Brighton 2-2 Stoke: Jose Izquierdo strike earns Seagulls a point as visitors twice throw away the lead

It takes a lot to ruffle Brighton’s classy and usually unflappable boss Chris Hughton.

Referee Lee Mason might well have managed it last night

Jose Izquierdo’s second-half equaliser earned Brighton a deserved point against Stoke.

But it could have been so much more had Mason awarded Brighton what appeared to be a clear first half penalty.

The official gave Stoke a free-kick rather than award Brighton a penalty when Murray looked to have been brought down by Ryan Shawcross.

The baffling decision, one of a few by Mason, was not as costly as it might have been after Pascal Gross and then Izquierdo cancelled out Stoke goals from Maxim Chupo-Moting and Kurt Zouma.

But going into an 11-game in 42 day period that could shape Brighton’s season three points rather than a frustrating third home draw in a row would have given Hughton’s men a cushion to take into a run of games upto New Years Day that includes some daunting fixtures against some of the Premier League’s big boys.

Brighton began with real intent and should have been in control before they ended up conceding the opener.

Glenn Murray could only swing and miss a cross from the lively Izquierdo who also bent a curler wide.

In between Dale Stephens got half of the Amex out of their seats with a sweetly-struck volley that flew wider than one half of the ground realised.

With pantomime season around the corner, Stoke skipper Ryan Shawcross assumed the role of villain thanks to his long-running Murray battle.

He also clashed with Anthony Knockaert and twice came close to rubbing salt in Brighton’s wounds with two headers that forced Mat Ryan into saves.

However, when Stoke struck in the 28th minute it came against the run of play. Brighton’s unlucky Lewis Dunk lost the flight of Xherdan Shaqiri’s long ball and only ended up helping the ball run perfectly into the path of Chupo-Moting to score.

Stoke, who were in no hurry before going ahead, had further incentive to waste-time.

Brighton’s frustration increased further when Mason failed to spot Shawcross’s foul on Murray, who then took his out on Kevin Wimmer by wiping out the Stoke defender to earn a caution.

Brighton’s mood lifted when impressive £3m bargain buy Pascal Gross swept in a cross from Davy Propper through the legs of Lee Grant – in for the injured Jack Butland - after the Dutchman’s fine solo run.

However, Stoke restored their lead just two minutes later in first-half injury time when Zouma headed in Chupo-Moting and Bruno deflected Darren Fletcher’s corner his way.

But Brighton levelled again on the hour when Izquierdo squeezed a shot past Grant from a narrow angle after his initial, attempted cross was blocked.

Mark Hughes chucked on Peter Crouch for a record-breaking 143 Premier League substitute appearance.

But he was unable to find a winner that would have made him Stoke’s all-time top Premier League scorer and Brighton were held at home again.

BRIGHTON: Ryan 7; Bruno 7, Duffy 7, Dunk 7, Bong 6; Knockaert 6 (Schelotto 83), Stephens 7, Propper 7, Izquierdo 7 (March 73, 6); Gross 7 (Brown 83), Murray 6; Krul, Hemed, Goldson, Suttner.

STOKE: Grant 6; Zouma 8, Shawcross 6, Wimmer 6, Diouf 6, Fletcher 7, Allen 6, Pieters 6; Shaqiri 7 (Crouch 73, 6), Chupo-Moting 8, Ramadan 6. Unused: Haugaard, Martins Indi, Adam, afelaay, Jese, Berahino.