JOSE Izquierdo ensured Brighton SBOBET extended their unbeaten run to five games – but Chris Hughton’s side will believe a clear chance to have turned one point into three.

Albion twice fought back after falling behind, first when Pascal Gross cancelled out Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting’s opening goal, and then when Izquierdo struck after Kurt Zouma had restored Stoke’s lead.

But the majority in the Amex Stadium were convinced the home side should have been awarded a 39th-minute penalty when referee Lee Mason ignored claims Ryan Shawcross had brought Glenn Murray down inside the area.

The stalemate meant both side’s consolidated recent progress.

And for Stoke manager Mark Hughes, it also meant his side avoided equalling the club’s worst Premier League start after 12 games.

Defeat would have turned the focus on Hughes’s position once again and the manager needs no reminding of the fact that four of the five clubs below Stoke before last night’s match have already made changes in the dug-out

A positive run of results meant Hughton and his players headed into the international SBOBET break on a high and that confidence was reflected in a starting line-up that was unchanged for a fourth successive game.

Stoke had also shown signs of improvement before the break, recovering twice to claim a point against Leicester after securing a first away win of the season at Watford.

Mark Hughes would have liked to have followed Hughton’s lead in naming an unchanged team but Jack Butland’s finger injury sustained during an England training session meant Lee Grant deputised for the keeper.

Both sides had an early chance to consolidate their recent form with Stoke in particular quickly proving a threat by forcing two early corners that unsettled the home side.

A long-range shot from Brighton midfielder Dale Stephens flew narrowly wide but it soon SBOBET became clear the home side’s threat would come from the flanks and in particular from Jose Izquierdo down the left.