Club news

Rusk Delighted With Performance And Victory

By Alex Stedman • 31 August 2018

Brighton & Hove Albion under-23s coach Simon Rusk was delighted with his side’s performance in the 5-0 victory over Manchester City tonight at the Broadfield Stadium.

A brace from Aaron Connolly and strikes from Viktor Gyokeres, Haydon Roberts and James Tilley saw the Seagulls register their first win of the Premier League 2 Division 1 campaign, and Rusk was full of praise for the team.

He said, “I’m very pleased because our opposition tonight were a team who’d scored six goals in each of their last two matches – we knew they had that individual capability so I thought it was important in the first half that we made sure we were tight. 

“We knew we had players in our side who can score goals and so it’s a great result, but it’s one we certainly won’t be getting carried away with. I’m really pleased with how the lads executed the game plan and it’s been a really solid start for us.

“I have to be really happy with both the approach of the players and the way we’ve tried to win the game this evening.”

The opening goal of the night came on 27 minutes when Gyokeres stepped up to score from the spot after Anders Dreyer had been fouled inside the area, and Rusk emphasised importance of the game's first goal.

“Every game in this league will be difficult and it’s all about fine margins – tonight the chances went in for us.

“We knew we had to concentrate very hard tonight, especially when the game was still goalless because the first goal would be important. 

“That’s what happened and then we’ve had some real moments of quality for all of our goals – but I’m also just as pleased with the clean sheet because I always make a big point of that too.” 

The result continues the side’s unbeaten start to life in the division following draws with Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur respectively, but the coach was keen to highlight the need to stay grounded after a positive start to the new season. 

“It’s been a good start to the season and for us to be unbeaten after our first four matches given the teams that we’ve played is very good. 

“It’s been a tremendous effort, but we won’t be getting carried away and looking too far ahead.

“We’ll stick to our principles of working hard and showing our quality and that was certainly the case tonight.”