IT WAS high drama in the dying minutes as Albion grabbed a late equaliser against Bournemouth.
Brighton had been struggling to get back in the game after a controversial first half penalty put them behind.
But as the last few minutes ticked by Charalampos Kostoulas sent a stunning overhead kick into the corner.
In the first half referee Paul Tierney was advised by video assistant Jarred Gillet to take another look after ruling Amine Adli had dived as he went around Bart Verbruggen.
Replays showed contact but whether it was enough to send Adli tumbling was the big talking point.
There was uproar around the Amex as replays were shown before Marcus Tavernier converted the spot kick.
Albion’s start was full of false promise.
Their passing and movement were sharp and incisive and they had three decent goal efforts.
Ferdi Kadioglu drilled one to keeper Djordje Petrovic.
Jack Hinshelwood saw an effort deflect narrowly wide after a move involving a Pascal Gross turn which delighted the crowd.
And Petrovic parried a well-struck 20-yarder from Brajan Gruda.
But Bournemouth suddenly settled and had a massive threat in Tavernier.
He caused Kadioglu problems down the Bournemouth right but it was on their left that he had his biggest impact.
Leading a counter from an Albion corner and pursued at pace by Mitoma, he worked the ball inside for Adli.
Adli went down theatrically as Verbruggen came out and was shown a yellow for a dive.
But, after a lengthy check of the screen, he then pointed to the spot.
Tavernier tucked the penalty into the bottom corner.
That rewarded a bright half from the Cherries and they continued to look lively until the break, although they needed Petrovic to block a Hinshelwood header.
Albion were fired up after the break, though the crowd’s mood was no better. Mitoma curled just past the top corner.
Fabian Hurzeler waited 20 minutes to make changes, sending on Georginio Rutter, Carlos Baleba and Yankuba Minteh.
But it was a frustrating stop-start affair due to a series of minor injuries for Bournemouth players.
Petrovic made a superb save from Minteh in Albion’s late onslaught and Jan Paul van Hecke shot over.
Albion: Verbruggen; Veltman, van Hecke, Dunk, Kadioglu (Boscagli 89), Hinshelwood (Baleba 66), Gross; Gruda (Minteh 66), Gomez (Rutter 66), Mitoma; Welbeck (Kostoulas 78). Subs: Steele, Coppola, Boscagli, Milner, Ayari.
