Rusk: We'd Appreciate Your Support At Villa

Brighton & Hove Albion under-23 coach Simon Rusk believes his team would benefit from added support at Villa Park on Saturday afternoon, and expressed his appreciation towards supporters that are planning to attend the Premier League 2 Division 2 Play-Off Final.

The Seagulls take on Aston Villa in a one-off game, with promotion the prize for the winners, and with Albion’s first team in action at Liverpool on Sunday, Rusk urged the club’s supporters to take advantage of both matches.

He said, “For any player, when you’re playing a game, any level of support is a marginal gain. It’s a really important match and the climax of our season - therefore anyone that turns up to support us would be greatly appreciated.

“They're two wonderful footballing venues. Villa Park - albeit not a first team match - is a great place to come and watch a game of football.

“Then if you were up there, you could go to Anfield the next day for the final Premier League match of the season - another ground which is steeped in history.

“If fans wanted to take advantage of the two games almost coinciding, it would certainly be a weekend to look forward to.”

Albion’s under-23s have played at Villa Park twice over the past two seasons, as well as the first team finishing the campaign at the home of the Villans last May - and Rusk believes the historic stadium will add to the occasion.

“We’ve been lucky that we’ve played a couple of under-23 games at Villa Park. The stadium games always give the under-23 matches an edge that it doesn't have at a training ground.

“It’s a wonderful place and for the sort of game that it is, it’s the type of stadium that you want to play in.”

Albion supporters can purchase tickets on the gate at Villa Park, with tickets priced at £4 for adults and £1 for concessions.