Everton U23 coach David Unsworth is delighted to have led his team to the Premier League 2 title.

The Blues edged Brighton 1-0 thanks to Josh Bowler's first-half strike.

“I'm very proud and it's a great night for the Club," Rhino said. “We should have been out of sight and scored maybe three, four or five goals. But we won the game and that was the main thing.

“I'm so proud of this group of players and my staff as well, because they have worked so hard.

“It was a great performance tonight. At 1-0, it's always a little bit nervy and then they get the opportunity with the penalty.

“Fortune favoured us a little bit, but I think we deserved that tonight, because we've been fantastic all season.

“Since the first day of pre-season, on 1 July, the players have been amazing. We work them very, very hard – and to get over the line and achieve something like this is a great feeling.

“They are all very together as a group, they've got a real desire to win and they've just got better and better as the season has gone on."