Murray claims Brighton’s late winner didn’t hit his hand

Glenn Murray denies using his hand to help Brighton over the line as they reached the fourth round of the FA Cup.

Dale Stephens’ first goal of the season put the Seagulls in front in the FA Cup tie at the AMEX Stadium, but a superb long-range strike from Bakary Sako brought Crystal Palace level.

Substitute Murray got the faintest touch to Uwe Hunemeier’s header back across goal to snatch a late 2-1 victory and earn the Seagulls a fourth-round trip to Middlesbrough.

Murray told BT Sport: “It wasn’t my arm, I think VAR would have pulled me back if it was. I just needed to get something on it and luckily I did, I think I got my hip or my knee or something on it.

“As soon as I did it I knew it wasn’t my arm, there was no doubt about it for me.”

Brighton boss Chris Hughton said of the incident: “I couldn’t see it that clearly, obviously I saw it go in but I didn’t know what the circumstances were.

“I knew that Hunemeier rose at the far post and did really well, so no I couldn’t see it and had to wait until we came in, but obviously it’s been very clear that it didn’t need VAR.”