Albion's latest signing Taylor Richards made an immediate impact as Albion recorded their second pre-season victory in succession under Graham Potter.

The Manchester City teenager was introduced in the second half at Crawley after signing the day before.

He clipped in a late penalty to earn the Seagulls the 1-0 win.

Christian Walton, back on loan at Wigan last season, was forced to make a couple of saves in the opening 45 minutes.

He was almost deceived by a bouncing shot from Dannie Bulman, which he shovelled to safety, and tipped a cross by David Sesay on to the bar.

Albion went closest to an interval advantage when a block tackle by Soufyan Ahannach from a half-cleared corner led to the ball reaching Tudor Baluta inside the box.

His turn and shot was kept out one-handed by Glenn Morris, moving sharply to his right.

Crawley pressed more for a breakthrough as the match wore on without seriously troubling sub Robert Sanchez.

They could have taken the lead 13 minutes from time when Ollie Palmer dispossessed Archie Davies and set up Reece Grego-Cox, but he dragged his effort wide.

Instead it was Albion who scored the only goal in the 84th minute. Referee Gavin Ward decided Max Sanders’ free-kick had been handled in the wall and Richards calmly converted from the spot for the winner.

Crawley (4-4-1-1): Morris (Luyambula 78); Young (Doherty 55), Dallison, McNerney, Sesay; Lubala (Allarakhia 79), Bulman (Grego-Cox 73), Ferguson (Powell 79), Nathaniel George (Payne 73); Camara; Bloomfield (Palmer 58).

Albion (4-2-3-1): Walton (Sanchez 46); Sanders, Baluta, Clarke, Cox (Cochrane 61); Ahannach (Davies 61), Roberts (KazuKolovas 73); Mlaker, Hemed (Spong 46), Gyokeres (Gwargis 61); Connolly (Richards 46).

Referee: Gavin Ward.

Attendance: 3,905 (1,850 Albion).