Albion boss Chris Hughton has defended his players for not kicking the ball out against Everton.

The visitors were enraged when Richarlison went down in the Seagulls' half and they played on, Solly March eventually winning a corner.

Hughton told The Argus: "We have got a really good and honest group of players. If any of them felt it was a bad injury the ball would have gone out.

"I'm not sure how many actually saw the incident. The referee is the one who, of course, has to make that decision.

"We will have played in numerous games and probably against every opposition at some stage that would have happened when a ball certainly wouldn't have been kicked out, either for us or against us."

Hughton revealed clean sheet debutant David Button's greater experience was the reason he was picked ahead of Jason Steele in goal.

"He got a clean sheet and he's another one I'm delighted for," Hughton said: "Although he's an experienced goalkeeper it's never easy when you are coming in at this stage of the season and following Maty Ryan, who has done so well for us.

"It wasn't an easy decision, because I've got two goalkeepers really pushing, but probably David's experience got him the nod.

"It's great for him to come into his first game and not only be on the winning team but also a clean sheet. That will do him a world of good."

The shut-out also coincided with the resumption of the Shane Duffy-Lewis Dunk partnership after the latter's return from suspension.

Hughton said: "I'm pleased to have the partnership back but I would put the clean sheet down to a team performance.

"Leon Balogun came in and I think he did well in that period when we missed either one of them. I certainly wouldn't want to do him a disservice.

"But I thought the two of them were good again. They needed to be because they (Everton) have got a lot of pace, a lot of quality up front.

"It needed a very good defensive display from the team, particularly in that last 20 minutes when we knew they were going to put us under pressure."