NORWICH City Under-18s coach Graeme Murty feels his side didn't make the most of a strong opening after being beaten 2-1 at home by Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday.

The young Canaries went in front early on through Owen Wallis, only for the Seagulls to turn the Barclays Under-18s Premier League contest around and emerge victorious.

Reflecting on the defeat, Murty told canaries.co.uk: "The disappointing thing is we actually started the game very well.

"For the first 20 minutes we were the better team and looked like we were going to win. Ironically, getting the first goal turned out to be the worst thing that could have happened for us.

"After that we went backwards and allowed them back into the contest. It's a learning experience for the players because you can't let teams back into the fight, which we did.

"We eased off our tempo and they had a response. That took them past our level, but we still had more than enough opportunities to get something from the game."

Murty is now looking for his team to develop more consistency, following a run of three losses and three wins over the past six matches.

"I'm not as concerned if we lose games while playing well," the Academy coach explained.

"I always look for a sustained and significant period in games where we're playing at our maximum. Following a good first 20 minutes, I'm looking for characters in the team.

"In moments like that, we need people to pull up the standards of others. However, I felt too many too many played at the level of the game as a whole, rather than the levels they are capable of."

NORWICH CITY: Oxborough; Lattie, Lewis, Pollock, Wallis, Ellesley (Syme, 80), Ramsay, Sambu, Couzens, Black (c), Aransibia (Jaiyesimi, 60). Subs not used: Hale-Brown (GK), Kamal.

REPORT: U18s 1-2 BRIGHTON

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