All the reaction from Brighton 2-0 Premier League win against Brentford at the Amex Stadium

Former Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher believes Igor Thiago's red card in the 2-0 loss at Brighton was ”not a terrible decision.”

Brentford striker Thiago was initially shown a yellow card by referee Michael Oliver after reacting to a shirt pull and subsequent push from Albion midfielder Chema Andres, who was also booked.

But the punishment was upgraded to red on review as match official Oliver deemed the Brazil international used “force” to push his opponent in the face with a raised arm.

Brentford were already trailing at the time of Thiago’s sending-off following a stunning long-range opener from Brighton midfielder Diego Gomez.

Pascal Gross doubled Albion’s lead with a 42nd-minute penalty awarded for Keane Lewis-Potter’s shirt pull on Luka Vuskovic.

Gallagher: Don’t give the referee a decision

Gallagher, speaking on Sky Sports Ref Watch, said: "I'll be saying to players, this is what referees are doing.

“This is how they're acting, why put yourself in this position? We've had three [incidents like this] over the last few weeks.

“I said, don't give the referee a decision today.”

Fellow Ref Watch pundit Jay Bothroyd then chipped in: “I'm sorry, first of all, the [Brighton] defender [Chema] has initiated that whole incident, right? He's caused that incident.

“When I look at that, to me, Thiago's just trying to strike him off. His arm has brushed up his shirt and hit him in the face.

“You can't give red cards for that. I'm sorry. You just can't. That is a terrible decision to make.”

Not terrible

Gallagher though backed Oliver as he was working within the rules. He responded: “It's a wrong decision. I'll accept that, a wrong decision.

“Not a terrible decision, because the referees have asked. I get that you think it's wrong, but it's not a terrible decision.”

Meanwhile, Brentford boss Keith Andrews questioned the use of VAR in the Premier League after the Thiago incident.

“I’m struggling to believe in this day and age where we see the referee’s call on pitch and the bar of where they’re given the licence to referee in-game, which is what I should think it should be, but he’s been sent to the screen,” he said.

“We play on the edge, we’re a team that likes to play on the edge, I want us to be on the edge. But it clearly cost us.”