Chris Hughton has denied Albion were not brave enough against Spurs.

The Seagulls’ approach in the 2-1 defeat at the Amex was criticised by Match Of The Day pundit Danny Murphy.

The former Liverpool midfielder used footage of the first minute of the game to argue Albion showed Tottenham, beaten in their previous three outings, too much respect.

Hughton, speaking after the match, said: “If you are too brave in these games, they can open you up.

“There are different ways to win games and we always have to determine tactically the best way to do that.

“I genuinely feel without the penalty we go in 0-0 at half-time with the opportunity to get stronger in the second half.

“We will go through the game again and pick things out we could have done better but it’s very difficult against the level of the players you are up against.

“They have top quality players and when you are that close, at pitch level, you see the qualities they’ve got and the way they can play through you with your (Christian) Eriksens.”

Hughton believes Albion’s game plan was working until Harry Kane put Spurs ahead from the spot just before half-time after Glenn Murray was penalised for handball from Kieran Trippier’s free-kick.

“I think so, yes,” Hughton told The Argus. “Tottenham are a very expansive team and, with the way they play, it’s very difficult to press them as much as you would like to at times.

“But there are always going to be periods of the game when you are able to do that better and you need to get to that period.

“Up until the penalty I’m struggling to remember a clear chance they had. You know you can improve your game and that you will have chances when the game opens up. It was certainly disappointing to give the penalty away.”