Shane Duffy believes Albion fans appreciated their team’s efforts with ten men at Cardiff.

And he was bitterly disappointed they could not celebrate a point or more together at full-time.

The Seagulls received quite an ovation from the travelling supporters after their cruel late defeat.

Duffy said the fact so many stayed to applaud their team was appreciated.

The big Irish defender felt it reflected the efforts Albion put in as Cardiff chased the win they felt could change their season.

In the end the Bluebirds got it – with a goal which was shown to be offside and which Duffy said also included a foul.

He told The Argus: “It’s a huge win for them. We know what that feels like from last year.

“It was like that for us this time and we didn’t get the result.

“The fans appreciate the effort we put in to try and get something out of it.

“You see the fans at the end, they were still clapping us off.

“In this league against any team it’s hard defending with ten men.

“It’s so hard to get out and try and score.

“They probably just think we are sitting back.

“But it’s just so hard with them having an extra player.

“They could see how much effort we put in trying to block, head, kick everything out of the box and it just keeps coming back and back and back.”

Cardiff’s attacking work was devoid of imagination for much of the time.

Albion soaked it up and maybe should have done a bit more on counter-attacks.

There appeared to be a feeling within the Albion changing room that they are a better team than Cardiff.

They can prove it when the teams meet at the Amex later this season.

Such suggestions would have been water off a duck’s back for the Cardiff players savouring their second win of the season.

Duffy said: “It’s just disappointing. We are a better team than them but they got a bit of luck.

“Even with ten men I thought we could go and beat them but the ref has made a couple of mistakes.

“It’s a high level game and it’s important for us.

“It was one of those games where we have had the lead and it was a ridiculous goal to concede.”

Albion argued Sol Bamba was offside when he scored their 90th-minute winner and replays backed them up.

That said, they found themselves in dire straits in the moments before the home defender thrashed the ball home.

Until then, predominantly the pairing of Duffy and Lewis Dunk had constantly repelled balls going into the box, the Bluebirds got even closer.

Duffy said: “It was just that frustration where we have dealt with everything they have thrown at us and then the referee gets it wrong.

“There’s nothing we can do about that.

“I felt like I was pushed as well at the throw-in so he could have helped us with that.

“I was going to head the ball and he’s (Callum Paterson) just come behind me. It wasn’t in our hands.

“With the goal, it hit the bar and the post and we were doing everything we could.

“I think a point in the end would have been a good result and we didn’t get it.

“Hopefully that turns out in our favour now over the season.

“Last year we got a few lucky breaks and it was their turn this time.

“We are just disappointed. We felt we are on a different level to them and that’s the progression of the team and what the manager is building.”

Duffy’s claim of a push was backed up, ironically, by a YouTube clip of the winning goal posted by a triumphant Cardiff fan.

The angle from the stand offered a perfect view of Paterson coming in behind Duffy to shove him away from the ball as he lined up another defensive header.

But we weren’t short of talking points and the red card topped the list.

Duffy has been colleagues and mates with Dale Stephens for some time now.

He is also an international colleague of Greg Cunningham, the Cardiff left-back who was caught by Stephens’ sliding challenge.

Duffy revealed what Stephens had said in the changing room.

He said: “Dale feels like he got a little bit of the ball.

“He caught him. I was talking to Greg as well after and he did catch him.

“The referee had a hard job and it all happened so quick.

“It’s a tackle in the middle of the park.

“Some say it is (a red), some say it’s a yellow card.

“Obviously the crowd and their manager got up waving their hands.

“Listen, if it was against our player we would probably do the same.”