Chris Hughton has defended his tactics ahead of this weekend's clash with Newcastle United.
The Brighton boss was the target of Tim Sherwood's stinging criticism this week following the 1-0 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, when the Seagulls attempted to shut shop and hold out for a goal-less draw before losing to a late goal.
Sherwood labelled Hughton's tactics as "anti-football" but the ex-Toon boss has made it clear he must stick to his job.
He said: "When a manager gets a job he has to determine the best way of getting results.
"And probably the way he sets up his team will reflect the group of players he’s got and how he deems is the best way to win games.
"Any derogatory remarks are very, very unfair to those very good managers who have to get results in a different way.
"I don't think there’s such a thing (as anti-football). I don't see it.
"For any way of playing, the game is made up of so many different components.
"What we would all love to do is have the best players, the biggest finances, to be able to play in a way that is expansive and open with strikers who can score at will.
"We'd all like that but the game is made up of favourites and underdogs. Big, big favourites and big, big underdogs.
"When you are a team in a particular type of game that the bookie will have you so far behind in trying to win it, you tactically have to figure out a way of getting results.
"That means you sometimes have to make sure you are solid, not conceding, and play on the break."
Hughton takes on a Newcastle side who have also been hammered for negative tactics this season .
Speaking to the Argus, he said: "We are a team that are going to have difficult times in this division – it's only our second season.
"We are below teams that have spent far more than us, have bigger squads than us and have spent more seasons in this division, so we have to work the way that we can and if we are having a tough time then the most important thing is within the group we are focused and pushing in the right direction.
"Any outside influences or comments from pundits we can't affect. That's what they are paid to do. They make their decisions but it doesn't mean they are right."
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