Fabian Hurzeler refuses to criticise Lewis Dunk after Brighton captain struggled in draw with Leicester

Fabian Hurzeler leapt to the defence of his captain Lewis Dunk after an error-strewn performance from the 33 year-old Brighton captain who twice let the lead slip at home to Leicester.

Dunk, who played alongside Carlos Baleba in a makeshift back line, was at fault for Leicester’s first goal, carelessly giving away possession on the halfway line.

Some of the Albion faithful were frustrated with the man who has been so dependable in his more than 400 appearances for the club, but Hurzeler was not one of them.

He said: ‘I will never point Lewis out and say he’s the reason we are not winning the game. That’s the fact, he’s my skipper, he’s a legend for the club and therefore he will try everything to bounce back, like the whole team.

‘It’s not about picking one player out, it’s always a collective thing, so we defend together as a team and we attack together as a team, and of course when we concede two goals, it’s easy to say Carlos or Lewis made a mistake but a lot of mistakes happened before’, added Hurzeler.

Calf and rib injuries as well as the form of Adam Webster and Jan Paul van Hecke have restricted Dunk to 24 appearances this season and the signs are that the defender’s body may be beginning to catch up with him.

Hurzeler stated that it is important for Brighton to defend better collectively as a team

Carlos Baleba, who was playing out of position at centre-back, also struggled against Leicester

There were problems for Hurzeler at the other end of the field, too. Both Brighton’s goals came from Joao Pedro penalties, with many chances spurned from open play.

Just two points from a possible 12 is a run of form that has come at just the wrong time. After a run of form that has delivered just two points from a possible 12, hopes of European football are fading fast.

‘We have to stick together, like I said to you, the season is not done so we have to stick together, we need the fans,’ said Hurzeler.