Ruth: Youngsters showing they're ready for the fight

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Ruth delighted with his side's performance against League Two opposition.

Luke Nicoli

2025-10-01T09:00+01:00

Shannon Ruth's team drew 1-1 with Barnet, before losing 5-4 in a penalty shootout. 📷 by Simon Roe.

Men’s under-21 head coach Shannon Ruth was delighted with the way his side stood up to League Two Barnet in last night’s Vertu Trophy encounter at The Hive.

The Seagulls featured seven teenagers in their starting line-up, with a further four coming off the bench, yet matched the Bees physically on the night to come away with a solid 1-1 draw.

“The work that they put in, the way they dealt with everything Barnet threw at them, I was really pleased,” Ruth said. “I didn’t think it was our best day with the ball, for sure, but in terms of the young players trying to deal with some senior opponents, who were playing in a really direct way, I thought we stood up to that really, really well.

“If we’d taken our chances better towards the end we could even have won it, but overall I was happy with the performance.”

The game was similar to the side’s National League Cup encounter at Sutton United earlier in the month, with the opposition’s more physical style a real test for the youngsters. As Ruth points out, these fixtures are imperative when it comes to player development.

“This game was another example of how their first loan move will look like,” he added. “It looks more like the reality of the game, compared to any of the other competitions they’re in at the moment, so for them to be able to prove to themselves that they can stand up to the physicality and demands of the senior game, and hopefully show their quality, that’s a win for us.

Josh Robertson celebrates opening the scoring at Barnet. 📷 by Simon Roe.

“For some of the players, this was the first time they’ve played in the Vertu Trophy, so I know they'll be far better off for it. It makes us look forward to the games against Luton and Cambridge in the competition because we’ve now had a taste of it.”

Albion’s goal came thanks to superb first-half strike from midfielder Josh Robertson and Ruth was delighted to see the former Sunderland youngster make such a positive impact on the night.

“It was a great goal, something we’ve seen from him in training” he added. “I’m so pleased for Robbo because he’s had a tough time. He’s been out for a long spell with a hamstring injury, which he’s worked ever so hard to get over, and since he’s come back into the group he’s played deep, he’s played higher up the pitch, showing the real versatility that he possesses. He deserves that goal after all he’s been through.”