Brighton boss Chris Hughton praised his players after their FA Cup semifinal defeat to Manchester City.

The Seagulls ran the reigning Premier League champions very close in front of 33,000-plus Albion supporters, but Gabriel Jesus's fourth-minute goal proved the difference for Pep Guardiola's side.

Hughton said, “I'm incredibly proud of the players. After conceding so early, I doubt there was anyone in the stadium that felt a second [goal] wasn't going to come.

“Apart from the goal, I'm struggling to think of a real clear chance they had inside 90 minutes, and that certainly wouldn't have happened too often to them this season.

“When we analyse the game and what our players did, the distances they covered, one thing I'm quite sure about is that it will be as high as it's been at any stage this season.

“To run such a brilliant team, like Manchester City, close, it takes such a huge effort. With the performance the team gave, I think it made the supporters very proud."