Brighton & Hove Albion’s under-23s host Everton at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre this evening and Simon Rusk’s team have forged an impressive record at the club’s training ground over previous seasons.
The Seagulls have played 14 matches at their training base since the beginning of the 2016/17 campaign, recording nine victories, four draws and just one defeat over that time.
Albion’s account opened in emphatic fashion against Nottingham Forest in the Premier League Cup, as Rusk’s side ran out 7-0 winners, and the positive results have continued to roll ever since.
The season ended with four victories out of four, with Albion finding the back of the net on nine occasions across games against West Ham United (2) and Huddersfield Town respectively.
Middlesbrough were the first visitors to Albion’s training ground during the 2017/18 season, and Rusk’s young side were only denied another three points by a 90th-minute penalty in a 2-2 draw.
A 3-2 defeat followed against Hull City in the Premier League Cup, but it proved to be the only loss Albion would suffer in over two years of playing at the club’s training ground ahead of tonight’s game.
Four comfortable victories, which involved 14 goals for the Seagulls, came inside Albion’s final five matches of the season — including a 3-0 Premier League Cup success against tonight’s opponents Everton.
An eye-catching 5-1 win over West Bromwich Albion helped towards gaining promotion to the top flight of under-23 football, and Rusk’s team have continued their fine form on the south coast this season.
Their Premier League 2 Division 1 opener against Liverpool ended goalless, before the spoils were again shared against Merseyside neighbours Everton in the Premier League International Cup.
Albion returned to winning ways with their 2-0 victory over SL Benfica B, which was their sixth clean sheet at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre and took the current goal tally to 39 in 14 matches.
The Seagulls have scored five goals across their two meetings with the Toffees, and will be looking to continue their productive run of form with another collection of points this evening.
Stats at the American Express Elite Football Performance Centre:
| Games | 14 | Goals scored | 39 |
| Victories | 9 | Goals conceded | 11 |
| Draws | 4 | Clean Sheets | 6 |
| Losses | 1 | Goals scored per game % | 2.78 |