United keeper Lenny Pidgeley spoke to us about the 2-0 home loss against Brighton and Hove Albion, a result which ended a four-game unbeaten run for the Blues.

He said: "Any defeat at home is disappointing, especially as we've been on such a decent run of form with a great result last week, but to be honest I don't think it was a woeful performance.

"Obviously it wasn't our best showing but I just think it was a bit of a smash and grab from Brighton. They got an early goal then sat back quite a bit and they didn't really threaten us that much until it looked like we were about to get back into it, and then they hit us with the second goal.

Commenting on Brighton's two-goal hero Nicky Forster, he added: "He's a very clever and experienced player. Before the game the manager was saying that was what he is all about, a goal-poacher. He's got over 200 league goals and the majority of them are like those he got in this game, in and around the six-yard box, and he's finished them both well.

"There was a few instances of time-wasting not long after they took the lead. I definitely brought it to the referee's attention a few times. I think their goalkeeper was taking a while on his kick-outs and I counted to twelve seconds a couple of times!

"They seemed to take an eternity on some goal-kicks, throw-ins and free-kicks to find someone to take them too, which is obviously frustrating for us as we were just desperate to get the ball back into play and get on with the game. But that's obviously been part of their tactics, get an early goal then frustrate us as much as possible, and it's worked for them."

On the subject of the penalty shout for a shirt-pull on Danny Livesey, he said: "Our penalty shout looked a blatant one to me. I normally don't get a good view from my end but I actually could see it quite clearly. As the ball was being swung in by Matty I could see Danny's shirt being tugged from where I was, so I was a bit surprised the officials didn't spot it being a lot closer than me. I'd say 99 per cent of the crowd saw it too, judging by their reaction!

"Their penalty appeal I think the ref got right. It's Forster again, he's been very clever. I think he knows he's not getting past Danny so knocks the ball across him, puts his body in the way and sees what might happen and what he might get from it. I know I'm a little bit biased but I don't think that one was a penalty.

"We seemed to be getting on top in the second-half but they've hit us with a sucker punch. You can go back to the Exeter game on that point - we seem to be having all the possession and playing all the better football but the opposition are sitting back, soaking it up and hitting us on the counter attack.

"That might be why we've been getting a bit more success away from home this season. Teams tend to come out at us from the start away from home and play a bit of football whereas here at Brunton Park they tend to sit with two banks of four and get something off a set-play or a quick break. It's difficult but it's something we're aware of and we will have to take it into consideration for the next game.

"I don't think the players look forward to away games any more than home ones at the moment. Our form is good on the road but we like playing in front of our home fans and we've got a great surface to play on here. It's just that teams are making it difficult for us and because we're at home we're always trying to take the game to them so it does seem a bit of a blow when they do nick a goal. But like I said, away from home teams come at us so there's less pressure on us to get that first goal and we seem to thrive on it. Teams come at us so there's less pressure on us to get that first goal, and we seem to thrive on it."