Dean Wilkins today called for his fleet-footed attackers to offer a big finish to games in the new season.
The Albion boss was delighted to see his side score three times in the last 13 minutes and beat Chester City 4-0 in their final pre-season friendly.
Something similar, allied to sturdy defensive work, can offer them a great start to the season when they go to Crewe on Saturday.
advertisement
Albion only scored twice in the last 15 minutes of games in the second half of last season.
Both those goals were by Dean Cox, at Orient and at home to Oldham, and neither had any bearing on the where the points were heading.
Wilkins reckons the make-up of his team for the new season can change that or at least bring goals which cement a win when they already one up.
The Seagulls manager said: "From when we became more disciplined (on Saturday) I think we saw the the threat we will have late on in games.
"The front two scored three out of four and the skipper broke through and got pulled down for the penalty "In terms of the goals and who scored we were really, really pleased.
"When we went in front last year I think we drew too many games.
"There were also times when even at 0-0, especially if teams are trying to press and get the win, I think we are capable, with the pace and mobility up front, of scoring on a breakaway.
"We can get the ball down the sides and in between defenders."
Albion won or drew nine league and cup games last season in which they led.
Wilkins would love to see them kill off those sort of games or to make a breakthrough in the dying stages of contests which are petering out into stalemate.
The last 13 minutes of pre-season may well have featured when Wilkins spoke to his players this week.
But, from his seat in the back row of the main stand at the Deva Stadium, there were other facets of the display which he noted down with less pleasure.
In fact, Wilkins was taking more notes than The Argus at one stage.
He said: "I think it was 18 minutes before we got a cross in."
(Whatever it led to, we did not note that one down.) He added: "I think it was 32 minutes before our first shot."
(We made it 29 minutes but home keeper Gavin Ward got down comfortably to save from Forster.) "I thought we were in control of the game in the first half but it took us a long time before we created anything worthwhile.
"Considering the amount of possession we had, we need to be aware of that and do a bit better.
"We gave the players a little presentation on what happened at Woking after that game.
"We worked on stuff, showed the players a few clips and we are trying to improve every game.
"We're going to see things (from the Chester game) we're going to pick holes in. We'll also see things we will be hugely pleased about.
"We will show and work on both sides of our game for the whole week."
Another facet Wilkins will look at is that slightly off-centre midfield four, where Tommy Fraser plays fairly narrow on one side and Dean Cox or Jake Robinson occupies virtually a wing role on the other.
Wilkins said: "We are trying to get the right balance between being attack-minded and solid defensively.
"Tommy takes information in and is disciplined in his work. We looked fairly solid and untroubled in the first half at Chester."
The Albion boss was delighted to see his side score three times in the last 13 minutes and beat Chester City 4-0 in their final pre-season friendly.
Something similar, allied to sturdy defensive work, can offer them a great start to the season when they go to Crewe on Saturday.
advertisement
Albion only scored twice in the last 15 minutes of games in the second half of last season.
Both those goals were by Dean Cox, at Orient and at home to Oldham, and neither had any bearing on the where the points were heading.
Wilkins reckons the make-up of his team for the new season can change that or at least bring goals which cement a win when they already one up.
The Seagulls manager said: "From when we became more disciplined (on Saturday) I think we saw the the threat we will have late on in games.
"The front two scored three out of four and the skipper broke through and got pulled down for the penalty "In terms of the goals and who scored we were really, really pleased.
"When we went in front last year I think we drew too many games.
"There were also times when even at 0-0, especially if teams are trying to press and get the win, I think we are capable, with the pace and mobility up front, of scoring on a breakaway.
"We can get the ball down the sides and in between defenders."
Albion won or drew nine league and cup games last season in which they led.
Wilkins would love to see them kill off those sort of games or to make a breakthrough in the dying stages of contests which are petering out into stalemate.
The last 13 minutes of pre-season may well have featured when Wilkins spoke to his players this week.
But, from his seat in the back row of the main stand at the Deva Stadium, there were other facets of the display which he noted down with less pleasure.
In fact, Wilkins was taking more notes than The Argus at one stage.
He said: "I think it was 18 minutes before we got a cross in."
(Whatever it led to, we did not note that one down.) He added: "I think it was 32 minutes before our first shot."
(We made it 29 minutes but home keeper Gavin Ward got down comfortably to save from Forster.) "I thought we were in control of the game in the first half but it took us a long time before we created anything worthwhile.
"Considering the amount of possession we had, we need to be aware of that and do a bit better.
"We gave the players a little presentation on what happened at Woking after that game.
"We worked on stuff, showed the players a few clips and we are trying to improve every game.
"We're going to see things (from the Chester game) we're going to pick holes in. We'll also see things we will be hugely pleased about.
"We will show and work on both sides of our game for the whole week."
Another facet Wilkins will look at is that slightly off-centre midfield four, where Tommy Fraser plays fairly narrow on one side and Dean Cox or Jake Robinson occupies virtually a wing role on the other.
Wilkins said: "We are trying to get the right balance between being attack-minded and solid defensively.
"Tommy takes information in and is disciplined in his work. We looked fairly solid and untroubled in the first half at Chester."
