Brighton 2 Huddersfield 1: Banned duo pose problems for Town chief David Wagner

SUSPENSIONS facing captain Mark Hudson and full-back Tommy Smith have left Huddersfield Town coach David Wagner with a defensive headache.

They will miss Saturday’s home game against Cardiff City after collecting cards at Brighton.

German Wagner, who claimed a draw would have been a fair outcome, said: “I think in the most part of the game we did quite well. If we had got something from the game it wouldn’t have been unfair.

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“I think it was important not to make early mistakes and unfortunately for us we did.

“In the second half, there was nothing much between the sides, but at 2-1 down we didn’t create enough chances.”

The Terriers played the final six minutes with 10 men after Smith received his second yellow card for a foul on Kazenga LuaLua, a decision with which Wagner had no complaints with. But he was disappointed that referee Graham Horwood also booked Hudson, Martin Cranie and Joel Lynch.

Manchester United loanee James Wilson hit the winner for the Seagulls.

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Albion bounced back after three consecutive home defeats to climb to third with substitute Wilson scoring the decisive goal in the 67th minute.

Anthony Knockaert laid on the opener for Bobby Zamora and, after Harry Bunn had levelled in first-half stoppage time, Knockaert curled in a perfect cross for Wilson to settle the issue with his third goal for the club.

Brighton & HA: Stockdale, Saltor, Goldson, Dunk, Ridgewell, Knockaert, Stephens (Crofts 46), Kayal, Murphy, Zamora (Wilson 58), Hemed (LuaLua 62). Unused substitutes: Maenpaa, Calderon, Manu, Richie Towell.

Huddersfield Town: Steer, Smith, Hudson, Lynch, Davidson (Whitehead 83), Cranie, Huws (Matmour 46), Bunn, Paterson (Billing 87), Lolley, Wells. Unused substitutes: Murphy, Husband, Duane Holmes, Bajaj.

Referee: G Horwood (Bedfordshire).

Man of the match: Bobby Zamora.