Brighton 2-1 Bristol City: Chris Hughton and Steve Cotterill reaction

Chris Hughton paid tribute to Bobby Zamora`s "experience and quality" after the veteran striker`s late winner in Brighton`s 2-1 home victory over Bristol City.

Zamora struck coming off the bench for the second match in a row to leave the Seagulls four points clear at the top of the Championship and still undefeated after 12 league matches.

Albion had to battle back from going a goal behind for only the second time this season when defender Derrick Williams volleyed lowly City ahead in the 17th minute.

Striker Sam Baldock scored his first goal in 10 games to level shortly after the break, and 34-year-old Zamora had the final say by rifling the winner from 15 yards eight minutes from time.

Hughton said:" Bobby has the experience and the quality and you can see how he uses his experience to pick out positions in the box.

"That`s what he does and he has adapted his game. It was great to celebrate the winner as there was a lot of emotion in the game."

Hughton feels one area where Albion can improve is their present inability to win games more convincingly.

The former Birmingham,Newcastle and Norwich manager added:" In the majority of games we`ve taken the lead and held on.

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"But we can make sure matches are more comfortable for ourselves. That is one area where we can improve.At half time we should have been winning."

City boss Steve Cotterill felt his men were desperately unfortunate not to have taken something from the game, and had no doubt they were denied a clear cut penalty in the second half.

Midfielder Luke Freeman went down under a challenge from German defender Uwe Huenemeier but referee Iain Williamson waved away the penalty appeal and instead booked Freeman for taking a dive.

Cotterill said: "It was a nailed on penalty and to book the player made it worse. The yellow card was an insult.

"Luke Freeman is not experienced enough to look for a dive. It is not in his thoughts and it beggars belief really."

Cotterill insisted that some of City`s football was "every bit as good as Brighton`s" and that they "did not deserve" to get beaten.

He added: "We wanted to beat the side at the top of the table and we didn`t deserve to get beaten in that game.

"The keeper David Stockdale had the biggest impact for Brighton and that says a lot about our team. Some of our football was every bit as good as Brighton`s.

"We`ve got to carry on going through the adjustment period. We need more chances to score goals and that is the only thing missing at the moment."