By Tim Dudding, at the Memorial Stadium

Albion produced a tremendous second-half rearguard action to earn a point at high-flying Bristol Rovers, after skipper Adam Virgo was sent off for two bookable offences just before half time.

James Tunnicliffe gave the Seagulls the lead with his first career goal after Virgo had been dismissed, but livewire striker Jo Kuffour equalised for the home side midway through the second half.

Paul Trollope's side had Albion penned in for most of the second period, but the Seagulls defended resolutely to earn a share of the spoils, with Tunnicliffe outstanding in the heart of the defences.

Rovers are one of the divisions in-form sides, and Kuffour looked determined to maintain the Pirates' good run in the opening stages.

The striker had the first sight of goal in the West Country sunshine when he escaped from Tommy Elphick, but his fierce shot on the run was tipped over the bar by Michel Kuipers.

At the other end, Tunnicliffe's long-throw was giving the home defence plenty to think about, and one such delivery caused mayhem on the edge of the Rovers area, but Arron Davies's thumping half-volley was well parried by former Albion keeper Mikkel Andersen.

Kuipers was certainly the busier of the two custodians in the first half, and the big Dutchman had to dive at full stretch to claw Kuffour's acrobatic volley from the air.

But as the half drew to a close Albion came close to breaking the deadlock when Danny Coles sliced Davies's low centre towards his own goal, and only quick reaction from Andersen kept Rovers from going behind. Liam Dickinson followed up, but blasted his shot across the face of goal.

Albion's task got all the more difficult though a minute before the break when, having already picked up a caution four minutes earlier for a foul on Stuart Campbell, the Seagulls skipper had referee Fred Graham reaching for his book again when he arrived late for a challenge on Jeff Hughes.

If Albion were down to ten men, then you would never have known it from the way they started the second half, and Nicky Forster forced Andersen into a good save at his near post after breaking away down the left flank.

From the resulting corner, Tunnicliffe powered in to meet Davies's delivery with a bullet header to give Albion an unlikely lead.

Now a goal down to ten men, the home side sprang to life, and on-loan Charlton striker Chris Dickson should have marked his home debut with a goal, but his finish from Mark Wright's cross was poor.

Incredibly, Albion nearly doubled their advantage, but Andersen did well to bat away Elliott Bennett's blistering long-range effort.

The equaliser wasn't long in coming though as Rovers applied more and more pressure, and when substitute Andy Williams got the better of Jake Wright, Kuffour had a simple finish from six yards to draw the home side level.

Williams was causing real problems down Albion's left side, and the winger came within millimetres of giving Rovers the lead when he cut back on his left foot, only to see his shot scuff the bottom of the post.

Kuffour then slipped in Darryl Duffy after a slick one-two, but Kuipers rushed off his line to make a brilliant block when the substitute looked certain to secure the win.

Carl Regan had Bristol's final chance in injury time as the ball whizzed across the face of Albion's goal, but the full-back sliced wide, and the Seagulls had survived for a point.

Albion could even have won it; they had a good shout for a penalty when the ball appeared to strike a Rovers hand during an injury time melee, but referee Graham wasn't convinced, and a draw would have to be enough.

Rovers: (4-4-2) Andersen; Regan, Anthony, Coles, Lescott (Swallow 79); Wright (Williams 63), Campbell, Lines, Hughes; Kuffour, Dickson (Duffy 63). Subs not used: Evans (GK), Elliott, Reece, Blizzard.

Albion: (4-4-2) Kuipers; Virgo, Elphick, Tunnicliffe, El-Abd; Bennett, Crofts, Dicker, A Davies (Cox 74); Forster (Hart 81), Dickinson (Wright 45 +2). Subs not used: G Smith (GK), Thornhill, Livermore, Murray.

Attendance: 8098 (673 Albion).

Referee: Fred Graham.

Yellow Cards: Tunnlicliffe, Virgo (Albion).

Red Cards: (Virgo, two bookings)