A COMBINATION of terrible defending and superb goalkeeping sent Rovers crashing to their heaviest defeat of the season.

It was an undeserved but never-the-less dispiriting defeat.

Gary Bowyer’s side dominated the second half after doing much to disrupt Brighton’s rhythm before the break.

But they were unable to find a way past the inspired Tomasz Kuszczak.

The Pole made six saves, three from Josh King, two from Tom Cairney and one from David Dunn.

Brighton, therefore, were indebted to their goalkeeper.

But they also owed a great deal of gratitude to their opponents.

As the three goals that they scored – an Ashley Barnes double and Jake Forster-Caskey single – were gifted to them by Dickson Etuhu, Todd Kane and then Jake Kean.

After an impeccably observed tribute to Remembrance Sunday the first chance of the game came 12 minutes in as Alan Judge skewed a 20-yard shot well side.

The visitors – working tirelessly to close down the hosts – went closer nine minutes later when Cairney squared a pass across the area for King.

The Norwegian laid the ball back for last weekend’s match-winner Jason Lowe, whose first-time side-footed effort was heading in until it hit Seagulls skipper Gordon Greer and went behind.

The corner that followed came to nothing and Oscar Garcia’s men launched a rapid counter-attack which ended with Craig Conway bursting into the box.

He fly with a swerving, angled drive that Kean parried away to safety.

The fit-again Etuhu was introduced on the half-hour mark after Lee Williamson went off with a hamstring injury.

Etuhu – making his first full appearance for Rovers since December 2012 – looked badly off the pace in the moments after his arrival.

And it was the Nigerian who gave away the penalty from which Brighton opened the scoring in the 35th minute.

Etuhu brought Conway down in the area and Barnes sent Kean the wrong way from the spot.

Barnes had earlier blazed over when one-on-one with Kean after Lowe played a blind and under-hit back pass.

Rovers should have been level by half-time but the Championship’s leading marksman Jordan Rhodes headed wide unmarked from eight yards out following a Matt Kilgallon cross.

And in a taster of what was to come, Kuszczak tipped a looping Tommy Spurr headed over the bar.

The former Manchester United stopper was simply unbeatable after the interval.

He made three low stops from King and two from distance from Cairney.

So it came totally against the run of play when the Seagulls doubled their advantage in the 56th minute.

Todd Kane gave the ball away and Conway stood up a left-wing cross for Forster-Caskey.

The midfielder – who earlier in the half had curled a 30-yard free kick inches past the post – ghosted into the box and directed a header past the wrong-footed Kean.

To their credit Rovers kept attacking and after substitute Dunn saw a left-footed strike deflect wide, Spurr headed the resulting corner on to the bar.

Dunn later forced Kuszczak into another top-class stop.

But by the then the game was up.

A 77th-minute Seagulls corner was cleared as far as the edge of the area.

The ball found its way to Andrew Crofts.

His shot was spilled horribly by Kean and Barnes had the simple task of nudging the ball home from five yards out.

Brighton: Kuszczak, Bruno, Greer, Upton, Ward, Ince, Croft, Forster-Caskey (El-Abd 89), Conway, Barnes (Lita 78), Lopez (Bridcutt 63). Subs: Ankergren, Agustien, Calderon, March.

Booked: Lopez, Forster-Caskey.

Goals: Barnes 35pen, 77, Forster-Caskey 56.

Rovers: Kean, Kane, Dann, Kilgallon, Spurr (Morris 86), Cairney, Lowe, Williamson (Etuhu 30), King, Judge (Dunn 63), Rhodes. Subs: Eastwood, Hanley, Marshall, Taylor.

Booked: Etuhu, Dann.

Referee: Andy D’Urso.

Attendance: 27,912 (871).