Dunk's Penalty Relief

Lewis Dunk felt justice was served following Mathew Ryan’s penalty-saving heroics, but also expressed his relief that the referee did not point to the spot again moments later in today’s 1-1 draw with Stoke City.

Dale Stephens was adjudged to have fouled Jese in the box for a penalty, and Ryan saved Charlie Adam’s subsequent spot-kick, before Dunk denied the Scotsman from firing home on the rebound with a sliding tackle.

He said, “Never in a million years [after being asked whether or not it was a penalty]. I thought it was very soft, but the ref gave it and we had to deal with it. When he watches it back, it will be up to him to decide what he thinks of it.

“Maty then came to the rescue and saved it, and I don’t know I got back to make the tackle! Maybe he [Adam] thought it was too easy and concentrated for too long. Luckily I got back and thankfully the referee didn’t give another penalty.

“I thought my challenge was more of a penalty than the one the referee gave, but thankfully he didn’t. It was a big point, but I thought we should’ve got more out of it.”

Dunk believes Albion’s first-half performance ranks among the finest the side have produced all season, but admits they had to weather a storm towards the end of the game.

“It’s up there with the best we’ve performed. I thought we did very well in the first half and definitely deserved the lead.

“I think it’s one of the best footballing goals we’ve scored all season. The one-two-one-two was unbelievable. He’s [Jose] showing what he can do and hopefully he’s got more to come.

“The pressure builds and gets harder and harder. You just have to keep fighting and do everything not to concede.

“They scored a good whipped goal which the keeper had no chance of saving. We did well to keep the scoreline at 1-1.”

Up next for the Seagulls is three consecutive home games, starting with the cup and league fixtures against Coventry City and Swansea City respectively.

“We’ve got two big games coming up, one in the cup and then one against Swansea in the league.

“We’ve got to focus on those two now and make sure continue our good cup run and get three points in the league when we face Swansea.”