Yankuba Minteh scored the all-important goal for the visitors on Saturday, 14 March, condemning Regis Le Bris’ side to a third-straight league defeat at home.

Howard Webb’s officials have faced plenty of criticism this season, and this clash was no different, as both sets of supporters left the stadium frustrated by what they’d seen from Kirk.

From a potential red card to the Seagulls’ winning goal, controversially not being ruled out, the referee made various contentious decisions, with Football Insider looking at three of the key ones.

Thomas Kirk wrong to allow Yankuba Minteh goal to stand

The Seagulls took the lead in bizarre circumstances. Minteh fired home from an impossible angle, mis-kicking his cross past a bewildered Melker Ellborg.

However, at the same time, Habib Diarra was down inside his own six-yard box after being thrown to the floor by Lewis Dunk, holding his head. Referees have rarely ignored a head injury this season.

While the initial coming together was not enough to injure the midfielder, replays showed his head making contact with Jan Paul van Hecke’s boot, and the referee should have paused play before the goal.

Brighton incredibly lucky to keep 10 players on the pitch

Minteh was involved once again.

This time, just moments after lashing out at Luke O’Nien and picking up a yellow card, the winger bundles over a Sunderland player in a dangerous player.

Had he not already been on a yellow card, it was likely a foul that would have earned him one. Realising how close he was to being sent off, Fabian Hurzeler hooked him for Maxim De Cuyper.

Sunderland and Brighton fans fume at Kirk over time-wasting

There were moans and groans ringing around the stadium from all corners. And this was happening during most of the game, not just right at the end.

Neither of the goalkeepers ended up with cautions from the referee, but they very easily could have done so due to some of the time-wasting on show at the Stadium of Light.

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