Bristol Rovers 1 Brighton & HA 1: Bristol Rovers were forced to settle for a point against ten-man Brighton at the Memorial Stadium this afternoon.

Paul Trollope's side went in search of a fourth successive league victory and were handed an advantage just before the break when Brighton skipper Adam Virgo was sent off for pole-axing Jeff Hughes to pick up a second booking.

The ten-men of Brighton still managed to take a surprise lead in the 56th minute when defender James Tunnicliffe headed in from Arron Davies' corner. Rovers finally managed to carve out an equaliser off the boot of Jo Kuffour on 67 minutes - but despite dominating possession and territory they where unable to find the other goal that would have seen their winning run extended to four games. 

Rovers enjoyed the better of the opening period and forced goalkeeper Michel Kuipers into a couple of vital saves. Brighton, in fairness, started with the look of a side that had arrived with the intentions of trying to collect three points instead of settling for a draw. 

Trollope's side took just over ten minutes to pose any real threat on their opponents' goal; a fierce angled effort from Kuffour forcing Kuipers to make a smart save by tipping over the crossbar. Brighton replied almost immediately with a stinging shot from wideman Davies, which needed to be repelled expertly by Rovers' stopper Mikkel Andersen.

Danny Coles was next to try his luck for the Pirates after Chris Lines' wayward shot rolled kindly in his diection. The defender's effort, however, was easily gathered by Kuipers. Rovers continued to keep Kuipers busy and another save followed from Kuffour's acrobatic overhead attempt from the edge of the area after the Seagulls had made a hash of what should have been a routine clearance on 17 minutes.

Kuffour saw another attempt from distance flash wide of the upright just short of the half-hour mark as Paul Trollope's side started to pick up the pace. Rovers, though, had Andersen to thank for not falling behind against the run of play four minutes before the break.

The big Dane pulled off a spectacular reflex save to spare Coles' blushes after the defender shanked an Elliott Bennet cross towards his own goal. Coles almost volleyed one in at the other end straight after when connecting with a Hughes cross just before Virgo was sent for an early bath.

The Brighton skipper had already been booked for a rudimentary challenge on Stuart Campbell midway through the first-half before going in late on Hughes down by the touchline on 43 minutes. Referee Fred Graham brandished a second yellow card to offer Rovers a numerical advanatge - but Brighton immediately made their change in intentions clear by withdrawing striker Liam Dickinson to bring on defender Jake Wright.

The visitors' bid to get men behind the ball and hang on for a point was almost wrecked in the 50th minute - but striker Chris Dickson poked an attempt wide from close-range after connecting with an impressive far post cross from Mark Wright.

Then Brighton took a surprise lead in the 56th minute with the simplest of goals from a set-piece; defender Tunnicliffe powering home Davies' corner kick. Trollope made a double substitution soon after to try and break down a resilient Seagulls' rearguard and within five minutes the new arrivals, Darryl Duffy and Andy Williams, had combined to offer Kuffour a simple tap in from close in on 67 minutes.

The spritely Williams, operating on the right wing, almost celebrated coming off the transfer list with a goal for himself on 76 minutes with a vicious dipping effort from the edge of the area that cleared the crossbar by just a matter of inches. Trollope introduced tricky youngster Ben Swallow for the final ten minutes before Williams was unlucky not to secure the three points after seeing his shot hit the post after a jinking run in off the touchline.

Duffy nearly won it five minutes from time but Kuipers did well to batter out his shot after running through on goal before Carl Regan should have converted in front of an open net after a Swallow shot was deflected into his direction. The ball, however, hit the post to ensure the game ended all-sqaure.         

Bristol Rovers (4-4-2): Andersen; Regan, Coles, Anthony, Lescott (Swallow 78); Wright (Williams 62), Campbell, Lines, Hughes; Dickson (Duffy 62), Kuffour. Subs: Evans, Elliott, Blizzard, Reece.

Brighton & HA (4-4-2): Kuipers; Virgo, Tunnicliffe, Elphick, El-Abd; Bennett, Dicker, Crofts, Davies (Cox 74); Forster (Hart 81), Dickinson (Wright 44). Subs: Smith, Livermore, Murray, Thornhill.