All six of Andy Williams' league outings for Bristol Rovers so far this term might have come from the bench, but he can lay a major claim to reeling in seven points.

He was the player brought down for the penalty which ensured a 1-0 victory over Huddersfield last month, then chased a lost cause to set up Jo Kuffour's winner against Oldham a couple of weeks ago.

On Saturday he was at it again, laying on the pass which allowed Kuffour to stab home an equaliser which was the least Bristol Rovers deserved against a 10-man Seagulls side who rode their luck but also defended gallantly against just about everything the home side could throw at them.

Williams came closer than anyone to netting the winner Rovers were desperately seeking during the final stages of an entertaining game.

He hit the foot of the post with a left-foot shot after cutting in from the right, having earlier cleared the bar by inches with a scorching effort from the edge of the 18-yard box.

"I'm disappointed not to have got on the scoresheet and even more disappointed we didn't get three points, but I was pleased to set up Jo's goal," said Williams.

"I got in behind their defence a few times and thought I had quite a positive impact on the game.

"It's always hard when a team goes down to 10 men and it's frustrating as well because you are then expected to win.

"As soon as they had a player sent off, they set their stall out to play for a point. They were wasting time as early as the first half and I don't think we had it all added on.

"I should really have hit the target with the chance that hit the post and we missed a few chances late on, which has cost us three points at the end of the day."

After being put on the transfer list over the summer, Williams' wholehearted response to his predicament has won him plenty of admirers on the Memorial Stadium terraces.

The goals might not be flying in for him at the moment, but Gasheads love a tryer – and the former Hereford United player is certainly that.

His efforts have been rewarded, the "For Sale" sign taken down, and he can look to the future with some degree of optimism, even though competition for places up front is fierce.

"I kept in contact with Trolls and he said that if I kept on doing what I was doing, then I'd be in his plans," said Williams. "When the club actually announced last week I was off the transfer list, it was a nice boost.

"I always wanted to stay here. I'm happy in Bristol and really like the place, and hopefully that's starting to show in my performances.

"Chris Dickson coming in has changed things a little bit. The manager has told me I'm close to starting but I've just to keep on doing what I am at the moment and try and score a goal."

Brighton may not have enjoyed the best start to their season, but it was to their credit that they arrived with the intention of having a go – at least until skipper Adam Virgo stupidly got himself dismissed just before the break after ugly challenges on Stuart Campbell and then Jeff Hughes in the space of six minutes.

Rovers had nevertheless created the better chances of the opening period, but Michel Kuipers made a couple of good saves to thwart Kuffour while James Tunnicliffe deflected away Aaron Lescott's goalbound shot.

At the other end, Mikkel Andersen had made a good stop to foil Arron Davies, but produced an even better one three minutes before the break when he reacted brilliantly to prevent Danny Coles shanking the ball into his own net.

With their ranks reduced in the second half, Brighton's only realistic chance of a breakthrough was going to come from a set piece.

And sure enough, Tunnicliffe escaped Coles' attentions from a 56th-minute corner to power home a bullet header.

Rovers were having a sloppy 15 minutes at the time – the corner came after Andersen had to tip Nicky Forster's shot around a post – and the Danish keeper was needed again to prevent Elliot Bennett putting the visitors further ahead.

But the Pirates then started to get to grips with proceedings after the introduction of Williams and Darryl Duffy gave them fresh impetus up front.

Duffy played his part too in the equaliser, and although Williams' cross was slightly behind Kuffour, the striker managed to readjust and steer his low effort past Kuipers from 10 yards.Duffy probably should have won them the game when he was put through on goal by Kuffour, but Kuipers made another important stop.

And in stoppage time, Bristol Rovers almost reaped the benefit from another positive substitution. Ben Swallow, who offered another lively cameo down the left, drove a dangerous ball across the face of goal and Carl Regan looked all set to net at the far post.

But a defender got just enough on the ball to ensure the former MK Dons man shinned his attempt into the side netting.