Substitute Will Buckley scored two late goals as newly-promoted Brighton started life at the Amex Stadium with a brilliant comeback win.

Doncaster looked set to spoil Brighton's big day after taking a first half lead through Billy Sharp.

The carnival atmosphere was dampened further when home boss Gus Poyet was sent to the stands.

But his decision to introduce Buckley proved a masterstroke as he grabbed the winner deep into stoppage time.

DID YOU KNOW?

Brighton's last game at the Goldstone Ground on 26 April, 1997 was also against Doncaster

It was an emotional build-up to kick-off with the flag-waving home fans, many of who feared they would never see their side playing in a sparkling new stadium, creating a sea of blue and white in the stands.

But the game did not burst into life until the half hour mark after Kazenga LuaLua, a former Doncaster loanee, was denied a penalty after tumbling in the away area.

The midfielder was booked for his efforts - sparking a furious reaction from Poyet who was then ordered to sit in the stands by referee Eddie Ilderton.

Home striker Ashley Barnes could have cheered up the Uruguayan by converting a golden chance in the 36th minute but instead saw his placed shot scrambled off the line by George Friend.

Poyet's mood darkened moments later when much-coveted striker Sharp, who has stayed in South Yorkshire despite summer bids from Ipswich and Southampton, bagged the opener.

Brighton keeper Casper Ankergren managed to take the sting out of Sharp's effort before seeing the ball hit the inside of his post and trickle agonisingly over the goal line.

Worryingly for injury-ravaged Doncaster, Sharp was stretchered off following a robust challenge from Lewis Dunk after the restart and the departure of their talisman rocked the visitors.

A casual clearance from keeper Gary Woods nearly gifted Craig Mackail-Smith an equaliser before substitute Craig Noone screwed horribly wide with the goal at his mercy.

But it was another of Poyet's changes who stole the show as Brighton piled on the pressure.

Buckley, a summer signing from Watford, lashed home an 83rd minute leveller from the edge of the box after Doncaster failed to clear a Brighton free kick.

And the bulk of the 20,219 crowd went wild with ecstasy when, in the eighth minute of injury time, the 21-year-old forward calmly converted Noone's brilliant pass to seal a fairytale start for Brighton.

Lineup, Bookings (5) & Substitutions (5)

Brighton & Hove Albion

  • 16 Ankergren
  • 03 Greer
  • 05 Dunk Booked
  • 14 Calderon
  • 22 Painter
  • 10 Sparrow (Buckley - 75' )
  • 18 Dicker
  • 25 LuaLua Booked (Noone - 46' )
  • 26 Bridcutt
  • 09 Barnes
  • 12 Mackail-Smith

Substitutes

  • 01 Brezovan
  • 20 Vincelot
  • 08 Navarro
  • 11 Noone
  • 30 Buckley

Doncaster Rovers

  • 33 Woods
  • 03 Friend
  • 05 Naylor Booked
  • 14 Spurr Booked
  • 24 Dumbuya
  • 13 Mason (Bennett - 75' )
  • 16 Oster Booked
  • 18 Gillett
  • 26 Coppinger (Hird - 89' )
  • 10 Sharp (Barnes - 55' )
  • 12 Hayter

Substitutes

  • 01 Sullivan
  • 09 Brown
  • 21 Hird
  • 17 Barnes
  • 23 Bennett
Ref: Ilderton
Att: 20,219

Match Stats

Shots

18 9

On target

10 5

Corners

9 4

Fouls

11 13

Live Text Commentary

90:00 +11:11 Full time

Full Time The referee blows his whistle to end the game.

90:00 +10:34

Corner taken short by Craig Noone.

90:00 +10:21

Ashley Barnes takes a shot. Richard Naylor gets a block in.

90:00 +8:56

Gordon Greer gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Giles Barnes. John Oster takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +7:41

Craig Noone provided the assist for the goal.

90:00 +7:41 Goal scored

Goal - Will Buckley - Brighton 2 - 1 Doncaster Goal scored by Will Buckley from inside the penalty area to the bottom right corner of the goal. Brighton 2-1 Doncaster.

90:00 +7:04

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Will Buckley by John Oster. Casper Ankergren takes the indirect free kick.

90:00 +6:18

George Friend concedes a free kick for a foul on Craig Mackail-Smith. Free kick taken by Will Buckley.

90:00 +5:37

Lewis Dunk is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Gary Woods restarts play with the free kick.

