Albion boss Chris Hughton says the 2-0 defeat by Cardiff at the Amex is just as deflating as the 5-0 home drubbing by Bournemouth.

Hughton admitted: "Yes it was. It was a game we came in confident of winning, and looking for a reaction from Saturday. I thought we started the game well, with intent, but as the game went on, we didn't threaten the goalkeeper enough.

"For all our play in the final third, we certainly didn't show enough quality to get goals."

Albion have now gone five games without scoring. Relegation rivals Cardiff showed them how to do it with a fine finish by Nathaniel Mendez-Laing on the break and captain Sean Morrison's header from a free-kick.

Hughton said: "When they get the (first) goal, that lifts them and gives them the chance to play the way they play well. At the moment, we're finding the goalscoring hard.

"There were still 70 yards for them to run at that first goal when we lost the ball. I'm more disappointed with the second goal, because we've been defending set-plays better. That gave them a huge lift.”

The Argus: Hughton felt Albion should have been awarded an early penalty when Lewis Dunk (above) was held around the neck by Bruno Manga from a Pascal Gross free-kick.

He said: "At the time I wasn't sure, but I've seen it since. It's a definite penalty.”