Mathew Ryan kept Albion on terms with his point-blank save from Gabriel Jesus.

But the Seagulls’ new goalkeeper was disappointed to let in the second City goal which killed the contest.

Ryan saw plenty to encourage from the 2-0 defeat to Manchester City but knows the Seagulls need to learn quickly about life against the big boys.

He ensured they reached half-time at 0-0 when he kept out a Jesus header which the Brazilian really should have buried.

Sergio Aguero was sent clear to beat him for the breakthrough and then a header flicked off Dunk and somehow found the net as it arrived almost too close to Ryan’s body.

The Aussie international told The Argus of his save: “I was just reacting on instinct really.

“Aguero had the ball on our left and put a little chip into the middle.

“I was just trying to get across my goal and thankfully his header wasn’t too far away from me. I just reacted and was in the right place in the right time.

“The second goal, I think it was Dunky who headed it in the end. It was close to me and hit me on the way through.

“It caught me by surprise a little bit and I was disappointed I couldn’t really keep that one out.

“Obviously Aguero, one on one, is not going to be easy. I did my best but we move on.”

The Argus:

Clearly Albion’s players had been sharing experiences of how to deal with elite opponents in the run-up to the game.

The Seagulls had not played one of the leading Premier League lights since midway through the 2014-15 season, when Arsenal visited in the FA Cup. Ryan was fully aware of that.

He said: “Speaking to the boys, they were saying in the last couple of season they hadn’t drawn a big team in the cup.

“I don’t think there is a lot of experience against these bigger teams.

“We can learn that a team like this will be relentless in coming at us the whole game.

“There are going to be large amounts of time when we need to stick together and keep the defensive block nice and strong.

“We have done that in moments in the last two games (against City and Atletico Madrid).

“The goals we have conceded have come down to our own little errors, not the opposition’s great play which has broken us down.

“At this level we need to tidy that up and keep it tight as often as we can in games.”

Ryan was one of five starters who made their Albion debuts and he believes the new-look side has yet to fully settle.

He added: “We have got players coming in so we have got to quickly learn from one another and our style of play.

“We have got to understand the new players coming in and fit in with the team and you are only going to get that with more experience together.”

Ryan was convinced Albion could take a point from the title favourites.

He said: “We are disappointed, being at home in front of the home fans.

“We wanted to get something from the game – a point or a win.

“There were patches throughout the match when we had a little bit of momentum. But an opposition like Manchester City are going to dictate a lot of the play.

“They did that for large amounts of the game.

“Defensively we withstood it numerous times in the first half – and into the second.

“In the second half we shot ourselves in the foot at crucial times.

“Both goals were probably preventable but it is what it is. We have got to move on now.”