Brighton & Hove Albion manager Oscar Garcia has conceded that Derby County were worthy winners against his side in their Championship playoff semi-final encounter.

The Seagulls fell to a heavy 4-1 defeat at the iPro Stadium earlier today, following on from Thursday's narrow 2-1 first-leg loss.

"The first goal was always [going to be] important, but the second was a big blow for us and we couldn't take it," Garcia is quoted as saying by ClubCall. "But today, to be honest, they were much better than us.

"The table doesn't lie. We played much better in first leg and deserved much more, but in the second leg they were much better than us.

"Over the two legs they are a better team than us and they deserve to be in the final game. On the whole, it has been a fantastic season for us. Not many thought we'd reach the playoffs and with the injuries we had during the season it is an achievement for us."

Garcia was appointed as manager of Brighton last summer.