Brighton boss Graham Potter pays big compliment to Sheffield Wednesday after FA Cup shock

The former Swansea boss, who’s side crashed out of the FA Cup third round after an inspired performance from the six-change Owls, also admitted that it was Wednesday that deserved to go through.

“We didn’t play well. We lacked a bit of fluidity, a bit of cohesion,” he told the Brighton Argus.

“It was a bit of a flat performance, we couldn’t really get going.

“We had some opportunities in the first half but it probably wasn’t a great game of football and, in the end, Sheffield Wednesday deserved to go through. Good luck to them.”

Adam Reach’s 61st minute strike was enough to put Wednesday through.

Eye-catching performances from centre-half pairing Dominic Iorfa and Julian Borner, as well as by 19-year-old debutant Osaze Urhoghide at right-back contributed to their first clean sheet in four matches.

Brighton had their share of chances but couldn’t make them count against an Owls side that was praised for their ‘courage’ by manager Garry Monk.

Potter said: “They started the second half better than us.

“That was disappointing, our start of the second half. We didn’t do the basics well.

“We huffed and puffed but without the usual quality we like to have.

“As a collective we weren't good enough,” he added. “I wouldn’t say it was lack of effort but the distance between the two teams is not so big.”