GLENN IS TWO GOOD Mitrovic hands it to Brighton but boss Slavisa says there is no need to say ‘sorry’

FULHAM boss Slavisa Jokanovic insisted striker Aleksandar Mitrovic does not have to apologise for a handball which cost his team victory at Brighton.

Mitrovic helped put the Premier League new boys into a 2-0 lead at the Amex – with his fourth goal of the season – after Andre Schurrle grabbed the opener.

But Brighton roared back in the last 25 minutes with two goals from veteran Glenn Murray – sealing a 2-2 draw from the spot when Mitrovic inexplicably brought down a high ball with his arm.

It was a harsh lesson for the Championship play-off winners but Jokanovic refused to blame his £20million signing from Newcastle.

The Fulham boss said: “He doesn’t need to apologise, it was a bad luck mistake and he’s a strong enough lad to keep going. He made one mistake but he scored the goal and played really well.”

Jokanovic did admit, however, that he was left frustrated. “It’s a mixture of emotions,” he added. “It’s our first point away from home in the Premier League and we played well for an hour but we made sloppy mistakes and paid an expensive price.”

Brighton boss Chris Hughton (right) definitely had no reason to criticise his star centre-forward – because at the age of almost 35 Murray was man of the match.

His two goals, one a thunderous penalty after Mitrovic’s mistake, rescued Albion a vital point.

Hughton said: “Glenn is experienced and used to being in that position. There was a lot of pressure on the penalty but he put it away emphatically.”

It wasn’t the first spotkick of the game. Brighton should have gone ahead when Luciano Vietto brought down Murray. But Pascal Gross’s effort was tame and Marcus Bettinelli made a superb save.

Instead, with Jean Michael Seri running the show, Fulham took the lead after 43 minutes as his creative pass found Schurrle.

After the break, Lewis Dunk gave the ball away under pressure from Mitrovic, and he beat Mathew Ryan at the second attempt.

But the visitors allowed Brighton back in the game. Maxime Le Marchand lost the ball to Anthony Knockaert – and his pass was turned in by Murray.

And when Mitrovic bizarrely handled, Murray made no mistake.