Adams future unclear following cup exit

Having progressed on penalties against Leyton Orient and Shrewsbury earlier in the competition, Albion agonisingly missed out on a trip to Wembley in the shoot-out this time following a 1-1 draw at Luton.

The home side booked their place in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy final on April 5, thanks to Lewis Price.

The on-loan Derby goalkeeper saved Jason Jarrett’s and Chris Birchall’s fourth and fifth spot-kicks for the Seagulls on a heartbreaking night for Adams and his players.

His future hingeing on the outcome, he was put through the wringer as his team conceded a farcical early goal and then had David Livermore sent off on the stroke of half-time for a tackle, which although rash, arguably warranted a yellow card rather than red.

Veteran skipper Nicky Forster will be hurting almost as much as his manager.

His first half equaliser, the 200th goal in his career, counted for nothing in the end in his quest to cap his career with a Wembley appearance.

Adams’ loyalty backfired when the team beaten 4-2 at home by Peterborough last week was sent out again for Saturday’s 2-0 defeat by Carlisle at Withdean.

The defending was poor again for both Carlisle goals, conceded from set-pieces, and Adams responded this time with sweeping changes.

His hand was forced to an extent by the ineligibility of January signings Tim McNulty, Craig Davies and Seb Carole but the casualties were more widespread, with both John Sullivan and Tommy Elphick relegated to the bench and Adam Hinshelwood absent from the squad.

Michel Kuipers was back in goal for the first time since early December, with the fit-again Andrew Whing at right-back, Livermore at left-back and Adam Virgo partnering Adam El-Abd in the centre.

The midfield also had a fresh look to it. Birchall, back from international duty with Trinidad and Tobago, and Dean Cox had the task of supplying front pair Forster and Calvin Andrew from the flanks and Tommy Fraser’s energetic contribution as a substitute against Carlisle earned him a central midfield spot alongside Jarrett.

As well as Sullivan, Elphick and Colin Hawkins, the substitutes included the out-of-favour Jonny Dixon and young long throw exponent Steve Cook.

Adams, even in his worst nightmare, could not have envisaged a more disastrous start to the match.

The Seagulls fell behind in the second minute in comical fashion, following an awful misunderstanding between Kuipers and Virgo.

There seemed no real danger when Tom Craddock won an aerial duel with Whing midway inside the Albion half. Kuipers and Virgo should have dealt with the situation on the edge of the box but a lack of communication led to Virgo impeding the keeper as completely miskicked.

Craddock, who had continued his run, could not believe his luck and found the empty net with a composed finish from a narrowing angle.

Albion responded to the stunning setback quite positively in an attacking sense but they looked a bundle of nerves at the back against Luton’s three-pronged strike force of Craddock, Chris Martin and Sam Parkin.

Their set-piece frailties were almost exposed yet again when Ian Roper headed narrowly over from a Rossi Jarvis free-kick.

Thankfully, Luton looked pretty wide open at the back themselves. Forster should have capitalised when Cox put him clean through but he dragged a left-foot shot wide.

Forster, good old pro that he is, eradicated the miss within seconds with a well-taken equaliser in the 20th minute.

Birchall put him through again and he made no mistake this time with a right-foot drive, his 13th goal of the season.

Despite parity being restored, there was a threatening sense of adventure about Luton.

Mick Harford’s side had nothing to lose, given their hopeless position at the foot of League Two as a consequence of their 30-point penalty for their financial problems.

They carried the greater threat and nearly restored their lead in the 34th minute, Martin firing just wide after exchanging passes with Craddock.

Albion’s task was made much more difficult just before the break when Livermore was shown a straight red card by referee Andy D’Urso, on the advice of his assistant, for a lunging tackle on Michael Spillane on the halfway line.

The unfortunate Cox was immediately withdrawn, Elphick coming on in the centre of defence with El-Abd moving to right-back and Whing switched to left-back.

Adams also had little option other than to shift Andrew out to the left, leaving the tireless Forster to forage alone upfront.

Although Luton predictably dominated possession and territory, the Seagulls were well organised and Kuipers was well protected.

The Dutchman had to make a routine save from an angled drive by the overlapping Jarvis as the home side laboured to make their numerical supremacy count.

Albion made life a little harder for themselves by not retaining the ball very well when they had it and they were not helped by an injury to Andrew, sustained when he fired high and wide at the target, with 13 minutes left.

He was replaced by Cook, a disappointing end for the loan signing from Crystal Palace on his return to his home town club.

Andrew’s team-mates continued to show commendable resilience and spirit without him. Kuipers redeemed himself in stoppage time with a fine save from a rasping 20-yard shot from Martin to take the tie to the penalty shoot-out which Albion would surely have settled for at half time.

Sadly, for Adams in particular, this time it was just not meant to be.

Albion (4-4-2): Kuipers; Whing, Virgo, El-Abd, Livermore; Birchall, Fraser, Jarrett, Cox; Forster, Andrew. Subs: Elphick for Cox (withdrawn, 45), Cook for Andrew (injured, 77), Sullivan, Hawkins, Dixon.

Scorer: Forster (20).

Yellow Cards: Jarrett (81, unsporting behaviour).

Red Cards: Livermore (45, serious foul play).

Luton Town (4-3-3): Price; Spillane, Roper, Asafu-Adjaye, Davis; Gnakpa, Jarvis, Keane; Craddock, Parkin, Martin. Subs: Hall for Roper (injured, 25), Howells for Spillane (withdrawn, 64), Charles for Davis (withdrawn, 84), Brill, McVeigh.

Scorer: Craddock (2).

Yellow Cards: Davis (42, foul). Red Cards: None.