The home side won 1-0 thanks to a well-taken first-half goal by Brazilian striker Richarlison but the Seagulls went close after the break with Leandro Trossard hitting the bar and Glenn Murray forcing a brilliant late save from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
Potter said, “I thought we put a lot into the game and pushed in the second half. We hit the bar and had a lot of attacking entries, but we just lacked a bit in the final third to make the most of our play.
“The difference in the end was probably the high quality of their goal. Other than that there wasn’t much in the game in the first half and we changed it around at half-time.
“I thought we stepped on our game in the second half and at 1-0 we were still in it but we weren’t able to get the goal, although it wasn’t for the want of trying. We had some opportunities, but we lacked that little bit and that’s the difference.”
Murray made an eye-catching contribution after coming on as a 72nd minute substitute and his contribution pleased the head coach.
“I was behind the first header from Glenn and it was a great save and the second chance looked like it was nestling in the back of the net, but it was not to be,” added Potter. “We just need to create a few more opportunities.
“We have to turn around those fine margins, to be able to take the next step so we can come to places like Everton and win. We’re playing against a good team with a top manager. They are not our direct competitors at the moment, the challenge for us is to get up to their level.”