Albion manager Mark McGhee today warned the development of his struggling young team will be a marathon, not a sprint.

The Seagulls seek their first win of the season against Bristol Rovers in the Carling Cup at Withdean tonight after Saturday's Paula Radcliffe performance in the 3-0 defeat at table-topping Wigan.

McGhee said: "In a sense we did a Paula Radcliffe. We were right in it but then when it went to 2-0 it went away from us and after that we couldn't handle it. That is the immaturity and inexperience of the team showing.

"Our improvement curve is going to be gradual. I can steepen that by Charlie (Oatway) coming back, Richard Carpenter coming back, possibly with Chris McPhee coming back and certainly with Simon Rodger coming back.

"If I could go out and get two or three players of First Division status and ability I could steepen that curve even more, but don't expect some sort of quantum improvement in this group of players, because it won't happen.

"They are improving. Day in day out people like Maheta (Molango) and Albert Jarrett are taking more on board. Hinshelwood's getting better, Virgs will get better, Dan Harding's getting better and all these young players will improve us as a team but it's not going to happen overnight."

McGhee still expects Albion, with Jarrett recalled on the left at the expense of Kerry Mayo, to see off a side two divisions below them.

He added: "I've got a group of players here who in 18 months time are going to be a right good team. It's just about trying to get them better and survive in a sense in that period, but we will get there."