A sense of timing is a great quality for a goalscorer.

Evan Ferguson certainly displayed that as his growing reputation was further enhanced at the Amex last night.

The 16-year-old from Ireland went on as sub during the second half of Albion under-23s’ PL2 clash against Blackburn Rovers.

He wrapped up a 4-1 home win with a very confident finish to a move he himself had started with good hold-up play and a pass to release Cameron Peupion.

Ferguson looked certain to score as soon the ball dropped to him just outside the box.

What he did not know was that head coach Graham Potter was just about to leave his seat in the West Stand as he took a steadying touch and passed the ball past Rovers keeper Jordan Eastham.

He certainly gave Potter something to think about as he made his way to the car park.

Now that’s what you call timing.

Of course the Albion boss would have seen the goal anyway on a small screen.

But it felt right that he should be given a nice send-off from a classy Albion performance.

Excitement is growing over Ferguson, a tall striker with a good touch who came through the ranks at Bohemians in Dublin.

His goal capped a great week which also saw him make his debut for the Republic’s under-21s.

Football isn’t all about strikers, of course. It just feels that way sometimes when you follow Albion.

But the No.9 Ferguson replaced, Laurent Tolaj, also had a productive evening.

His emphatic finish on the turn followed Marc Leonard’s penalty and put Albion 2-0 up.

Those first two goals both owed a lot to the fact Peupion was giving his marker Louis Annesley nightmares.

Left-back James Furlong provided two precise deliveries from wide for goals in the recent win at Derby.

BRIGHTON UNDER-23S 4 BLACKBURN 1 - OUR LIVE REPORT

This time he seemed to rather overhit a cross which looked intended for Tolaj’s run.

But the ball dipped inside the far top corner to put Albion 3-0 up at the break.

His fellow full-back Sam Packham almost extended that with a 25-yarder which smacked off the base of the post.

Albion had enough chances in the second half to score rather more than that one Ferguson goal.

Rovers had something to cheer when they reduced arrears to 3-1.

Sam Burns, a bundle of energy and aggression, nicked the ball when Tom McGill’s pass to Ed Turns was slightly underhit.

Burns still had a bit to do but expertly curled a shot from some way out between the retreating keeper and his near post.

It was nicely done – but it wasn’t the finish people were talking about as they left the Amex.