Shannon Ruth has called on his under-21s team to put together a run of form and finish the season on a high.
With his team now only competing in Premier League 2 – having been knocked out of the International Cup and EFL Trophy in the last month – the under-21 head coach doesn’t want his team to lose focus.
“One of the hardest things I find that young players have is finding a consistency," he explained. “Our last two games are a great example.
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"Regardless of the result, we were really proud of our performance in the defeat to West Ham in the International Cup. We felt we deserved more but didn’t get anything. Then we go to Sunderland in Premier League 2 a week later and get a draw, but we were really disappointed with the performance. They were only a week apart, but the performances were drastically different.
“So we constantly reinforce the need to be consistent because it builds momentum and positive habits that will put us in a good place as a team and them as individuals.
“But regardless of the reward and what stage of the season it is, can we be consistent? It’s about controlling what they can control and being the best they can. Youth development being what it is, there are inconsistencies.
“Hopefully they will have a long career in the game, what comes with that is being reliable, trustworthy, doing the right things at the right times – as mundane as they can be – to create those marginal gains to reach the next level.”
Ruth also says the players need to remember that their performances in training and in Premier League 2 matches could pave the way to first team football.
“The players do recognise the opportunity, they have friends at other clubs who they speak to where maybe the first team chances don’t always come as regularly. They are extremely lucky to be here and for our pathway to work the way it does.
“Look at a player like Cam Peupion for example. Cam played for the under-21s against West Ham, his next game was a start in the FA Cup against Wolves.
"It shows how connected the staff are and how performances for the under-21s are closely monitored by the first team coaches. For Cam, playing well on the Friday for the under-21s – and training well with the first team as well, which is vital – enabled him to get a first team start.
“For our players at Brighton, they do realise how close they are [to the first team] because they see it every day and a group of them train with the first team every day. What our manager has shown is that if you’re good enough you’ll play, age isn’t a barrier."
You can watch the under-21s take on West Brom on Friday, kick-off 7pm, live on our YouTube.