Defender Lewis Dunk scored in the 95th minute to earn Brighton a draw despite going a man short against Everton on Saturday. Jarrad Branthwaite scored for the Toffees in the second half but the spirited home side fought to the last to rescue a point.
The result also meant that the Sea Gulls managed to preserve an unbeaten home run stretching back to August.
Dunk headed home from a cross into the box, planting the ball in the far corner and out of the reach of a diving Jordan Pickford. It was heartbreaking for Everton as taking the three points would have made a big difference in their fight against relegation. Everton stayed 17th in the table with 21 points from 26 games, one clear of Luton Town – who have a game in hand – in the relegation zone. Brighton are now seventh with 39 points.
Branthwaite found the back of the net in the 73rd minute from a set-piece. A deep free kick from Pickford was only half-cleared by Brighton and when the ball fell to Branthwaite, he lashed it into the back of the net from 18 yards.
Brighton were reduced to 10 men nine minutes from the end when midfielder Billy Gilmour received a straight red card for a studs-up challenge on Amadou Onana.
The visitors will have mixed feelings, Brighton controlled large points of the game and had numerous chances, but to concede so late against 10 men may feel like two points lost. It stretches to nine their winless run in the league, but after a fast start from the hosts, they managed to slow down the Brighton tempo and began to look more comfortable in defence.
After Branthwaite fired Everton in front and Gilmour was sent off, it looked like the perfect afternoon for the away side. That was until Pascal Gross swung in a cross and Dunk rose highest to steer the ball into the back of the net.