Albion manager Dean Wilkins has defended his players after another home defeat.

Fans' frustrations at the Seagulls awful run of results at Withdean boiled over both before and after the game.

Some of the players came under fire during the warm-up, as well as after the final whistle as a 34th minute goal from Billy Paynter kept alive Bradford's hopes of beating the drop.

Wilkins said: "The players are absolutely devastated, obviously because of the result, but partly other matters as well which I won't go into at the moment. One thing is for sure, these players care deeply, regardless of what people might think at the moment.

"They are young men, they are learning their trade in a very difficult environment and they care deeply about the game and our club, so I am proud to be part of the group.

"Certainly as the game went on the players looked a little bit more edgy. You can make your own assumption as to whether that is helpful or not."

Paynter nodded Bradford's winner after a bright start by Albion. Wilkins said: "I thought in the first half in terms of getting from box to box we were outstanding.

"Some of the quality of the football and the movement was excellent but we failed to deliver in the final third. We are not scoring anywhere near enough goals and the goal we conceded was from a set play which I always hate seeing."

The Seagulls' third defeat on the trot dropped them a place to 16th, six points clear of Bradford in the relegation zone.

Albion's youth team lost 1-0 at home to top-of-the-table Gillingham.