Graham Potter was pleased with his Brighton & Hove Albion side after they continued their preparations for the new Premier League season with a goalless draw against Rangers at Ibrox.

The Seagulls blended youth with experience in Glasgow to good effect as they held the reigning Scottish Premiership champions in front of 8,000 supporters.

The home side created the better chances with John Lundstram hitting the bar in the second half, but it was a good workout in the sunshine for Potter's players, as they stepped up their work ahead of the big kick-off in three weeks.

Good test for Albion

It was a strong squad that arrived in Glasgow despite the absence of 11 players including Albion's Euro 2020 and Copa America players, Alexis Mac Allister, who is at the Tokyo Olympics, and Lewis Dunk, Danny Welbeck, Tariq Lamptey and Adam Webster.

Head coach Potter fielded two separate XIs with Kjell Scherpen and Enock Mwepu making their competitive debuts in the first half while under-23s Marc Leonard, Ayo Tanimowo, Taylor Richards, James Furlong and Antef Tsoungui all got opportunities to impress after the break.

“I thought we were more in it in the first half than the second, as we had a lot of young players out there in the second,” Potter said.

“Solly [March] and Florin [Andone] had their first 45 minutes for a while, so if you look at it over the whole it was a good exercise for us especially if you consider the players who weren't available.

“There's lots to do, but the players have worked hard since they came back. Now it's about trying to step that up.

'It was a proper game'

“It was a really good workout against a well organised team in a fantastic stadium in front of supporters who generated a brilliant atmosphere. It was a proper game. 

“Now we just need to get the work into the boys and importantly they've come through unscathed.”

For Mwepu and goalkeeper Scherpen, it was their first taste of action in Seagulls shirts having joined the club earlier in the summer.

'They need time to adapt'

“It's a first 45 minutes for them and it's nice to get that out the way, we can build from there,” added Potter.

“They understand the team and what we're asking of them. They need time to adapt, but it's good for them to have that time to settle in to their Brighton & Hove Albion careers.”