Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White were among those to be sent offImage source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler and Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White were among those to be sent off

One player and both managers were sent off as Brighton and Nottingham Forest maintained their unbeaten Premier League records in an entertaining draw.

After four goals at Amex Stadium, the match ended in controversial fashion when Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White was shown a second yellow card for a sliding challenge on Brighton's Joao Pedro.

Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler was dismissed by referee Rob Jones, who then also showed a red card to Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo for their reactions to the incident.

Neither manager spoke to the media after the match, leaving it to members of the coaching staff.

"From my point of view Morgan’s tackle looked a strong one but a fair one," said Nottingham Forest assistant boss Rui Pedro Silva. "Of course the referee has a different point of view - we don't have to agree but that’s the decision he made.

"On the coaches [red cards] I didn't hear anything. It was an emotional moment. I didn’t hear anything from Nuno towards the referee. He was of course probably emotional but nothing more than his point of view."

Brighton coach Andrew Crofts said he was "not 100% sure" why Hurzeler had been sent off, adding: "Their player is going for the ball but it felt like a foul. Their bench felt differently. I didn't see too much of it but the referee sent the managers off."

Media caption,

Match of the Day 2: How 'star man' Kaoru Mitoma shines for Brighton

Thrilling entertainment on south coast

The visitors had gone ahead when former Brighton striker Chris Wood scored against his old club with a well-taken spot-kick after Carlos Baleba tripped Callum Hudson-Odoi in the penalty area.

But two goals in a three-minute spell just before half-time looked to have transformed the match.

Nineteen-year-old midfielder Jack Hinshelwood scored his fourth Brighton goal with an excellent, powerful header from Jan Paul van Hecke’s cross from deep to make it 1-1.

The Seagulls then took the lead in style thanks to Danny Welbeck’s superb 25-yard free-kick that curled around the wall and left away goalkeeper Matz Sels with no chance.

Welbeck almost added a third for the hosts with a fine dribbling run in which he beat three Forest players only to shoot just wide.

But Forest equalised in the 70th minute after breaching Brighton’s offside trap.

Gibbs-White timed his run perfectly to be through on the home goal and unselfishly squared the ball to substitute Ramon Sosa to score his first goal in English football.

Either side would have gone fourth with a win, but instead Brighton remain seventh, while Forest climb a place to eighth.

Media caption,

'Nuno was only giving point of view', says Forest assistant coach Rui Pedro Silva

Both sides continue to impress this season

Both teams have enjoyed fine starts to the campaign and have now won two and drawn three of their five Premier League matches, while Brighton have also reached the last 16 of the Carabao Cup.

The hosts made a bright start as Simon Adingra caused problems, but his low, powerful cross from inside the penalty area could not find a team-mate.

Forest came into this match after an excellent 1-0 win at Liverpool and Nuno's side maintained their record of scoring first in each of their league matches this season.

Wood, who had a loan spell at Brighton in 2010-11, calmly sent home goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Brighton gave Forest a warning when Georginio Rutter spun and shot wide from 20 yards, before Hinshelwood equalised with the Seagulls’ first effort on target.

That was quickly followed by Welbeck’s superb free-kick for his third goal of the season.

But Forest equalised midway through the second half and, following the three red cards, had a late chance to snatch the three points.

Sosa was clean through on goal in injury time, but instead of shooting he overhit a pass to Hudson-Odoi and the chance was wasted - though his blushes were somewhat spared when the flag was raised for offside.

Nevertheless, a point apiece was a fair conclusion to a hugely entertaining match.

Media caption,

Brighton's Crofts says they 'should have won the game'

Player of the match

Number: 5 Murillo
Average rating 7.72
Number: 18 D. Welbeck
Average Rating: 6.72
Number: 41 J. Hinshelwood
Average Rating: 6.45
Number: 22 K. Mitoma
Average Rating: 6.17
Number: 29 J. van Hecke
Average Rating: 6.02
Number: 1 B. Verbruggen
Average Rating: 5.87
Number: 5 L. Dunk
Average Rating: 5.74
Number: 34 J. Veltman
Average Rating: 5.68
Number: 9 João Pedro
Average Rating: 5.66
Number: 20 C. Baleba
Average Rating: 5.66
Number: 11 S. Adingra
Average Rating: 5.60
Number: 30 P. Estupiñán
Average Rating: 5.60
Number: 14 G. Rutter
Average Rating: 5.44
Number: 28 E. Ferguson
Average Rating: 5.43
Number: 27 M. Wieffer
Average Rating: 5.26
Number: 17 Y. Minteh
Average Rating: 5.24

After the opportunity to rate players has closed, the score displayed represents the average from all the submissions by BBC Sport users.