Steve Bailey: Albion's performance gives cause for optimism

Tomer Hemed on the run against Manchester City. Picture by Phil Westlake (PW Sporting Photography)

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Despite the defeat, Saturday's match with Manchester City will live long in the memory for Albion fans.

The club’s first-ever match in the Premier League and first game in the top flight of English football for 34 years ended in a 2-0 defeat in front of a Amex record crowd of 30,415 but there were positives for Brighton to take.

With the quality in City’s squad, all Seagulls fans knew before the game taking anything from the match would be a bonus.

A line was trotted out throughout the weekend that the full-backs City signed this summer – Kyle Walker, Benjamin Mendy and Danilo – cost more than the Amex Stadium. It showed just what the Seagulls were up against.

The Manchester giants had a host of world-class players in their squad and their bench, which included academy youngster Phil Foden, cost a total of £200.4m.

After keeping City out for 70 minutes, Brighton were punished for two small mistakes, which they’d have got away with in the Championship. Dale Stephens had his pocket picked by Kevin De Bruyne on the halfway line, he fed David Silva who played in Sergio Aguero and the Seagulls