90:00 +5:10

Inswinging corner taken by Craig Noone from the right by-line.

90:00 +4:30

Centre by Inigo Calderon, save by Gary Woods.

89:03

Corner taken by John Oster, Shot from deep inside the area by Richard Naylor clears the bar.

88:12 Substitution

Substitution Sam Hird joins the action as a substitute, replacing James Coppinger.

87:38

Craig Noone takes a shot. Gary Woods makes a save.

87:13

Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot. Save by Gary Woods.

86:35

Ashley Barnes is penalised for a handball. Gary Woods takes the indirect free kick.

86:27

Centre by Will Buckley.

85:46

John Oster fouled by Will Buckley, the ref awards a free kick. John Oster takes the direct free kick.

84:14

Simon Gillett takes a shot. Save by Casper Ankergren.

82:56 Goal scored

Goal - Will Buckley - Brighton 1 - 1 Doncaster A goal is scored by Will Buckley from just outside the penalty box to the bottom right corner of the goal. Brighton 1-1 Doncaster.

82:18

Richard Naylor concedes a free kick for a foul on Gary Dicker. Direct free kick taken by Liam Bridcutt.

81:16

Shot from just outside the area by Liam Bridcutt goes over the bar.

81:01

Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Craig Noone, clearance made by James Hayter.

80:47

Gordon Greer takes a shot. Clearance made by John Oster.

80:27

The ball is delivered by Craig Noone, clearance made by Richard Naylor.

79:14

Craig Mackail-Smith takes a shot. Save by Gary Woods.

77:20

Simon Gillett sends in a cross.

73:57 Substitution

Substitution (Doncaster) makes a substitution, with Kyle Bennett coming on for Ryan Mason.

73:57 Substitution

Substitution Matthew Sparrow leaves the field to be replaced by Will Buckley.

73:57

Craig Noone concedes a free kick for a foul on George Friend. Gary Woods takes the direct free kick.

71:54

Foul by Ashley Barnes on Richard Naylor, free kick awarded. John Oster takes the indirect free kick.

71:29

Foul by Giles Barnes on Gordon Greer, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Casper Ankergren.

70:29

The assistant referee signals for offside against Craig Mackail-Smith. Free kick taken by George Friend.

68:31

Free kick awarded for a foul by Craig Noone on James Hayter. Ryan Mason takes the free kick.

66:01

Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Craig Mackail-Smith goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

64:18

Inigo Calderon produces a cross, clearance made by George Friend.

63:13

Craig Noone takes a shot. Blocked by Richard Naylor.

60:47

Effort from inside the area by Ashley Barnes misses to the right of the goal.

60:29

Matthew Sparrow takes a short corner.

59:00

Effort from inside the area by Craig Noone misses to the left of the goal.

58:29

Giles Barnes handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Indirect free kick taken by Liam Bridcutt.

57:53

A cross is delivered by Ryan Mason, Giles Barnes makes a clearance.

57:15

Craig Noone takes a shot. Save by Gary Woods.

51:38 Substitution

Substitution Giles Barnes is brought on as a substitute for Billy Sharp.

51:38 Booking

Booking Lewis Dunk is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

51:06

Foul by Lewis Dunk on Billy Sharp, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by John Oster.

50:17

Gary Dicker takes a shot. Save by Gary Woods.

50:11

Gary Dicker crosses the ball, George Friend manages to make a clearance.

49:52

Corner taken short by Matthew Sparrow.

48:29

Inigo Calderon fouled by Tommy Spurr, the ref awards a free kick. Free kick crossed left-footed by Craig Noone, save by Gary Woods.

47:25

The referee blows for offside. Richard Naylor restarts play with the free kick.

45:42

Matthew Sparrow decides to take a short corner.

45:04 Substitution

Substitution Craig Noone on for Kazenga LuaLua.

45:01

The second half kicks off.

45:00 +3:38 Half time

Half Time The referee calls an end to the first half.

45:00 +3:19

Headed effort from inside the penalty area by Craig Mackail-Smith misses to the right of the target.

45:00 +3:08

The ball is sent over by Inigo Calderon.

45:00 +2:51

Centre by Ashley Barnes, clearance made by George Friend.

45:00 +1:54

Ashley Barnes is flagged offside by the assistant referee. Indirect free kick taken by Gary Woods.

45:00 +0:41

Ryan Mason produces a cross.

43:47

Drilled right-footed shot by Gary Dicker. Gary Woods makes a save.

