Karlan Grant's late strike denied Brighton their first home win of the season with West Brom coming from behind to draw 1-1 at the Amex Stadium.
The summer arrival - making just his second Premier League start for West Brom - spared the blushes of his captain Jake Livermore who had unwittingly given Brighton the lead in the first half (40). Branislav Ivanovic's clearance hit him in the midriff before diverting into the net, leaving the winless Baggies with a daunting task.
But the visitors were much improved after the break and made a deserved breakthrough in the 83rd minute. Callum Robinson's fizzing cross was missed by the Brighton defence with Grant able to smash an effort past the stranded Mat Ryan to snatch a point for his side.
It leaves Brighton winless at the Amex this season - having not won at home since beating Arsenal 2-1 in June - and they remain in 16th. West Brom also put another vital point on the board and are now two points clear of the relegation places.
How West Brom fought back for a point
Brighton dominated the first-half chances as they searched for improvement at home. They had the ball in the back of the net in the 15th minute, but it was ruled out for offside as Neal Maupay turned home Adam Lallana's lifted cross. Soon after, the pair combined again but West Brom goalkeeper Sam Johnstone stuck out a leg to deny Maupay the opener.
Leandro Trossard was also a lively member of Brighton's attack and forced two good saves from Johnstone around the half-hour mark. Firstly, he fired straight at the goalkeeper before Johnstone punched a second effort from the Belgian clear, needing another punch just after to see the looping ball away.
But for all of Brighton's good play, it was a calamitous West Brom own goal that saw them ahead. After Lallana's shot was blocked, Tariq Lamptey flashed a cross through the area which Ivanovic met with a sliding clearance. However, it smacked into the midriff of Livermore, sending it flying into the back of the net with the West Brom captain not far behind it.
To use the old football cliche 'a game of two halves', West Brom were much improved after the break and had the best chances of the second period. Inside three minutes, Joel Veltman - making his first Premier League start - was needed to make a vital clearance as Conor Gallagher struck from 20 yards out.
Matheus Pereira then tried his luck from the same distance in the 66th minute, but his side-footed effort curled wide of the far post. Soon after, Filip Krovinovic lashed an effort goalwards and it was the first real test of Brighton goalkeeper Ryan, who got down well to see the effort away for a corner.
Pereira had a similar strike to his earlier effort as the game entered the final 15 minutes. A Robinson cross was cleared into his path and his powerful, curling effort made the lightest of grazes on the post before thundering wide. But West Brom finally made the breakthrough with seven minutes to play and it was a super effort for Grant's first Baggies goal.
Robinson sent another excellent cross into the area, which was missed by the Brighton defence. It found Grant in the middle and he took a touch before smashing the volley past Ryan and securing a much-needed and well-deserved point for West Brom.
Man of the match - Adam Webster
Adam Webster had to step into the captain's role with Lewis Dunk suspended, and he produced a good performance. He topped the Brighton charts for passes made (79) and successful passes made (60) and made the most passes in the opposition half (41).
He led the way again for touches (87) and made the joint-highest number of clearances (5) and interceptions (2). Although he will be disappointed for his role in West Brom's equaliser, it was a solid showing as Brighton skipper.
What the managers said
Brighton manager Graham Potter said: "I think because of the timing of their equaliser, we're disappointed. But over the course of the game, a draw is probably a fair result, if we're being honest. I thought we were the better team first half, probably could've been more than one goal ahead but weren't, and West Brom responded well in the second half.
"In the end, a draw is what it is and we're disappointed but we have to learn from the second half and take the positives from the first half.
"While the score is at 1-0, the opposition is in the game and those are the margins of the Premier League. You know there's going to be a response and they have nothing to lose and they played with that mentality in the second half.
"We weren't quite as good [in the second half] and as a result, if you aren't quite as good and the opposition are better, the game turns a little bit and I think it did.
"It's the challenge of the league and of football that it doesn't matter how well you play or how you try to play, it doesn't guarantee you results, certainly at the highest level. We are where we are, we know the quality we have and we know the quality the opposition have as well. We have to keep fighting, learn from what we did well, try and improve the things we didn't do so well."
West Brom manager Slaven Bilic said: "It's a good point for us. They were better in the first half, especially in the second part of the first half, and we were a bit unlucky with the goal but they stretched us. We lacked the quality and bravery to hurt them more [in the first half], but the second half was totally difference.
"We started well and after 15 minutes, we made some changes and the guys from the bench had a really good impact. We were dominant, we were creating chances, we were closer [to a goal]. Then we scored a good one and I had a feeling that if there were five or ten more minutes, we would win the game.
"Very positive, after Burnley also it was positive, and to come here and play against a team that so far, have played really good football and to get a point that is fully deserved gives us big confidence as newcomers especially.
"it is more than a point. We have to believe, we told the guys at half-time to believe and that we are good. Then in the second half, when we started to play that kind of football, we were really dominant against a good team. That makes me happy, that makes me proud and it gives us a really good platform for the next games.
"If I had to pick one player to score a goal it would definitely be him [Grant]. He took it as a proper centre forward, he didn't rush, he didn't panic or try to do a quick shot. He got his composure, he went inside on his right foot and smashed the ball into the goal. He grew up and the team grew up in the second half and it's brilliant that he scored. You always want your strikers to score goals."
Opta stats
- Since the start of last season, no side has benefited from more own-goals in the Premier League than Brighton (5, alongside Tottenham).
- Brighton have kept just one clean sheet in their 12 Premier League home games in 2020, the fewest of any ever-present side during this calendar year.
- West Brom striker Karlan Grant has scored four goals in his last six away league games, after netting just one in his six before that.
What's next?
Brighton will next be in action on Sunday when they travel to Tottenham in the Premier League, live on Sky Sports Box Office; Kick-off 7.15pm. West Brom will play again next Monday when they visit Fulham, also live on Sky Sports Box Office; Kick-off 5.30pm.