Richards came off the bench to score an 83rd-minute winner from the penalty spot, while Baluta produced an assured display in defence following his return from international duty with Romania in the UEFA U21 European Championships.
Potter said, “He [Richards] had his first training session on Thursday and may have played a bit longer than he should’ve done, because he’s not played much football at all.
“He scored his goal, got a bit excited and then gave a couple of balls away. But that’s all part of the process and it was nice for him to score. He showed his confidence with the penalty.
“He’s not been here long, but is ambitious and wants a taste of first-team football. That’s always the challenge for young players, to get the right next step from youth football.
“He has quality and ability, so we’ll make an assessment of him and the right pathway for him to gain that first-team experience.”
Baluta played the full 90 minutes against the Reds, and Potter was pleased with the way the youngster quickly adjusted to being introduced straight into the team, whislt also showcasing his versatility.
“He’s more comfortable in midfield, but you can see that he didn’t let himself down at all at the back, playing at the right of a three. You can see his quality and range of passing, and when he went into midfield, you could see what he’s about," the boss continued.
“He’s had a busy summer and only had a few days with us, so when you put that all into consideration, the lads can be pleased with what they’ve done, because they’ve been thrown together and it’s the first time for a lot of them on the pitch.”
The Seagulls boss also gave an update on African Cup of Nations duo Leon Balogun and Gaetan Bong, and revealed when the pair will return to the club following a busy summer of tourmanent action.
“We’re looking for them to come back during at the week before the Valencia game, as they need a couple of weeks after the tournament. It’s just one of those things.”