Joel Lynch is facing up to another testing period in his footballing education.

The impressive return to form of Albion's highly regarded young centre half suffered a double setback over Easter after a landmark appointment.

Lynch created history when, aged 19 and 186 days, he led the side out against Doncaster Rovers at Withdean last Saturday.

It made him the club's youngest ever captain by a distance, eclipsing Ronnie Welch who was 21 and 143 days when he took the armband in February 1974.

The extra responsibility proved a burden as Graeme Lee, the Doncaster skipper, opened the scoring with a header from a corner routine in the first half. Lee, Lynch subsequently confessed, was the player he was supposed to be guarding at set pieces.

Full marks for honesty, then, and Lynch was making a satisfactory recovery from that blip at Tranmere on Monday until, deep into stoppage time, a needless challenge on Chris Greenacre just inside the penalty area presented Rovers' leading scorer with the opportunity to pinch the points from the spot.

Lynch has been here before. Earlier this season, after a commanding start, his form tailed off amid mounting speculation of a move. Stoke in particular were linked with the powerfully built teenager, who counts among his more enticing attributes pace and a wonderful left foot.

"When I make mistakes I try and get on with it, because I am only 19," Lynch said. "It's bad that I have made a mistake and let down the team but it is only two games out of hopefully hundreds to come.

"I think I started off the season quite well. I wasn't expecting to play at centre-half, I was expecting to be at left-back but Mark McGhee put me in there and I started off quite well.

"I went through a bit of a dip in form really. I think I was letting things get to me. To be honest I think I was getting a bit too big for my boots.

"I am not really that kind of person. I play for Brighton, I'm 19-years-old and I have got to do my best every game. I am not anything else.

"I just don't listen to the transfer speculation and stuff like that. I've just signed a three-year extension with Brighton and that is who I play for. I'm happy with how the season has gone. It is my first full season. I think I have a lot more to give as I get older and a bit more experience. The game will seem easier for me."

Lynch's assertion that he got a bit ahead of himself is surprising, because he comes across as extremely level-headed and unassuming. A deep thinker, he had the good sense to use his experienced partner in the centre of defence at Tranmere as a role model during that dark period he had earlier in the campaign.

"When I went through my bad phase I started thinking about Butts (Guy Butters) and the way he plays, keeping it simple," Lynch said. "I cannot remember him having a bad game. He has played consistently well all season.

"He does the simple things but still defends. I've seen people saying in the papers I am not scared to boot it away now and stuff like that. I have been trying to be like a proper centre half, just like Butts. I think that is why I have been playing a lot better."

There is a harder edge to Lynch's game as well now. He uses his physique to better effect and there are fewer theatrics when he is injured.

"That comes with confidence," he said. "You get a bit more aggressive. I have started going into the gym doing a bit more weights and trying to get stronger. I have got a more aggressive side to my game and that was needed."

Lynch was reunited with Butters at Tranmere after trying, unsuccessfully as it turned out, to nurse Tommy Elphick through his full debut against Doncaster.

The irony is that, of the pair, who came through the ranks together, Elphick is more naturally cut out for captaincy and has been doing that job in the reserves for some time now.

"I thought he was man of the match," Lynch said. "I was expecting to go into the first team with him. I did not expect to be in a whole year before Tommy. I think he is a quality player and he showed it."

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