Graham Potter said he could not defend the Florin Andone challenge which left his team down to ten men.

But he was proud of the performance and effort his Albion side showed in a 2-0 defeat at home to Southampton.

A pair of second half strikes sank the Seagulls after Andone saw red for his lunge on Yan Valery.

Lewis Dunk later had a goal ruled out for offside against colleague Dan Burn, a decision which was ratified by VAR.

Potter said: “It’s a straight red when you watch it back.

“It was on the other side of the pitch from me.

“At ground level you can’t see it totally but you always worry when there is a forward trying to go over the top of the ball to protect the ball but at the same time there is a defender’s leg there.

“We can’t defend that type of challenge.

“Florin didn’t mean to do it but still it’s not a good challenge.

“Apologies to Southampton. Luckily they didn’t get anybody injured.

“I think the goal is disallowed for offside. If it’s offside, its offside.”

Asked whether he had spoken to Andoneafter the match, Potter said: “He knows it was a bad challenge. He has apologised, he didn’t mean to do it.

“At the same time, it was one of those actions which is not good and he is honest enough to know that.”