42:57

Shot from just outside the box by Billy Sharp misses to the right of the goal.

40:17

The ball is delivered by Inigo Calderon, clearance by Mustapha Dumbuya.

38:49 Goal scored

Goal - Billy Sharp - Brighton 0 - 1 Doncaster Billy Sharp scores a goal from close range to the bottom left corner of the goal. Brighton 0-1 Doncaster.

37:25

Casper Ankergren takes the indirect free kick.

37:25 Booking

Booking Richard Naylor receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

37:19

Richard Naylor challenges Ashley Barnes unfairly and gives away a free kick.

36:18

Header from deep inside the area by Craig Mackail-Smith goes harmlessly over the crossbar.

36:11

Inigo Calderon crosses the ball.

35:37

Ashley Barnes takes a shot. Richard Naylor manages to make a clearance.

35:04

John Oster concedes a free kick for a foul on Kazenga LuaLua. Liam Bridcutt takes the free kick.

33:38

Billy Sharp is caught offside. Casper Ankergren takes the free kick.

33:11

Simon Gillett takes a shot. Matthew Sparrow makes a clearance.

32:42

The ball is crossed by Mustapha Dumbuya, Lewis Dunk manages to make a clearance.

32:16

The ball is swung over by Mustapha Dumbuya.

31:53

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on George Friend by Matthew Sparrow. John Oster takes the free kick.

29:43

The ball is crossed by Marcos Painter.

28:35

John Oster fouled by Kazenga LuaLua, the ref awards a free kick. Gary Woods takes the indirect free kick.

27:16 Booking

Booking Booking for Kazenga LuaLua for unsporting behaviour.

26:40

Ashley Barnes handles the ball and concedes a free kick. John Oster takes the direct free kick.

25:53

Shot from outside the penalty box by John Oster goes wide right of the goal.

25:10

Free kick awarded for a foul by James Coppinger on Ashley Barnes. Marcos Painter takes the indirect free kick.

23:08

The ball is delivered by James Coppinger.

22:11

Gary Dicker concedes a free kick for a foul on James Coppinger. Richard Naylor takes the indirect free kick.

21:08

Inigo Calderon takes the free kick.

21:08 Booking

Booking The referee books Tommy Spurr for unsporting behaviour.

20:45

Tommy Spurr gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kazenga LuaLua.

18:48

Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Craig Mackail-Smith by John Oster. Liam Bridcutt restarts play with the free kick.

18:13

James Coppinger produces a cross, Effort from deep inside the area by James Hayter misses to the right of the target.

17:53

The ball is crossed by Mustapha Dumbuya, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

16:25

Craig Mackail-Smith is caught offside. Gary Woods restarts play with the free kick.

15:56

Foul by Liam Bridcutt on James Hayter, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by John Oster.

14:53

The ball is sent over by Marcos Painter, save by Gary Woods.

14:35

Corner taken short by Matthew Sparrow.

13:01

Outswinging corner taken right-footed by James Coppinger from the right by-line.

12:51

John Oster takes a shot. Lewis Dunk gets a block in.

12:26

Corner taken right-footed by James Coppinger, Lewis Dunk manages to make a clearance.

12:17

Centre by John Oster, blocked by Liam Bridcutt.

11:44

Corner taken right-footed by James Coppinger to the near post, Gary Dicker makes a clearance.

11:02

Liam Bridcutt gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Ryan Mason. Free kick taken by John Oster.

9:40

Matthew Sparrow decides to take a short corner.

9:31

Inigo Calderon crosses the ball, blocked by James Hayter.

8:58

Mustapha Dumbuya gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Kazenga LuaLua. Marcos Painter takes the direct free kick.

7:09

Matthew Sparrow decides to take the corner short.

6:22

Liam Bridcutt takes the direct free kick.

6:22 Booking

Booking John Oster is shown a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.

6:02

Unfair challenge on Craig Mackail-Smith by John Oster results in a free kick.

5:11

Billy Sharp concedes a free kick for a foul on Lewis Dunk. Lewis Dunk takes the indirect free kick.

3:56

The ball is swung over by Inigo Calderon, Craig Mackail-Smith manages to make a clearance.

2:59

The ball is delivered by James Coppinger, clearance made by Gordon Greer.

2:26

The offside flag is raised against Ashley Barnes. Indirect free kick taken by George Friend.

1:43

Billy Sharp takes a shot. Casper Ankergren makes a save.

0:44

The ball is swung over by Tommy Spurr.

0:00

The match begins.

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