Albion boss Steve Coppell has castigated referee Paul Rejer for the penalty decision which condemned his side to defeat at Derby.

Teenage defender Adam Hinshelwood was penalised for handling as he fell under a challenge from Lee Morris.

Danny Higginbotham scored from the spot in the 29th minute to give Derby a 1-0 victory which keeps the Seagulls next-to-bottom.

A sarcastic Coppell said: "He gave it for handball but I don't really teach my defenders to dive headlong and handle the ball in the penalty box. It's not something we have worked on too often.

"Adam either tripped or he was pushed. If he was pushed it should have been a foul for us, if he tripped there is no way he would deliberately handball it. He knows the consequences.

"I felt the game was a little bit too quick for the ref. His position was poor and on a number of occasions the crowd reaction seemed to induce him to blow the whistle."

Before the match ex-Premiership ref Rejer's instructions to both camps were filmed for a demonstration tape.

Coppell branded it a "charade", adding: "The theatrical element of that might have been carried through to the performance."

Hinshelwood, deputising for the suspended Paul Watson, was too upset to be interviewed.

Michel Kuipers, who made several fine saves in the first half, said: "I had a good view. As far as I am concerned there was a little push and Hinsh fell on the ball.

"To my eyes it was a free-kick to us and not a penalty to them."

John Gregory, the Derby manager and former Albion midfielder, had no sympathy for his old club. "I couldn't care less quite frankly," he declared. "The ref gave it and Danny tucked it away, end of story.

"I am sure it was very dubious but it evens itself out. We've had a few dodgy ones given against us."

Albion rallied in the second half and Bobby Zamora twice went close to equalising.

Coppell said: "I couldn't ask any more of my players. They did what I wanted them to do in the first 45 minutes and then in the second half they played with a lot of passion, a lot of heart and produced an awful lot of good football.

"We created opportunities and if we keep doing that I can't ask for any more."

Watson is available again for the return of ex-Albion manager Micky Adams to Withdean with second-placed Leicester on Friday night.