Brighton and Hove Albion boss Roberto De Zerbi feels that his side’s flock of young Seagulls are moving in the right direction after the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace on Thursday.

The goal came from a veritable veteran as second-half substitute Danny Welbeck nodded home to salvage a point in the 82nd minute at Selhurst Park.

But the 33-year-old was present on a pitch littered with Albion youngsters including 21-year-old goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, whose mistake led to Jordan Ayew’s opener on the stroke of half-time.

Carlos Baleba, 19, Jack Hinshelwood, 18, and Simon Adingra, 21, were among the other starters for the visitors.

And Albion nearly walked away with all three points when a late deflection off Welbeck from Dean Henderson’s punched clearance rolled wide of the Palace keeper’s open net.

De Zerbi said: “The young players need time to improve, to progress. If you remember Facundo Buonanotte two or three months ago, he was different than the Facundo today now.

“I think he is playing with more energy, with a different attitude, with a different mentality. Now I think he feels able to play, to stay in the Premier League.

“And two months ago, three months ago, I didn’t see the same attitude, the same behaviour.