Albion manager Mark McGhee hit out at referee Mark Thorpe today for red carding Adam Hinshelwood on his return from 11 months out with a knee injury.

McGhee accused the Suffolk official of inconsistency in the cruel 3-0 defeat for the Seagulls, their sixth in succession away from home, at Norwich last night.

Hinshelwood had been booked in the first half for a foul on man-of-the-match Darren Huckerby and then received his marching orders in the 57th minute for another foul on the same player.

McGhee said: "It wasn't justified. There were fouls all over the field by both teams which went unpunished and which were exactly the same as the second booking.

"Refs don't seem to have any sympathy for the situation whatsoever in terms of understanding what is going on in the game."

McGhee was full of praise for his young side after Huckerby pounced on an error by Adam El-Abd in the first half and Robert Earnshaw struck twice in the final three minutes to give Norwich a flattering victory.

He said: "Losing was harsh. Bob Booker (assistant) said in the dressing room he was proud of the boys and he was right considering the quality of our performance and the attitude. To lose 3-0 was a travesty of justice."

Albion remain third bottom, five points adrift of Sheffield Wednesday who play Coventry tonight.

Hinshelwood is now suspended for Saturday's home game against high-flying Watford, so too are Watford goalkeeper Ben Foster and striker Darius Henderson after both were sent off in last night's 2-1 defeat at Leeds.