Albion's fans have been asked by manager Mark McGhee to be patient with his team.

Brian Owen was in the front row of the South Stand as the Seagulls crashed out of the Carling Cup to assess reaction.

The look on the disgruntled fan's face as he trudged away from the South Stand at Withdean was a mixture of anger and bewilderment.

"McGhee out" he shouted as he walked past the back of the dugout and away from the dying moments of Tuesday night's 2-1 home defeat by Bristol Rovers.

If you were looking for some sort of demonstration against the manager after four defeats and a scrambled home draw, that was the full extent of it.

At least anywhere near the dugout area.

McGhee probably never even heard his critic. If he did, he would have shrugged it off.

Albion's fans have been asked to be patient as they watch their inexperienced, under-strength side battle it out in the early weeks of the campaign.

On Tuesday, when Rovers overturned a two-division gap in status, a torrid opening and a 1-0 deficit, they showed that patience in abundance.

Of course there were times when it did not look, or sound, pretty. Adam Virgo may well have heard some of the grumbles when he mis-placed a five-yard pass right in front of the stand.

The groans were certainly audible when a Seagulls side devoid of ideas passed the ball around on halfway with little inkling of how to make further progress other than via route one.

For the most part, though, you had to admire the patience shown by most of the 4,217 who braved what had looked like being a night of torrential showers to see their team in the first round of the Carling Cup.

It was certainly all sweetness and light for 25 minutes as Albion played some lovely stuff and went 1-0 up.

It was so comfortable, in fact, that some fans did not even get out of their seats to cheer the goal.

What was most striking was how that confidence was so quickly punctured, both on and off the pitch, when Rovers drew level.

In fact, as the second half meandered along, you almost wondered whether Albion's fans were being patient or just resigned to disappointment.

Okay, they gave Dan Harding stick after a couple of errors but clapped supportively when he bounced back with a smart interception and accurate pass.

There were signs of dissension when Jake Robinson replaced Maheta Molango up front.

"Now who's going to be your target man, McGhee?" was the most audible complaint, but otherwise the grumbles were muttered quietly.

They certainly did not ring out as clearly as the instructions of Rovers boss Ian Atkins to his side as Albion paired two little men in attack.

"Invite the ball wide and make them cross it," were Atkins' orders.

The fans were pretty calm until the end. They still appreciated the economical, accurate passing of Alexis Nicolas and handling of Michel Kuipers.

A few reciprocated at the end when first Bob Booker, then Molango, applauded their support.

By then, though, most had made their way to the exit.

"We can see you sneaking out," taunted the Rovers followers. Well, "We can you see you flocking out of the ground in droves" would not have fitted, would it?

McGhee watched the 90 minutes unfold from his technical area.

You would think the fact that there is a running track between him and the crowd would ease any pressure from the fans. In fact, it works the other way. At Withdean, the managers are constantly in the eyeline of the South Stand regulars, which would not be the case if the dugouts were tucked into the stand.

He is an easy target for vitriol from angry fans but, on Tuesday, as fortunes hit rock bottom, there was none of that.

By and large the boss is still in credit for his efforts last season and the way the odds are stacked against him this.

Nor was there overdue stick for his players or excessive irritation being expressed. Just a sense of resignation eased with a bit of gallows humour.

In a way, that must be the most worrying thing of all.