Burton credit because they worked very hard.”

Anthony Knockaert had early penalty appeals waved away but played a large part in the key moment.

He went on a run and fed the ball into the path of Jiri Skalak, who was fouled by Lee Williamson.

The Argus:

Lewis Dunk heads against the bar

Albion fans packed behind that goal were starting to worry a breakthrough was not coming.

Hughton felt his side were not clinical enough at times.

He said: “I thought we had a lot of ball in the final third, a lot of ball in the penalty box.

“If one of those goes in earlier, it becomes a different game because they have to open up.

The Argus:

Albion celebrate the goal - as Hemed looks to the heavens

“In this case, they ended up being comfortable, sitting back and making it difficult for us.

“On some of them, we hit the target and worked the keeper and the keeper had to show really good hands."