Norwich City U21s suffered their fourth successive Premier League 2 defeat away to in-form Brighton. 

Two goals in five minutes from Louis Flower and Odeluga Offiah saw the hosts condemn City to their seventh defeat of the campaign and fifth in six matches. 

City were without left-back Guilherme Montoia and on loan Palmeiras midfielder Pedro Lima through injury but welcomed back Finlay Welch and Gabriel Forsyth to Alan Neilson's side on the south coast. 

Norwich started the contest well, with Brighton enjoying the majority of the ball in the opening 30 minutes of the contest. 

Dan Ogwuru went close to giving Norwich the lead after good work from Welch to intercept a clearance. The ex-Manchester City man cut inside and unleashed a curling effort that struck the bar and bounced away.

Seconds later, Flower was played through on goal, only for Dan Barden to smother the effort to keep the contest level. 

Norwich fought hard to head into the break on level terms, with Barden and his defenders required to get through plenty of work in the opening period. 

Ken Aboh went close to opening the scoring inside the opening two minutes of the second half when Waylon Renecke's cross was deflected into his path at the back post. The striker was unmarked but saw his effort saved by Brighton keeper Killian Cahill. 

Norwich had to call upon goalkeeper Barden soon after to produce a fine stop to divert Luca Barrington's goal-bound effort past the far post. 

Brighton took the lead on the 69th minute when Chouchane's cross was deflected onto Flower by Mullins. The striker's close-range effort wrong-footed Barden and dribbled in the far left corner. It is his fourth goal in as many matches. 

The hosts doubled their advantage after a quick corner caught Norwich off guard. Offiah met a cross from Chouchane at the back post, who rose above Charlie Wilson to find the net with a header. 

Substitute Errol Mundle-Smith squandered an excellent chance to reduce the deficit after Elliot Myles stole possession from Offiah before squaring for the teenager, but he was unable to hit the target from close range. 

Norwich's youngsters host Fulham at Colney next Friday, hoping to return to winning ways. They remain in 13th place. 

The Pink Un: Dan Barden made a flurry of fine stops against Brighton.Dan Barden made a flurry of fine stops against Brighton. (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)

Brighton and Hove Albion U21 (4-3-3): Cahill; Offiah, Atom, Knight (Robertson, 75), Slater; Mullins, Chouchane, Barrington; Duffus (Smith, 67), Vickers (Nilsson, 83); Flower. Subs: Fisher (GK), Jackson

Goals: Flower 69, Offiah 74

Bookings: Atom 17

Norwich City U21 (4-3-3): Barden; Riley (Djedje, 76), McIntosh, Wilson, Renecke; Brooke (Myles, 76), Manning, Forsyth (Duffy, 70); Welch, Aboh; Ogwuru (Mundle-Smith, 76). Subs: Craven (GK)

Bookings: Renecke 79