Roberto De Zerbi makes rare exception for 'very bad' referee at Leicester

Albion rescued a point in the final minutes thanks to super-sub 18-year-old striker Evan Ferguson, who popped up in the box to head home Pervis Estupinan's inviting cross to make it 2-2.

Kaoru Mitoma had put Albion ahead on the 27th minute with a superb finish from outside the box but Leicester battled back and, against the run of play, were 2-1 up in the 63rd minute through Marc Albrighton and Harvey Barnes.

Speaking to Sussex World after the game, De Zerbi said: "It's an important point because I know football and I know sometimes you can lose this game.

"I think we deserved to win. We played better than Leicester. I think in the second half it was only one team on the pitch but we could lose the game because we made some mistakes in the last 16 metres.

"But I'm happy for the performance of my players. I'm proud how we have played after the second goal of Leicester.

"To score the second goal was very important for us."

Albion should have had a penalty, or at least a VAR review, when Danny Welbeck was clipped in the Leicester box on the 52nd minute at 1-1.

De Zerbi fumed: "It was a clear penalty for us. I'm not able to understand what the referee was watching.

"I don't understand. There is VAR but I don't know if it was working.

"I don't like to speak about the referee so much, to cry after the game. The people who cry for the referee, I hate. I don't like. But today it was a clear penalty. Today the referee was in a bad day, very bad day."

De Zerbi was quick to play down the talent of teenage Ferguson, who has looked a quality prospect in every game he has played this season.

"Ferguson is a very good player but he is 18 and I have to have one particular attention with him. I want to help Ferguson to progress, to grow up without too much pressure," said De Zerbi.

Brendan Rodgers' approach to the game, to frustrate and then counter attack Albion, felt like it had come straight out of his former boss's, Jose Mourinho's, handbook.

Rodgers said after the game: "You’ve got to have a clear tactical plan against Brighton, because they want to combine the two centre-halves with the midfield players and if you lose your discipline in that, they will play through you. We managed that side of it really well."

Sussex World asked De Zerbi how he plans on playing against teams who sit in a deep/mid-block, he said: "I think the passes have to be stronger and one to one we need to attack the space. It's difficult for the big, big, big team to find the goal in this game. And it's difficult for us."

De Zerbi finished on a positive note, saying his team is 'able to fight for the high position' in the Premier League.

The Italian said: "I don't know what will be the target but I think we are able, we are ready to fight.

"At the moment I think it is clear we are a good team, we believe in our self and we are strong.

"I think we are able to fight for the high position. I think we have to try."

Brighton sit in sixth place in the Premier League on 31 points.