Hurzeler's Brighton second string did little to suggest they are any more than that New York Times (Online) Andy Naylor Fabian Hurzeler has made just seven changes to his third-placed Brighton & Hove Albion stating XI across an impressive opening seven Premier League matches, which have produced five wins with 23 goals scored. Only Daniel Farke at Leeds and Marco Rose at Bournemouth, with four changes apiece, have tinkered less than that. It is up to the players used regularly so far by Hurzeler in the UEFA Conference League and in the Carabao Cup to make a case for more league minutes. They fell short of giving him decisions to make in a disappointing 0-0 draw away to Jablonec in the Conference League group phase on Thursday night. The Czech underdogs ended a six-match winning streak across all competitions for Hurzeler's side. They also became the first team to prevent Brighton from scoring since a 0-0 draw away to Tromso inside the Arctic Circle in the first game of the season in August. A 4-0 win against the Norwegians in the second leg at the Amex in that Conference League play-off round tie sealed smooth progression in the competition. Victory by the same score last week at home to Lithuanian opponents Kauno Zalgiris was a convincing launch to the group stage, but more or less the same set of players fluffed their lines against Jablonec. Hurzeler made one alteration between the two ties in Europe. Left-back Jaouen Hadjam replaced the rested Lewis Dunk, with Olivier Boscagli switching to the captain's spot in the centre of defence. Hurzeler, asked before kick-off about the make-up of the squad after making eight changes for Sunday's 5-0 thrashing of rivals Crystal Palace in the league, told TNT Sports: “I wouldn't say we have two teams. It's very important to manage the energy of the players, but we don't want to play with two teams. All of the players that are playing also have the quality to play in the Premier League and the players currently playing in the Premier League have to keep going, because the others are there to compete with them. “Competition always makes teams better, not only because you can compete against each other but also because you can hold each other accountable and that's very important for us. These games are very good to give players opportunities to perform. It's not only because we think we have to manage the energy, it's also because they deserve it, they have showed good performances.” Extensive rotation between competitions is essential to deal with a punishing schedule. The tie against Jablonec was a chance for the players on the fringes of league selection to give Hurzeler a headache. Instead, his selection will be straightforward for Sunday's trip to Liverpool (assuming there are no fresh injury worries). Jack Hinshelwood, still in the early stages of his comeback in the No 10 role after seven weeks out with ligament damage, got another 68 minutes under his belt. The other attackers, Matt O'Riley (on the right), Ibrahim Osman (left) and Georginio Rutter (No 9) did not do enough to warrant any thoughts of promotion. The end product in the final third was poor. Hurzeler's side had a total of 26 shots from 72 per cent possession and 56 touches inside Jablonec's penalty area, but only four shots were on target. The hosts had as many shots on target from nine attempts overall. At the other end of the pitch, the sure-footed defending this season suddenly evaporated after Hurzeler made a quadruple substitution midway through the second half, aimed at maintaining the winning momentum. The “miracle” Jablonec were looking to pull off — according to the pre-match headline in yesterday's Czech daily Sport — would have happened in the final quarter of the contest but for some wasteful finishing and accomplished goalkeeping by Bart Verbruggen. Defensively, Hurzeler's side were wide open and ragged during that period. There are mitigating circumstances for players short of game time. Austrian summer signing Michael Svoboda from Italian club Venezia, for example, looked leggy at the heart of the back line in the closing stages of only his second 90 minutes since May. On the plus side, it is now an astonishing eight hours and 50 minutes of playing time without conceding since Mason Mount beat Verbruggen's deputy Jason Steele to put Manchester United 2-0 up in the 3-2 comeback win at Old Trafford in the Carabao Cup in September. Manchester City are lurking in the last 16 of that competition next Wednesday before a rapid return to the Etihad Stadium in the league three days later. That is followed, on November 5, by a fifth away match in succession at La Liga outfit Getafe in the next Conference League fixture. That, on paper, is the toughest away match in the group phase, but Getafe were hammered 5-2 at home last night by Swiss Super League leaders Lugano, proof that danger lurks among some of the competition's dark horses. Brighton have been installed as favourites to lift the club's first major trophy in the Conference League. They need more from the players Hurzeler picked against Jablonec to justify that tag.