Albion's Under-23s In The Play-off Picture

Brighton & Hove Albion’s under-23s have five games remaining in the Premier League 2 Division 2 this season, and they find themselves in the thick of a race for promotion.

Just one defeat in 11 league matches for Simon Rusk’s team have pulled them into the play-off picture, largely thanks to a hat-trick of victories over Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers.

That solitary loss came against Reading at the Madejski Stadium in early January, when a last-gasp penalty snatched all three points for the hosts, following Henrik Bjordal’s leveller.

But the Seagulls now occupy fifth position - the final play-off berth - after 17 games, with three home fixtures and two away trips remaining for Rusk’s in-form side.

Just seven points separate second-placed Villa to Norwich City in seventh, while Albion find themselves seven points behind league leaders Blackburn, who were dispatched 2-0 last Friday.

Only Blackburn have lost fewer games than Albion in the league this season, with the Seagulls losing just four, with only one of those defeats coming on home soil.

Southampton visit the Amex Stadium at the beginning of March, before Albion travel to the north east to play Middlesbrough, who have fallen from the league summit in recent weeks.

West Bromwich Albion and Stoke City then finish off Albion’s home schedule for the season at the Checkatrade.com Stadium, which is then followed by the final-day clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at Molineux.

Rusk's team are currently on a six-game winning run across all competitions, and will take on Exeter City in the Premier League Cup next Monday before returning to league action.