Mark McGhee today blamed a slow start for the end of Albion's three-match unbeaten run in the Championship.

McGhee was angry with his side's first half efforts in last night's 1-0 defeat by table-topping Sheffield United at Withdean.

Phil Jagielka's 25th-minute goal was enough to give United their fifth win in succession.

"In the first half we were very poor," McGhee said. "We were second best in everything and that is when we lost the game.

"I am really disappointed with the first half. It puzzled me because I thought we would come out of the blocks really flying but we didn't.

"In the second half we rallied and then we missed chances. I don't care that they are the leaders, we are good enough to have got something out of the game.

"I've laid into the team that they have got to do better than that because they are better than that. The first half wasn't good enough, we didn't work hard enough and weren't aggressive enough."

United manager Neil Warnock, celebrating a seventh victory out of eight, said: "We knew it was going to be difficult. Brighton did ever so well at Leeds on Saturday.

"We made it very difficult for ourselves. We should have buried the game in the first half but you have got to give them credit. They had enthusiasm and two great chances at the end."

Albion are 19th ahead of Saturday's home game against Coventry. McGhee added: "The fact that my players were sitting in the dressing room disappointed not to have beaten Sheffield United is testimony as to how far we have come.

"I said before the game the result is not significant in the sense they are the team at the top. The more important games for us are the games against teams like Coventry."