Brighton twice shot themselves in the foot to gift Plymouth a comfortable
interval lead in a fiery opening 45 minutes at the Withdean Stadium.
Danny Cullip scored an own goal and Paul Wotton added a penalty after Daniel
Harding was dismissed for a foul on Marino Keith.
Brighton were forced to make one change to the side which started Saturday's
defeat at Reading, the versatile Kerry Mayo stepping in for Charlie Oatway who
picked up a hamstring strain against the Royals.
Plymouth boss Bobby Williamson handed a start to Keith, who partnered Stevie
Crawford in attack with Micky Evans relegated to the bench.
The visitors started strongly and took the lead in bizarre fashion after 11
minutes. Cullip conceded a free-kick for his challenge on Keith, and when Wotton
delivered Seagulls goalkeeper Michel Kuipers could only parry. In his attempt to
clear, Cullip turned the ball goalwards - and the linesman ruled it had crossed
the line.
Former Livingston striker Keith was a constant nuisance to the home defence
and the Scot made sure Kuipers was on his toes with a fierce drive from the
right just before the half-hour.
The hosts struggled to get to grips with the pace of the game, and Harding
gave them a mountain to climb in the second half when he fouled Keith in the
area on the stroke of half-time.
The midfielder received his second yellow card for the challenge and had
already left the field when Wotton hammered the penalty into the roof of the
net.