Albion boss Dean Wilkins admits his highly rated central defenders were given a lesson by Huddersfield's B force.

Joel Lynch and Tommy Elphick were widely applauded for the way they handled Walsall's Tommy Mooney last week and Doncaster's former Seagull Mark McCammon at Withdean on Saturday.

They found Huddersfield's front pairing of Andy Booth and Luke Beckett a much tougher proposition in Tuesday's 2-1 defeat at the Galpharm Stadium.

Wilkins said: "Their front two used all their experience against our two young lads and I think that was probably as big a lesson as they could learn.

"Huddersfield played quite directly and tried to put us under pressure and pick up second balls. It caused us problems and it was a huge lesson for two young central defenders.

"Andy hasn't played for long as he has by being a bad player. He jumps early and he caused them problems all night.

"As soon as we saw the teamsheet we knew exactly what we were going to be in for, because you don't play Booth and Beckett and not get the ball up to them. It was a tough night for the two centre halves."

Former Albion manager Micky Adams was among Huddersfield's lowest crowd of the season. He is currently scouting for Stoke but said he was watching home goalkeeper Matt Glennon rather than Lynch, who has been linked in the past with the Potteries club.

The Seagulls' injury problems extend to Wilkins' backroom staff. Matt Miller treated stretchered off knee victim Adam El-Abd, as physio Malcolm Stuart is still recovering from hip surgery.

Wilkins' anger with referee Darren Deadman for awarding Beckett's controversial winning penalty was exacerbated by a delay in El-Abd receiving attention.

"The thing that really bugged me was that we were 2-1 down and Adam was on the floor for 30 seconds," he said.

"The referee decided he was going to jog over and then he took another 30 seconds before allowing our physio on the pitch. Why on earth would he stay on the floor longer than he had to if we were a goal down?"

Wilkins's description of Deadman as "a joke" could land him in trouble but he had the presence of mind to keep his players away from the referee at the final whistle.

"I didn't want them to get into any bother," he explained. "I can imagine how they felt during the whole game towards some of the things that were going on."

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