Hull City v Brighton reaction

Published Aug. 18, 2012 3:15 p.m. ET

foxsports

Simpson poached the winner with five minutes remaining and just four minutes after coming on to replace Aaron Mclean.

Simpson was loaned out to Millwall last season as he struggled to secure a place in the Hull side, but Bruce insisted the 23-year-old will be given a chance to impress this season.

"Jay's looked sharp in pre-season and I'm really pleased for him because it has not been easy for him here by all accounts," Bruce said.

"I've not closed the door on anybody and he was arguably a bit unlucky not to start. Jay's got off and running, so good on him."

Hull were second best for long spells of the game, but Bruce called for patience as his new-look side attempts to gel.

"It was a typical first game of the season, and we know we'll have to improve," he added.

"The goal was the real bit of quality in the game.

"Brighton had some good chances, but we did too. It was always going to be open and we were a bit adventurous.

"It is going to take time, but I thought all of the new signings did okay."

Bruce also backed new German striker Nick Proschwitz to come good after a frustrating afternoon up front.

"Nick's going to take time," Bruce said. "At the moment he is carrying that burden of having a ?2 million-plus price tag.

"But when you bring in a foreigner it does take time and it is a different kettle of fish. He'll be fine."

Brighton boss Gus Poyet refused to be downhearted after his side's late defeat.

"You can analyse the game and the goal, but today it just was not to be," he said.

"Last year we were very poor here and were lucky to get away with a point.

"Today, in my opinion, we were the better team. If we can do what we did for 88 minutes, I think we'll be a good team this season.

"I'm very positive today. The players are down, but I've told them not to worry. I will have chances to be mad with them this season, but today is not the day to do that.

"The kind of performance we produced and the way we played was of a very good level.

"It was unfortunate we were not able to take one of our chances, but that is the difficulty of football."

Poyet also praised the performance of striker Craig Mackail-Smith, who has been the subject of transfer speculation over the summer.

"He played very well and he was the difference between the two teams for long periods," Poyet said.

"We need to learn how to play to his strengths. Last year I don't think we did, but there were signs today that we are starting to do that."

Brighton started brightly with Craig Noone and Andrew Crofts going close from distance, but Hull nearly snatched the lead when a cracking left-footed strike from former Rangers player Sone Aluko smacked against the crossbar.

Brighton hit the woodwork themselves early in the second half, as Mackail-Smith's header from Noone's left-flank cross clipped the crossbar.

However, Hull grabbed the decisive goal when Joe Dudgeon latched on to Robert Koren's superb inside pass and lifted the ball over the advancing Tomasz Kuszczak, and Simpson stabbed home from point-blank range.