[h=3]By PA Sport[/h]Last Updated: 20/02/16 7:21pm
Brighton manager Chris Hughton admitted the 4-1 loss was 'self inflicted'.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton admitted that Brighton's 4-1 loss to Cardiff on Saturday was 'self inflicted' as they missed the chance to climb into the Sky Bet Championship automatic promotion spots.
The Seagulls could have moved into the top two with Middlesbrough and Hull not in league action, but they were well beaten by a Cardiff side who boosted their play-off aspirations.
The game was effectively over once Peter Whittingham, Anthony Pilkington and Lex Immers had capitalised on defensive errors to give the Bluebirds a 3-0 lead inside half an hour.
Peter Whittingham of Cardiff scores his side's first goal against Brighton
Dale Stephens pulled a goal back for Brighton but Whittingham sealed the win from the penalty spot with 24 minutes to play, and Hughton felt a lot of the damage was down to themelves.
"It is very simple, if you concede three goals in that manner it is very difficult to win any football match, particularly at this level and away from home against a side as good as Cardiff," said Hughton.
Highlights of Cardiff's Sky Bet Championship game against Brighton
"We never allowed ourselves to get into the game. At 3-1 we had two good chances but I cannot say we deserved anything.
"The damage was self-inflicted, the penalty can happen at any stage but the damage was already done.
"We conceded three poor goals in that crucial period and that is nothing to do with form, formations or tactics. It is about defending well and we did not. It was a good opportunity for us and we did not take it."
Reaction from Anthony Pilkington and Peter Whittingham
Whittingham fired Cardiff into a 16th minute lead when his forward run lost Steve Sidwell and Matt Connolly provided the through ball.
Three minutes later the lead doubled as David Stockdale's poor clearance was worked to Pilkington, who cut inside his man to fire through the Brighton keeper's hands.
Immers made it three when a loose ball ran across the visitors' penalty area and there appeared no way back for Hughton's men.
Lex Immers celebrates after scoring the third goal for Cardiff.
Stephens glanced home a Jiri Skalak cross to pull one back, but Connor Goldson's clumsy tackle on Pilkington allowed Whittingham to score his second and ensure Cardiff scored four in a game for the first time since December 2012.
"That is a big boost for us and I have told the players I still feel there is plenty of improvement to come," said Bluebirds boss Russell Slade.
"I say that because we have new partnerships out there. Stuart O'Keefe and Joe Ralls have not played together that often in midfield, Anthony Pilkington has been up front and we have added new faces to the equation in Tom Lawrence and Lex Immers.
Russell Slade still feels there is improvement to come from his Cardiff side
"It is a new team, a young team in certain areas and we are maturing. It was a real mature performance. We committed forward when we had to and we were resilient when we had to be.
"We were tactically disciplined against a side who are king of the counter-attack. If you leave yourself open they can hurt you, the balance was key to this game and we had that."
[h=3]Brighton vs Leeds[/h]
February 29, 2016, 7:30pm
Live on
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Brighton manager Chris Hughton admitted the 4-1 loss was 'self inflicted'.
Brighton boss Chris Hughton admitted that Brighton's 4-1 loss to Cardiff on Saturday was 'self inflicted' as they missed the chance to climb into the Sky Bet Championship automatic promotion spots.
The Seagulls could have moved into the top two with Middlesbrough and Hull not in league action, but they were well beaten by a Cardiff side who boosted their play-off aspirations.
The game was effectively over once Peter Whittingham, Anthony Pilkington and Lex Immers had capitalised on defensive errors to give the Bluebirds a 3-0 lead inside half an hour.
Peter Whittingham of Cardiff scores his side's first goal against Brighton
Dale Stephens pulled a goal back for Brighton but Whittingham sealed the win from the penalty spot with 24 minutes to play, and Hughton felt a lot of the damage was down to themelves.
"It is very simple, if you concede three goals in that manner it is very difficult to win any football match, particularly at this level and away from home against a side as good as Cardiff," said Hughton.
Highlights of Cardiff's Sky Bet Championship game against Brighton
"We never allowed ourselves to get into the game. At 3-1 we had two good chances but I cannot say we deserved anything.
"The damage was self-inflicted, the penalty can happen at any stage but the damage was already done.
"We conceded three poor goals in that crucial period and that is nothing to do with form, formations or tactics. It is about defending well and we did not. It was a good opportunity for us and we did not take it."
Reaction from Anthony Pilkington and Peter Whittingham
Whittingham fired Cardiff into a 16th minute lead when his forward run lost Steve Sidwell and Matt Connolly provided the through ball.
Three minutes later the lead doubled as David Stockdale's poor clearance was worked to Pilkington, who cut inside his man to fire through the Brighton keeper's hands.
Immers made it three when a loose ball ran across the visitors' penalty area and there appeared no way back for Hughton's men.
Lex Immers celebrates after scoring the third goal for Cardiff.
Stephens glanced home a Jiri Skalak cross to pull one back, but Connor Goldson's clumsy tackle on Pilkington allowed Whittingham to score his second and ensure Cardiff scored four in a game for the first time since December 2012.
"That is a big boost for us and I have told the players I still feel there is plenty of improvement to come," said Bluebirds boss Russell Slade.
"I say that because we have new partnerships out there. Stuart O'Keefe and Joe Ralls have not played together that often in midfield, Anthony Pilkington has been up front and we have added new faces to the equation in Tom Lawrence and Lex Immers.
Russell Slade still feels there is improvement to come from his Cardiff side
"It is a new team, a young team in certain areas and we are maturing. It was a real mature performance. We committed forward when we had to and we were resilient when we had to be.
"We were tactically disciplined against a side who are king of the counter-attack. If you leave yourself open they can hurt you, the balance was key to this game and we had that."
[h=3]Brighton vs Leeds[/h]
February 29, 2016, 7:30pm
Live on
More...