(Picture: Action Images)
Brighton boss Chris Hughton has said his players must learn quickly or will face further punishment for dissent, after Dale Stephens was sent off against Ipswich.
The midfielder, 26, was given his marching orders in the 82nd minute for a second yellow card, the first of which was awarded for dissent, while Glenn Murray also received a caution late on for sarcastically clapping referee Andy Davies.
Left-Back Gaetan Bong wasn’t even in the squad last night due to suspension, having picked up a fifth booking in Saturday’s win over Barnsley, again for dissent, and Hughton has now warned his players.
He told The Argus: “It’s something that every club has got to learn but certainly us this season. Gaetan gets a ban because of a booking for dissent and the same with Dale.
“We’ve got to learn. I know Dale’s frustration because it was a definite foul on him. The ref is right there, sees it, but what Dale has to do is not vent his anger, because referees are going to book you these days.”
Brighton now find themselves without their influential midfield pair of Stephens and Beram Kayal, who is injured, for Saturday’s tough trip to Sheffield Wednesday, but Hughton is taking one game at a time and was happy with a point at Portman Road.
The Seagulls certainly weren’t at their best, but Hughton said: “I think you have to (stay) in a game where we have not been at our best and are away from home.
“It’s a tough place, Mick [McCarthy] teams are always very well-drilled and work very hard and are very physical. We perhaps didn’t show enough of the qualities needed away from home to get a result. On the balance of play I’m happy.”
