Albion youngster Dean Cox broke his silence today over the verbal attacks he has suffered from fans at the last two home games.

Cox and team-mate Jake Robinson were verbally abused during the warm-up before last Saturday's 1-0 defeat by Bradford City at Withdean.

They also came under fire from a different group of supporters when they were substitutes for the previous home game against Doncaster.

Cox, 19, said: "It was just hurtful. It has put a dampener on my whole season. It put me in the wrong frame of mind."

Meanwhile, defender Adam El-Abd has apologised for reacting to abuse from supporters at the final whistle against Bradford.

Fans have claimed he gestured and swore back at them.

El-Abd said: "I regret and apologise for what I did but the fans have got to understand we are all passionate about what we are doing and it is not a nice feeling getting booed off."

See tomorrow's Argus for the full stories.