Albion boss Russell Slade insists he can take some encouragement from his side's fifth defeat in six games.

The Seagulls slipped six points adrift of safety after losing 2-0 at Scunthorpe today.

They were outplayed in the first half but rallied in the second until conceding a late penalty and seeing Matt Heath sent-off.

Defeat followed the 3-0 surrender at Walsall in midweek.

Slade said: "It's tough to take, albeit the performance was much better than Tuesday's performance, particularly in the second half.

"We didn't really get too much to grips with it in the first half.

"Going in at 1-0 you are always in the game and I felt we had a terrific spell just after half-time.

"I'm disappointed we conceded the penalty and the seocnd goal because really that put the game to bed, particularly with us going down to ten men.

"There were some good things in the second period.

"The work ethic was good, the attitude was good.

"We played a very good side but there were encouraging signs and I couldn't say that on Tuesday."