Fulham boss blames Hutchinson for crucial penalty

Fulham manager Kit Symons blamed defender Shaun Hutchinson for the penalty which cost them a point against Brighton.

The Whites centre-back fouled Kazenga LuaLua at high speed as they entered the box, allowing Tomer Hemed to convert Brighton’s winner right at the death.

Hutchinson gestured to the referee that any contact was outside the area but Symons insisted he had no qualms with the decision.

Symons said: “I’ve seen it back a few times and it’s very difficult to call. The initial contact was possibly just outside the box but they were travelling at a pace.

“I’ve got no arguments with the award of the penalty, but I’m not happy with the defending to give it away.

“It was a rash challenge from Shaun – he knows that – and we didn’t need it at that stage at the game.

“LuaLua has over-touched it and it’s going out for a goal-kick, but it’s hard, once you’ve committed, to stop yourself.”

Sam Baldock opened the scoring in the first half before Tom Cairney equalised with a screamer for the Whites before half-time.

Symons said: “In the first half they were far and away the better side. We weathered the storm and were lucky to go in at 1-1.

“We bucked our ideas up in the second half and upped our tempo, and it was obvious to everyone we were the better side at that stage and looked the most like winning.

“But it was a classic sucker-punch and I’m disappointed. We’ve got to our jobs at both ends of the pitch.”

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