Albion have been drawn away to Bobby Zamora's old club Bristol Rovers in the first round of the League Cup, now sponsored by Carling instead of Worthington.

The Seagulls make the trip to The Memorial Stadium to face last season's Third Division strugglers in the week commencing August 11.

It means Steve Coppell's side start the season with two away games at opposite ends of the country.

They open their Second Division campaign at crisis club Oldham on August 9 before travelling to the West Country.

Albion needed extra time to beat Exeter City 2-1 at Withdean in the first round of last season's Worthington Cup before Martin Hinshelwood's side crashed out of the competition in the second round at Ipswich.

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