Huddersfield striker Laurent Depoitre blamed his side's 2-1 home defeat to Brighton on referee Michael Oliver.

Oliver incensed Terriers fans when he brandished a straight red card for Steve Mounie's first-half tackle on Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma.

The decision proved pivotal as Brighton hit back from Mathias Jorgensen's first-minute header to secure just their second Premier League away win this season with goals from Shane Duffy and Florin Andone.

Replays showed Mounie had caught Bissouma high on his shin, but second-half substitute Depoitre took issue with some of Oliver's other decisions.

"I don't like to speak about the referees, but I think he played a big role in this defeat," Depoitre said.

Town had strong claims for a first-half penalty turned away after Alex Pritchard looked to have been hauled down and Oliver chose only to book Brighton's Leon Balogun for a challenge on Erik Durm.

"After one minute it was already 1-0 and we felt that we were controlling the game," said Depoitre.

"They were not very dangerous and then there were a few decisions from the referee that we don't really understand.

"It changes the game completely. I think it was a clear penalty on Pritchard. It could have been 2-0 and the game would have been completely different. If it's 2-0 I don't think we would lose this game."

Mounie's challenge on Bissouma sparked heated debate. Although high, the striker did not appear intent on making contact.

"To be honest I don't know," Depoitre added. "I have to watch it again. But I think if it's a red card, it's a red card for them as well, so that's the problem."

Brighton midfielder Solly March, who provided assists for both his side's goals with excellent crosses, was unsure over Mounie's dismissal.

"I think it was a big moment in the game obviously, but we would have been confident if it had stayed 11 v 11, " he said. "I think we would have got back into the game.

"But it's gone for us, so no complaints. I haven't seen it again. I literally saw it in the heat of the moment and he went over the ball.

"Whether or not it was malicious enough for a red card I haven't seen it, so I'd have to look again."

Brighton defender Lewis Dunk felt Mounie's tackle did warrant a red card, but preferred to focus on Romania striker Andone, who marked his full debut with a 69th-minute winner.

"I thought he was excellent," Dunk said. "He gave us a different dimension. We had to stretch them and make the pitch as big as possible and he did a great job.

"He never stopped running and got the goal, so credit to him. It was a great run across to the front post and a great header, so I'm really buzzing for him."