By Tim Dudding, at Withdean

Jermaine Easter's second half goal was enough to separate the two sides here after Albion were once again reduced to ten men.

Adam El-Abd saw red after 26 minutes for a high tackle on Richie Partridge, Albion's fifth dismissal in the 10 games this season.

But despite being down to ten men Albion were always in this game, but Easter's scrappy goal shortly after the interval would prove enough for Paul Ince's side.

Frustratingly, Albion were in real control of the game before El-Abd got his marching orders, and Andrew Crofts could have given the Seagulls a dream start, but saw his header from James Tunnicliffe's long-throw go straight at Willie Gueret.

El-Abd then ran onto a flick inside from Elliott Bennett, but his low drive on the angle was well saved by Gueret.

The outlook was bright, but like so many times this season already, the referee was about to take centre stage. El-Abd went in with a raised foot as he challenged Partridge - and actually won the ball - but the clatter of shin-pad, coupled with the midfielder's reaction, made the challenge look worse than it was, and Paul Taylor reached immediately for his red card.

Albion restructured, with Bennett switching to right-back - where he was magnificent - and although not over-run by the visitors, the odd chance began to materialise for the Dons.

Tommy Elphick's clearance was charged down by Easter on the edge of the area and the ball fell to Aaron Wilbraham, but his first-time shot was tame and gratefully gathered by Michel Kuipers.

Wilbraham then latched onto a lobbed pass by Peter Leven, but was denied by a brilliant last-stitch tackle from James Tunnicliffe, again impressive at the back.

Russell Slade would have hoped for a similarly robust approach after the break, but instead the Dons took the lead with a scrappy affair after only four minutes.

The Albion defence struggled to clear Jemal Johnson's corner, the ball flicked off Tunnicliffe's heel and Easter reacted quickest to nod the ball home from six yards, despite a desperate attempt from Bennett on the line.

Albion stuck with it though, and Arron Davies came close to finding an equaliser at the other end, but his rasping 25-yard shot was tipped over the bar by Gueret.

Clearly tiring after a monumental effort, Albion's players never gave up, and Dickinson pulled another save from Gueret with a long range effort.

Albion couldn't find a way through the Dons defence though, and once again, Slade's side has been hoisted by it's own petard.

Albion: (4-4-2) Kuipers; El-Abd, Elphick, Tunnicliffe, Wright; Bennett, Crofts, Dicker (Murray 81), A Davies (Thornhill 64); Forster, Dickinson. Subs not used: Smith (GK), Cox, Hart, Navarro, Livermore.

MK Dons: (4-4-2) Gueret; Doumbe, Powell, McCracken, Lewington; Johnson (Howell 90), Gleeson, Leven, Partridge (Morgan 64); Easter (Davis 81), Wilbraham. Subs not used: Carrington, Searle (GK), Ibehre, Swailes.

Attendance: 6419 (372 MK Dons).

Referee: Paul Taylor.

Yellow Cards: Dickinson (Albion); Partridge, Leven, Doumbe, Davis, Gleeson (MK Dons).

Red Cards: El-Abd (Serious foul play).