Nuno Espírito Santo used his substitutes to great effect in Nottingham Forest’s stunning win at Anfield last week and his decisions paid off again when his substitutes equalised at Brighton to ensure both teams remain unbeaten this season. Then the red mist descended over the Amex Stadium as tempers reached boiling point. Forest midfielder Morgan Gibbs-White was sent off for a second yellow card in the closing stages, while both Nuno and Brighton manager Fabian Hürzeler were sent off for their angry reactions on the touchline in a heated finale.

Chris Wood’s early penalty raised hopes of a fifth consecutive away win for Forest since the end of last season. Brighton had to wait patiently but two goals at the end of the first half – a superb header from local teenager Jack Hinshelwood and Danny Welbeck’s curling free-kick – turned the game on its head.

The visitors made substitutions in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser from substitute Ramón Sosa. Gibbs-White was sent off with a second yellow card after a reckless foul on João Pedro. Nuno was furious and received a red card from referee Rob Jones. Hürzeler was also sent off in a heated finale of the tie.

Brighton made two changes to the Ipswich side, with Pervis Estupiñán and Simon Adringra replacing Yasin Ayari and Yankuba Minteh. João Pedro returned to the bench and the former Watford striker missed the last two games through injury. Callum Hudson-Odoi, the Anfield goalscorer in Forest’s win over Liverpool, and Anthony Elanga were promoted to the starting line-up in place of Ryan Yates and Nicolás Domínguez.

Brighton dominated the opening stages and gave Forest a clear path through a pass from Georginio Rutter, but Adingra’s first attempt went wide of Matz Sels’s far post.

Forest’s first attack paid off: Hudson-Odoi burst into the box after a direct run from Gibbs-White and Carlos Baleba clumsily brought the attacker down. Wood stepped up and sent Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen the wrong way, giving him his third league goal of the season.

Hudson-Odoi set up Wood, but the former Brighton striker shot wide from close range and the offside flag saved him from ignominy after wasting the golden opportunity. Forest grew in confidence and were dangerous on the counterattack: Hudson-Odoi set up Gibbs-White, but his shot went straight at Verbruggen.

The home side were frustrated by their inability to overcome their disciplined opponents and Rutter headed over from Estupiñán’s corner. Rutter was considered the hosts’ most likely goalscorer when the former Leeds striker put a shot wide from the edge of the box.

Brighton’s first chance was a significant one as they equalised before half time. Jan Paul van Hecke crossed and Hinshelwood leapt up confidently to head the ball past Sels, who fell to the ground in despair. Things got even better for Brighton as they quickly scored a second goal through Welbeck’s free kick which flew around the wall and past Sels.

Nuno attempted to change the course of the game at half-time, bringing on Jota Silva, Neco Williams and Yates for James Ward-Prowse, Álex Moreno and Elanga. Paraguayan striker Sosa was also introduced shortly afterwards to increase the attacking options.

Kaoru Mitoma was a menacing presence on Brighton’s left wing and his link-up with Welbeck put Nuno’s team under pressure. Welbeck almost struck again after the break as the striker weaved his way through the defence, but Sels parried with his leg and tipped the ball wide for a corner.

Minteh came on as a substitute, but the Brighton striker was involved for the first time at the other end when he forced his own goalkeeper Verbruggen to prevent an own goal with a backwards header.

Forest continued to threaten on the counterattack and two of their substitutes combined to equalise midway through the half. Gibbs-White played a sharp pass to Silva, who unselfishly laid the ball back for Sosa to score his first goal for the club from close range.

After the late drama surrounding Gibbs-White and the managers, Brighton had to accept that they had started a season in the top division unbeaten after five games for the first time.