Hurzeler 'can learn a lot' from 'new experience' of poor run

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler has said he "can learn a lot" from his side's recent dip in form, conceding that a poor run of results is a "new experience" in his managerial career.

The Seagulls were on the brink of the Premier League's top four after beating Bournemouth on 23 November.

But they have since failed to win any of their four league games and are ninth going into Saturday's fixture at West Ham.

"I can deal with this situation, I can handle this because I love to have the responsibility and I also know it's part of it to have this pressure and to be judged by the results," said the 31-year-old, who led his previous club St Pauli into the top flight in Germany before joining Brighton in the summer.

"It's a new experience, for sure. I have had a lot of great success so far in my career but I knew that this phase would come and now it's here I can learn a lot.

"I'm in the right club to experience this phase because it's a club that's well structured. We have great characters in the team. The team know what to do. The team work hard. They're not pointing the fingers at each other.

"They try to see the mistakes on their own and then they try to improve. In the end, the values of the club - this community, this togetherness - will help bring us out of this period."

Meanwhile, AFC Wimbledon say Brighton have paid a "substantial six-figure fee" to sign their under-15 goalkeeper Charlie Wilson-Papps.