Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi FUMES at referee Thomas Bramall after being denied a penalty

Roberto De Zerbi was furious with referee Thomas Bramall after Brighton were denied what looked like a clear penalty in their 2-2 draw at Leicester.

Early in the second half and with the score at 1-1, Danny Welbeck appeared to have been brought down by Luke Thomas, only for referee Thomas Bramall and VAR Lee Mason to conclude that no foul had been committed.

De Zerbi was booked for his protests and did not notice after the game. The Italian said: ‘If you want you can help me because I didn’t understand. There is VAR but I don’t know if it worked or not.

Roberto De Zerbi was angry with Thomas Bramall after Brighton were denied a penalty

Danny Welbeck appeared to have been knocked down by Luke Thomas, but it was ruled not to be a foul.

‘I don’t like to talk so much about the referees. I hate, I don’t like, people who cry for the referee but today it’s clearly a penalty. Today has been a bad day for the referee, a very bad day.

De Zerbi was at least able to take heart from substitute Evan Ferguson’s late goal, which gave Brighton a point that was the least they deserved.

A late goal from substitute Evan Ferguson ensured Brighton could pick up a point

Leicester ended a four-game losing streak, but this result still leaves them in trouble, just one point above the relegation zone.

Manager Brendan Rodgers said: “The players fought until the end, but we gave the ball away three times before their second goal and ended up conceding a goal.”

“That’s why we need to improve the squad to bring technically better players.”