A last-gasp equaliser from Rochdale skipper Gary Jones denied ten-man Albion a winning start to the final season at Withdean.

Jones had earlier cancelled out Glenn Murray's header, scoring from the spot after Gordon Greer had been sent-off for shoving Anthony Elding, and Elliott Bennett looked to have won the game for the Seagulls with a trademark long-range finish.

Greer, who was returning from a three-match ban, now faces the same punishment after referee Danny McDermid decided that the Seagulls skipper, who was making his debut, was guilty of violent conduct early in the second half.

Albion were already without the suspended Matt Sparrow and the unfortunate Alan Navarro, but boosted by the return of Glenn Murray in attack, who continued to develop his attacking partnership with the tireless Ashley Barnes.

Gus Poyet recalled Gary Dicker to the midfield, while Radostin Kishishev dropped back to fill the Navarro holding role. Jamie Smith maintained his licence to roam, and it was the mischievous little midfielder who had Albion's best chance of the first half.

Good work in the area by Murray and Dicker created an opening for Smith about 18 yards out, but he couldn't get enough power on his shot and Josh Lillis saved comfortably.

Bennett flashed a shot just wide of the post as Rochdale seemed content to invite Albion forward, but the Seagulls just couldn't find a way through the visitors' rearguard.

On the stroke of half-time Marcos Painter had a good shout for a penalty turned down, after the full-back was bundled over in the area by Chris O'Grady.

A tepid affair sprang to life minutes into the second half when Murray made up for lost time by heading Albion ahead, scoring at the second time of asking.

His initial header from Bennett's free-kick came back off the crossbar, and Murray, up against his former club, was the quickest to react, and nodded the ball past Lillis.

The lead was short-lived, as six minutes later, Greer clashed with Elding as Albion prepared to defend a free-kick, and McDermid took centre-stage.

Greer saw red, but it was clear Brian Barry-Murphy had not taken the free-kick at the time Greer clashed with Elding, and that McDermid was wrong to award Rochdale a penalty.

Rochdale midfielder Jones didn't argue, and gratefully stroked home from the penalty spot to get the visitors back on level terms.

Despite being down to ten men, Albion kept their belief, and Bennett put Albion back in front in the 66th minute, firing home from a half clearance some 25 yards out, and beating Lillis low to his left.

Albion deserved the lead, and nearly extended their advantage after an exquisite move which saw Murray one-two with Barnes, but the former Rochdale striker couldn't direct his shot past the advancing Lillis.

As the half wore on Rochdale's numerical advantage began to tell, and the game finished with the Seagulls penned into their own half. O'Grady's shot on the angle only narrowly missed the far post; and it took a brilliant headed clearance from Painter to keep out Elding's effort.

But with only seconds left on the clock, Casper Ankergren's punched clearance only made it as far as Jones, who skilfully lofted the ball back over the keeper's head and into the gaping net to break brave Albion's hearts.

Albion: (4-4-2) Ankergren; Calderon, Elphick, Greer, Painter; Bennett (Hart 88), Kishishev, Dicker, Jamie Smith (El-Abd 52); Barnes (Battipiedi 90), Murray. Subs not used: Walker (GK), Baz, Holroyd, Caskey.

Rochdale: (4-4-2) Lillis; Wiseman, Holness, Widdowson, Dawson; Kennedy, Jones, Barry-Murphy (Redshaw 70), Thompson (Done 63); O'Grady, Akpa Akpro. Subs not used: Goodall, Tutte, Edwards (GK), Andre.

Attendance: 6602 (304 Rochdale).

Referee: Danny McDermid.

Yellow Cards: None.

Red Cards: Greer (Violent conduct, three-game ban).

Withdean Wager: 1st 2446 (£510), 2nd 0414 (ball).