By Tim Hodges
Blackburn Rovers 1 Brighton & Hove Albion 1
The Albion saved a point, with a last gasp penalty won and coolly dispatched by David Lopez at Ewood Park this evening.
With Vicente Rodriguez starting at the expense of the rested Craig Mackail-Smith, the Albion were under the cosh for long periods of the match. Tomasz Kuszczak made one or two superb saves, one in particular from Jason Lowe.
Although Blackburn had most of the play, when Albion did get the ball forward, Vicente showed just why Gus Poyet has kept faith in him, as he eased his way around the Blackburn defence.
Kuszczak had to be alert as he beat away an effort from Morten Gamst Pederson but minutes later Adam El-Abd upended the Norwegian in the area. Former Huddersfield star Jordan Rhodes beat Kuszczak from the spot and Rovers led 1-0 at the break.
Blackburn tried hard to put the game to bed in the second half.
Vicente appeared to injure his ankle and was replaced by Mackail-Smith.
The match got a bit fierce in the second period with tackles flying in all over the pitch. The Ollson twins, Martin and Markus, both made strong tackles on Will Buckley who replaced Andrea Orlandi.
Ex-Seagull Colin Kazim Richards grazed the post from fully 30 yards as the home team again stepped up the pressure. Kuszczak made another great save from Rhodes.
Then with injury time almost up, and from a deep cross, David Goodwillie clattered into Albion’s David Lopez and gave Albion a late late penalty.
The rejuvenated Lopez stepped to put Albion level with virtually the last kick of the match.
