CHRIS Hughton admitted his side were undone by a “moment of quality” by Wanderers wonder-kid Zach Clough.

Brighton had been unbeaten in four games and climbing confidently up the table until Saturday’s 1-0 defeat.

And while the Albion boss felt his team were worth a point, he conceded they did not have the same cutting edge that Clough lent to the Whites on the day.

“I thought we got in some really good positions in that first half when we broke but it was about that final pass,” he said.

“We certainly didn’t have less opportunities in front of goal than they did but probably the one real moment of quality in the game came from the lad Clough and it was a super goal.

“It was that one bit of quality that changed the game for them.”

Clough was no surprise package for Hughton, who knew all about the 19-year-old striker before he came to the Macron Stadium.

“We’ve certainly seen a lot of footage of him, so we knew what he was about. He looks like a special talent,” he added.

Brighton slipped into 20th position, six points off the relegation zone after the narrow defeat – but Hughton was not too despondent heading into a midweek game against top-of-the-table Derby County.

“I'm really disappointed because I certainly didn’t think we did enough to win the game but also I also feel it was a game we shouldn’t have lost,” he said.

“We probably didn’t have that spark we have had for the last couple of games and probably the two away games before that.”

The game also saw Boltonian Dale Stephens come on as a second-half substitute.

The former Bury midfielder has recently returned from a serious ankle injury and hopes his side’s fortunes can turn against the Rams.

“When you find yourself near the bottom of the table you aim to get a clean sheet first and foremost and then hopefully nick the game,” he added.

“We haven’t been fluent and goalscoring away from home all season, it is about getting three points and that is the main thing.”