Albion boss Dean Wilkins has branded referee Darren Deadman as "a joke" after an expensive 2-1 defeat for his play-off chasers at Huddersfield last night.

Luke Beckett won the game for the Yorkshiremen with a 79th-minute penalty awarded against Andrew Whing for a tackle on Chris Brandon.

Wilkins said: "I do not really like complaining about referees but I thought he was a joke. Brandon has told our players it wasn't a penalty, that he dived, which says it all really.

"It was just every decision. In the first half Glenn Murray was pushed in the back two or three times after he turned centre half but he (Deadman) did not do a thing about it. I am just baffled by some of the things that went on."

To make matters worse for the Seagulls, Adam El-Abd was stretchered off late on with suspected medial knee ligament damage sustained in a challenge with Malvin Kamara.

Matt Richards is already out for up to four weeks with a hamstring tear and Whing begins a two-match ban with Swindon's visit on Saturday, so the Seagulls are stepping up their efforts to make further loan signings.

Wilkins will discuss possible targets with chairman Dick Knight, chief scout Barry Lloyd and the rest of his backroom staff.

Wilkins said: "We've got a meeting just to see how we approach the run-in.

"Adam has been outstanding this season, so it makes it even more important in the meeting that we try to come up with some really good solutions."

Albion remain in ninth place following last night's second defeat in eight matches, a point outside the play-off zone.

Did the referee get it wrong?