Albion manager Chris Hughton says his promotion chasers were below-par in tonight's 1-1 draw with Ipswich at the Amex.

Tomer Hemed's penalty cancelled out Ipswich's early opener from Luke Chambers, but the Seagulls missed out on a seventh straight home league win and a return to the top of the Championship.

Hughton told The Argus: "It was a strange game, a frustrating game. We certainly didn't play at the level that we know we can.

"It was frustrating to concede when we did. That gives a good Ipswich side a massive lift.

"By the time we got the equaliser we deserved it on the balance of play, but certainly our levels weren't as good as they have been.

"It became a very open game in the second half and certainly at 1-1 we were more in the ascendency and more likely to score."

 

Ipswich manager Mick McCarthy claimed the result was fair and took exception to a suggestion his team defended resolutely to earn a point after David Stockdale made key saves for Albion again.

He said: "How many saves did their keeper make? Tom Lawrence, another one headed off the line, another one blocked.

"I'm immensely proud of them, but I'm just reminding you it wasn't a backs-to-the-wall, resolute, defend, nick a point.

"I think their keeper's kept them in the game to be honest. Brighton are a good side. They passed it, they moved it, we've had to defend but we've had some chances as well."

Albion's penalty was awarded by referee Roger East for a tug on skipper Bruno by Emyr Huws, who was off the pitch for treatment to a head wound when Ipswich scored.

"I don't blame Bruno for going down," McCarthy said. "He's had a little tug of his shirt. If I was trying to nick his wallet in a bar or take his beer off him I don't think he'd fall over so easily, but if you pull a shirt you give penalties away. It was the linesman that gave it, not the referee."