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Roberto De Zerbi admitted he does not like \u201c80 per cent of Premier League referees\u201d after 10-man Brighton were held to a 1-1 draw with Sheffield United.<\/p>\n
Simon Adingra had put the Seagulls ahead with a brilliant solo run but the game changed on Mahmoud Dahoud\u2019s red card in the 69th minute.<\/p>\n
Midfielder Dahoud stamped on Ben Osborn\u2019s Achilles, with Adam Webster putting through his own goal moments later to take the Blades off the bottom of the table for the first time since September 23.<\/p>\n
De Zerbi, who was also booked for his touchline antics, did not disagree with the red card shown by John Brooks but said: \u201cI am honest and clear\u2026 I don\u2019t like 80 per cent of English referees.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat isn\u2019t a new opinion. I don\u2019t like them. I don\u2019t like their behaviour on the pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cEngland is the only country where when there is VAR, you are not sure that the decision is right. In other countries, you have to be sure 100 per cent that the decision taken is right. In England, no, and I am not able to understand.\u201d<\/p>\n
De Zerbi is now on his longest run without a league win as Brighton manager, with his side six matches without taking three points.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are spending time in an unlucky period,\u201d said the Italian. \u201cI think we have lost four points; two against Fulham and two today.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the red card, I didn\u2019t like the team.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere wasn\u2019t a game until the red card. There was only one team on the pitch. Brighton could have won the game two or three nil, but after the red card the game changed.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter the red card we can say other things but the situation with one player less, we lost order and our style.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adingra went on a mazy run before finishing after a give-and-go with Facundo Buonanotte in the fifth minute. But after the red card, Jayden Bogle\u2019s powerful cross was diverted into his own goal by Webster.<\/p>\n
It was the first time United had strung two games without defeat together in the top flight since July 2020 \u2013 not that Paul Heckingbottom is worried after a first away point of the season and getting off the bottom.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cIt is irrelevant \u2013 maybe getting off the bottom is important because people keep mentioning it but I\u2019m not bothered. Not yet.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat is pleasing is how we\u2019ve played against a good team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is always about the points. I can give lots of reasons why we haven\u2019t picked up more points this season: the way we started the season, final moments in games where we could and should have.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut until you get them they are just excuses. It is about the points and we want to keep picking up the points.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere have been moments in every game but in the last two games it has been us being the stronger team at the end and that is what I want to see. It gives us a huge lift.\u201d<\/p>\n