Unbeaten Brighton and Forest share the points in four-goal thriller

Brighton and Nottingham Forest remain unbeaten in the Premier League after a frantic 2-2 draw at the Amex produced three red cards, with Morgan Gibbs-White and both managers sent off in the closing moments.

Gibbs-White earned a second yellow card on 83 minutes for a late tackle on Joao Pedro with home manager Fabian Hurzeler and visiting coach Nuno Espírito Santo sent to the stands amid the general bedlam in the technical area.

Hurzeler’s side had been stunned when they shipped the first goal on 13 minutes as Chris Wood slammed home a penalty after Carlos Baleba was deemed to have felled Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Brighton turned the match on its head with two brilliant goals just before the break as Jack Hinshelwood powered an unstoppable bullet header into the corner of the net from Jan Paul van Hecke’s cross on 42 minutes.

The Seagulls moved ahead three minutes later when Danny Welbeck curled a lovely free-kick into the net from 22 yards after Ola Aina was booked for bringing down Kaoru Mitoma.

The scoring was not over as Forest earned a point in the 70th minute. Having being pressed back for most of the second half, they broke at speed with Jota Silva beating the offside trap to square for fellow substitute Ramon Sosa to slot the equaliser.

Both sides move onto nine points from five games, and continue to occupy seventh and eighth spots in the standings.

An assured display at the heart of the Forest defence to ensure his side followed up their 1-0 win at Liverpool a week ago with another valuable point on the road they deserved for refusing to buckle in the face of some incessant Brighton attacking spells in the second period.

It is difficult to argue with the decision of referee Rob Jones in opting for a second yellow card. Gibbs-White won the ball, but it was the pace and force of the challenge on Joao Pedro from behind on that was worthy of the second booking. That prompted plenty of protest in the respective technical areas with neither coaching teams content before both managers were sent off.

Brighton: Verbruggen 7, Estupinan 7, Dunk7, Van Hecke 7, Veltman 6, Hinshelwood 8, Adingra 7, Baleba 7, Rutter 6, Mitoma8, Welbeck 7 Subs: Wieffer6, Minteh 6, Pedro 6, Ferguson 6

Nottingham Forest: Sels 7, Moreno 7, Murillo 8, Milenkovic 8, Aina 6, Anderson 6, Ward-Prowse 6, Gibbs-White 6, Hudson-Odoi 7, Elanga 6, Wood 7 Subs: Morato 6, Williams 6, Yates 6, Sosa 7, Silva 7

11′ PENALTY TO FOREST! Callum Hudson-Odoi is taken out of the action late by Carlos Baleba. VAR will take a look at this? Was it clear and obvious error. And the answer is no. Decision stands.

13′ GOAL! BRIGHTON 0-1 FOREST (WOOD) That is an excellent finish by Chris Wood, his third of the season. Keeper headed off to his left, and Wood just drove the ball hard and low to the right. Forest lead 1-0 at the Amex.

42′ GOAL! (HINSHELWOOD) BRIGHTON 1-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST That is a stunning header into the corner of the net from Jack Hinshelwood. A bullet header, and no chance for the visiting keeper. Van Hecke with a superb cross.

45′ GOAL! (WELBECK) BRIGHTON 2-1 NOTTINGHAM FOREST That is a great finish from the free-kick by Welbeck. Just ouside the box. Goes to the goalkeeper’s left, and Matz Sels is rooted to the spot in his goal. What a change in the mood of a match.

70′ GOAL! BRIGHTON 2-2 NOTTINGHAM FOREST (SOSA) Well, would you believe it! Forest with an excellent counter attacking move to draw level at 2-2. Veltman playing on Jota Silva who races through to square to Sosa to convert with ease. Super goal.

82′ RED CARD! FOREST DOWN TO 10 MEN! A second yellow card for Morgan Gibbs-White as he charged into a late tackle on João Pedro. And bedlam in the technical areas!

84′ MORE RED CARDS FOR THE MANAGERS! Forest furious that Brighton bench appeared to change the referee’s mind with their reactions. Nuno Espírito Santo and Fabian Hürzeler are both sent off too for their protests.