Brighton gave themselves a huge boost in the fight to avoid relegation to League Two with a hard-fought victory at Bristol Rovers.

Brighton's Adam Virgo cleared off the line from Darryl Duffy's 12th-minute shot but Rickie Lambert put Rovers ahead with his 28th goal of the season.

Lloyd Owusu equalised by sliding in to convert a Gary Hart cross.

And Calvin Andrew connected powerfully with another Hart centre to beat Steve Phillips with a bullet header.

Bristol Rovers First-Team Coach Paul Trollope told BBC Radio Bristol:

"We lacked a lot of quality and a number of things to get back into the game.

"We had five defenders missing and that's not an excuse that's a fact.

"I've learned a lot about certain individuals in the last couple of weeks with thoughts ahead to next season."

Bristol Rovers: Phillips, Pipe, Hinton, Anthony, Hughes, Disley, Lines, Campbell, Duffy, Kuffour, Lambert.
Subs Not Used: St Louis-Hamilton, Reece, Hunt, Kite, Rigg.

Booked: Kuffour, Phillips, Pipe, Campbell.

Goals: Lambert 28.

Brighton:

Kuipers, Hinshelwood, Virgo, Elphick, Borrowdale, Loft, Fraser, Dicker, Cox (Andrew 45), Hart (McLeod 85), Owusu (Davies 76).
Subs Not Used: Hawkins, El-Abd.

Booked: Hinshelwood, Kuipers.

Goals: Owusu 43, Andrew 52.

Att: 6,193

Ref: Kevin Friend (Leicestershire).

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