Everton 1-1 Brighton: Vitaly Mykolenko scores and Ashley Young nets own goal
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Vitaliy Mykolenko scored just his second goal for Everton
Roberto de Zerbi accepted Brighton are "not in a brilliant moment" after his team salvaged a Premier League point at Everton thanks to Ashley Young's late own goal.
The visitors were being contained by a resolute Everton backline before Kaoru Mitoma's cross from the left took a deflection off Young and looped over Jordan Pickford after 84 minutes.
It was a cruel blow for Sean Dyche's Everton, who had snuffed out danger for most of the game but were unable to cling on to the lead given to them by Vitaliy Mykolenko's early goal.
Ukraine full-back Mykolenko fired home a strike that deflected in off Lewis Dunk at the near post after only seven minutes, when the visitors could not clear his initial effort.
Brighton captain Dunk thought he had made amends with a stunning volley from Pascal Gross' free-kick, but that effort was ruled out by VAR for offside.
The visiting centre-half also forced Pickford into a fine save in the second period with a dipping free-kick, before Young's unlucky intervention gave Brighton a draw.
De Zerbi said: "It is an important point. We are not playing like a month or two months ago but there are many reasons for it.
"It is not a very brilliant moment for us, but we are fighting. We played a good game, we didn't shoot enough to win the game and the result is a fair one.
"We have to create more chances to score but have to accept this moment. We are not winning as many games."
Everton heading in right direction
Sean Dyche frustrated by 'unfortunate' deflection against Brighton
Dyche will be left irritated his side could not cling on to all three points, but this was another promising performance from an Everton team who were so hapless at the start of the season.
The manager was adamant in those early weeks that Everton were heading in the right direction, despite losing four of their first five games - drawing the other at Sheffield United - and scoring only two goals.
Everton have indeed turned the corner, suffering defeat in only two of their past eight games and also progressing to the Carabao Cup quarter-finals on Wednesday night.
The Toffees' trip to Brighton last season saw them claim arguably the most surprising result of the campaign as they came away with a thumping 5-1 victory, and this game back on home soil looked to be going in their favour too.
Mykolenko's early goal, reacting quickest after his first shot was kept out by Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen, put them on course for back-to-back league wins for the first time in 13 months.
They had only 20% possession but offered more of a goal threat and could have had more but Abdoulaye Doucoure, fresh off committing his future to the club until 2025, saw his thumping volley pushed away by Verbruggen.
James Garner curled a free-kick over and the imposing Dominic Calvert-Lewin dragged wide, while Dwight McNeil fired a low drive narrowly off target in the second half.
Roberto de Zerbi proud of Brighton's 'fight'
The hosts managed to shackle Brighton's attacking threat with the colossal Jarrad Branthwaite subduing teenage striker Evan Ferguson, who failed to make an impact before being substituted in the second half.
"It is definitely a point gained," said Dyche. "They are a good outfit, we were very unfortunate with a massive deflection after them not having many chances at all.
"The tactical side of the game was fantastic from the players, we know they play with possession so you have to be patient."
Dyche praised his players' work ethic and said their mental development has been "absolutely fantastic" and has left him "delighted with that side of the game".
The former Burnley manager also felt his side should have had a penalty when Calvert-Lewin appeared to be bundled over by Jan Paul van Hecke and said: "I spoke to the referee briefly and mentioned that the centre-half was the wrong side of Dom and that is when you get your arms around someone.
"The ball drops, it [the challenge] starts outside and he drags him inside the box, but it is a really important call and it went against us. I don't know how it went against us because I thought it was obvious."
With time running out, the fleetfooted Mitoma turned right and left before his cross into the box struck Young's knee and sailed over Pickford almost in slow motion before nestling in the back of the net.
After a thrilling first season under De Zerbi in which they qualified for the Europa League, the Seagulls have hit a sticky patch this term, now winning just one of their last eight games in all competitions.
They may have felt aggrieved in the first half when Dunk looked to have equalised with a superb strike, but the celebrations were cut short after VAR adjudged him to be marginally offside.
Brighton have had injuries to key players such as Pervis Estupinan, Danny Welbeck and Solly March to deal with, but their off-colour form will be of concern to the Italian manager.
He added: "I am happy with the point, proud of the performance, but we are not in the best moment."