Brighton & HA 2 Doncaster Rovers 1: Rovers strikers face injury lay-off after Buckley sinks Rovers

Not only were they sunk deep into stoppage time but strike duo Billy Sharp and James Hayter left the ground on crutches.

Rovers chief Sean O’Driscoll said: ”I’m disappointed, not so much with the result, but the fact that both my strikers are on crutches.

“It’s something we suffered with last season and, after having had a pre-season with no injuries, coming to the first game and having both my strikers leave on crutches – they both look like they could be out for some time – is a massive blow for us.”

Things started disappointingly for last season’s League One champions, with manager Gus Poyet sent to the stands after kicking over a crate of water bottles in the first-half and Sharp handing Rovers the lead from close-range after 39 minutes.

But Buckley, a £1m summer signing from Watford, altered things with a game-changing effort from the bench, equalising in the 83rd-minute and stroking home the winner deep into stoppage-time.

Eight minutes had been added for a nasty injury to Sharp and Buckley took full advantage.

LuaLua was cautioned for diving as Brighton struggled to impose themselves and Poyet’s petulant reaction saw him sent to the stands.

Ashley Barnes had a glorious chance to open the scoring against the run of play when Lewis Dunk’s header caught the away defence off guard but he delayed his shot and allowed Woods to smother.

Rovers went ahead two minutes later when Gary Dicker was dispossessed in midfield by Ryan Mason, who surged forward and found Sharp, whose connection was just good enough to send it trickling over the line via Casper Ankergen.

Less than 10 minutes had passed after the restart when a tackle from behind by Dunk, who was booked, left Sharp in some distress before being stretchered off the field.

Doncaster weathered a stormy period and survived again 10 minutes from time when £3.25m signing Craig Mackail-Smith was denied again by Woods.

Buckley was given 15 minutes to change things for the home side and he was quick to get on the ball against some tired defenders.

With eight minutes to go, he levelled, getting on the end of Liam Bridcutt’s free-kick and unleashing a sweetly-struck low shot that fizzed past Woods.

With seconds remaining Noone and Buckley combined for the dramatic winner, the latter burying his shot from 12 yards.

Brighton & HA: Ankergren, Greer, Dunk, Calderon, Painter, Sparrow (Buckley 75), Dicker, LuaLua (Noone 46), Bridcutt, Barnes, Mackail-Smith. Unused substitutes: Brezovan, Navarro, Vincelot.

Doncaster Rovers: G Woods, Friend, Oster, Mason (Bennett 75), Coppinger (Hird 89), Naylor, Spurr, Dumbuya, Gillett, Hayter, Sharp (Barnes 55). Unused substitutes: Sullivan, Brown.

Referee: E Ilderton (Tyne & Wear). Man of the match: Will Buckley.