Connor McBride held his nerve from the spot to earn Rovers a point against Brighton in Premier League 2.

McBride scored his 12th of the season with seven minutes remaining, just as Rovers were starring just a fourth defeat in the face after Ben Wilson’s early strike.

 In-form Sam Burns and top scorer McBride both had chances to level, but were thwarted by some smart saves by visiting ‘keeper Carl Rushworth, prior to the late spot-kick which leaves Rovers four points behind leaders Manchester City.

Rovers, on the back of wins against Southampton and Arsenal, made three changes. That saw Antonis Stergiakis replace Jordan Eastham in goal, while Jake Garrett and Lenny Cirino were rested with the Under-18s in FA Youth Cup action against Arsenal at Ewood Park tomorrow.

There was a rare appearance in midfield for Stefan Mols who had a loan spell with Spanish fourth tier side CF Intercity cut short, and had played twice for Burnley in Premier League 2 Division Two as a trialist earlier this month.

Wilson put the visitors ahead nine minutes in, tapping home in the ninth minute after the Seagulls’ fast start saw them denied three times by the crossbar. They were good value for their lead, Stefan Vukoje firing over from a promising angle after holding off Dan Pike.

Rovers, for all their possession, were struggling to find a way through, their best chance of the half falling the way of Sam Burns who was denied by a Carl Rushworth save after good work by Connor McBride.

Wilson could have had a hat-trick by the break, an ambitious effort from 45 yards had Antonis Stergiakis scampering back as the ball just evaded the far corner. The ‘keeper then denied the striker on the stroke of half-time with a fine stop with his feet as Wilson met an Ayo Tanimowo cross six yards out.

There were nearly moments for Rovers in the early stages of the second half, before a really good opening saw McBride played through, denied by an excellent save by Rushworth on the hour.

Stergiakis was equally impressive at the other end to deny Tanimowo from a rare Brighton attack.

Seven minutes remained when Rovers, who felt aggrieved that a number of decisions had gone against them, were awarded a spot kick as Burns was pushed to the floor, McBride slamming home the equaliser from 12 yards.

Burns, with six goals in his previous five matches, was a man in confident form and twice opted to go alone, rather than square for a team-mate, as his shot were saved by Rushworth in Rovers' attempts to find a winner.

Rovers: Stergiakis, Pike, Saadi, Barnes, Annesley, Whitehall, Mols, Nolan (Wharton, 80), Durrant (Fyles, 80), McBride, Burns