ALBION boss Chris Hughton says England candidate Lewis Dunk does not deserved to be judged by his Everton blunder.

England chief Gareth Southgate was at Goodison Park to see Dunk follow an equaliser with a loose pass for the second of Richarlison's two goals in the Seagulls' 3-1 defeat.

Hughton insists Dunk will shrug off the setback as Southgate prepares to name his squad for games against the USA and Croatia at Wembley.

Hughton said: "He's a centre-half. He made an error. It's not the first time that he has made one and it won't be the last.

"There won't be any potential England centre-halves that haven't made mistakes and won't continue to make mistakes. It's part and parcel of the job.

"We have to look at how he has been for us and he has been really excellent so he'll be fine."

Southgate called Dunk into the squad for the last time in place of injured James Tarkowski for matches last month against Croatia and Spain.

Albion surrendered their run of three straight wins and clean sheets against a powerful Everton.

Hughton told The Argus: "Probably what will hit home to me is in our last four games we've got three wins and one loss.

"That will be important, because we are Brighton in our second season in the Premier League playing against a team that will be pushing top six this season.

"They've spent big money, the likes of Walcott, Richarlison. These are players that have cost big money. Digne for a full-back was big money.

"You have to accept that, they've got good players. You have to be perhaps at your best to get something away from home against the likes of these and we weren't."