Tuesday 20 January 2015 12:02, UK
Brentford boss Mark Warburton was disappointed his side did not win more convincingly after consolidating their play-off push with a 1-0 victory at 10-man Brighton.
Striker Andre Gray hit the only goal with a deflected first-half effort, his 11th of the season, to sentence the Seagulls to defeat in manager Chris Hughton's first home game in charge.
Warburton was happy to get the win that keeps them flying high in the Sky Bet Championship, but was not completely satisfied with his team's performance at the Amex Stadium.
He said: "To come to Brighton and get three points is very pleasing but it's not always about grinding out a result.
"Had we taken our chances, it would have been a more comprehensive result. It looked a hard-earned victory, but we have to be more clinical.
"I have enormous respect for Brighton and Chris Hughton, but we didn't take our chances and getting two or three more goals would have given us more belief."
Brentford's lofty position in the table follows promotion last season and Warburton admitted: "People always under-estimate teams coming up. We knew we had a good quality squad."
Brighton played the final 30 minutes with 10 men after central defender Lewis Dunk picked up his second booking for pushing over Jota after the pair had challenged for the ball.
The two rival managers took contrasting views of the referee's decision, although both agreed there was not much in the push.
Warburton said: "It was a gentle shove but technically it's a second yellow and he has to go."
Brighton boss Hughton, meanwhile, said: "In the manner of the game, it was a real soft booking.
"He (Dunk) put himself in a position to be sent off but the lad (Jota) made a meal of it.
"The push was not head-height, it was in the chest, and the referee could have managed it better."
Hughton, who wants to add an experienced midfielder and a striker to his squad during the January transfer window, conceded that his side's first defeat in six games served as a reminder that there was plenty to do to climb away from the bottom reaches of the table.
The former Newcastle, Birmingham and Norwich manager said: "I'm learning more with every week and every game.
"I knew that we've got a good group of players and my responsibility is to get this team as strong as possible."
Hughton is looking to mastermind a considerable recovery to help Brighton avoid suffering their worst season at the Amex, as so far they have won just twice against Bolton and Wigan.
The 56-year-old said: " We were on the back of three good results away but this was a poor one today.
"Generally, home form is an indicator for the league position and we must make this a tough place. We need to do something about our form at home."
