Millwall 1-1 Brighton

Eleven goals conceded in their last two games had left the Seagulls second from bottom in League One, thanks only to Southampton’s points deduction.

And another defeat seemed on the cards for Russell Slade’s side when Jason Price prodded home Dave Martin’s centre, after just six minutes.

However, Millwall’s threat diminished in the second half and the improving Brighton levelled on 70 minutes when the unmarked Nicky Forster headed in at the back post.

The Lions had won plaudits for their display at West Ham on Tuesday night, despite the off-field trouble, and from kick-off seemed to be able to open Brighton up at will.

An excellent pass from Marc Laird set winger Martin free down the left flank and the midfielder’s dangerous cross evaded two Brighton defenders and Jimmy Abdou.

But it was tucked in by Price, who was only on the field due to Neil Harris suffering a calf strain in the warm up. Despite heavy downpours, Millwall maintained their momentum and just a minute after the opener Laird again exposed the Brighton backline, feeding Gary Alexander who broke clear of his marker.

Through one-on-one with Seagulls stopper Michel Kuipers, the forward looked certain to double the home side’s lead, but the experienced keeper pulled off a superb save.

The visitors responded to the early Millwall onslaught and Dean Cox volleyed just wide before the impressive Liam Dickinson fired a powerful effort off target.

Brighton won a series of corners as they enjoyed a 10-minute spell of pressure at the Den, but on 25 minutes Millwall surged forward on the counter-attack.

Referee Andy Penn waived play on as Andrew Whing pulled down Martin but Price could only head Alexander’s deep cross wide with the goal at his mercy.

However, instead of handing Whing his second yellow card of the game – following his initial petulant spat with Martin earlier in the match – Penn just gave the Brighton full-back a talking to, to the shock and dismay of the home support.

Millwall really should have been out of sight by the half-time interval, and Kuipers was again on hand to produce a fine save to deny Laird as the first-half came to a close.

After the interval it seemed the Lions would continue their assault on the Seagulls goal when Price swivelled and fired over when well placed on 48 minutes.

But Millwall’s neat passing and incisive movement drifted out of the game as the Lions opted to fire long balls onto the heads of Price and Alexander.

Brighton seized their opportunity to get back into the match and began to press forward with Elliott Bennett blazing wide when through on goal before tricky winger Dean Cox seemed to have levelled the scores in fantastic style.

With the Millwall defence still scrambling back after appealing for a Kuipers handball – which looked a very strong claim – the small wide man lifted his shot over David Forde in the Millwall goal, but his effort hit the crossbar.

Forster seemed certain to nod the rebound into the empty net, but his miscued header was cleared by Andy Frampton.

Millwall were not so fortunate four minutes later, though, when Alan Dunne lost his man at the back post and Forster converted Adam Virgo’s deep cross.

The equaliser seemed to kick-start the stuttering home side and Abdou could have won the game for the Lions if Kuipers had not produced another great save, before Laird’s effort was cleared off the line in the closing stages.

Millwall threw everything at the Seagulls after the equaliser but were unable to beat Kuipers for a second time, as Brighton held on for their second point of the campaign.

Millwall: Forde, Dunne, Frampton, Barron, Smith, Martin (Friend 67), Fuseini (Hughes-Mason 83), Laird, Abdou, Alexander, Price (Grimes 74). Subs not used: Sullivan, Bolder, Harris. Att: 10,138.