Albion's narrow exit from the LDV Vans Trophy was overshadowed by a simmering feud which has developed with promotion rivals Rangers.

It manifested itself in Sunday's clash at Loftus Road with the contrasting version of events from the managers, Mark McGhee and Ian Holloway, over the second half booking of Leon Knight which has cost the Seagulls' marksman a suspension.

Rangers boss Ian Holloway made it clear with his cutting post match remarks that the ill-feeling runs much deeper than that as far as the west Londoners are concerned.

Holloway referred to the League meeting at Withdean in August, which Albion won 2-1 with two goals by Knight, a former Rangers loanee.

Rangers had Terrell Forbes sent-off on that occasion for head-butting Kerry Mayo when he retaliated to a tackle, described by Hollway yesterday as "absolutely horrific".

Holloway, who tried to sign Knight permanently the day after that Withdean defeat, also mentioned the stormy reserve fixture between the clubs at Worthing last Wednesday.

Paul Furlong and Richard Pacquette, both on the bench yesterday, were sent off along with Albion's Adam Virgo after a flurry of punches.

Holloway, a hard midfielder as a player, said: "I wasn't there but they (Albion) were over-zealous and my players didn't like it. Two of my players retaliated and that is out of order.

"You have got to get the first one in so to speak. This club in the past has liked flitty, farty, poncey footballers. Well we are not about that any more, what ever people want to do we'll be up for it."

Holloway made no secret of the fact that Knight was singled out for special treatment.

"We marked him much better this time. In the first game he scored two against us, in this one he didn't get any and I'm delighted.

"I spoke to my two centre halves and told them not to let him get the ball at his feet or to turn and if he does to be in his shorts.

"He certainly doesn't like that, he likes a bit of space, and normally Leon is good enough to create it, but well done to my back line."

Against this aggressive backdrop Knight collected a 64th minute caution, his fifth of the campaign, ruling him out of Wycombe's visit on Boxing Day.

He went down clutching his face after keeper Nick Culkin, deputising for the injured Chris Day, had collected a Mark Yeates free-kick.

This sparked a confrontation involving several players from both sides. Once everybody had calmed down ref Phil Joslin consulted his linesman and Knight was deemed to be the over-reacting culprit.

McGhee claimed Culkin caught Knight with his forearm, a view vigorously denied by Holloway.

Television replays last night showed that it was, in fact, Clarke Carlisle who caught Knight and not Culkin.

A weakened Albion line-up paid for conceding a couple of soft goals in quick succession in the first half before a spirited second half response was rewarded by sub Chris McPhee.

McGhee, carrying out his pledge to give every player a fair chance, made four changes. Robbie Pethick replaced injured captain Danny Cullip in the centre of defence and David Lee, after almost two years at the club, was given his full debut on the right of midfield with John Piercy suspended.

Dan Harding took over from Nathan Jones on the left, while the return from illness of Zesh Rehman to the centre of midfield enabled McGhee to push Yeates up to partner Knight at McPhee's expense.

Albion began brightly before Rangers took the lead in unusual circumstances in the 18th minute from their first corner, delivered deep by Martin Rowlands.

Brighton-born Steve Palmer's powerful header fleetingly wedged between Roberts' outstretched hand and the crossbar.

As the keeper fell backwards and tried to claw the ball away, the linesman flagged that it was over the line before Danny Shittu bundled it into the net in the ensuing scramble.

The Seagulls' deficit doubled six minutes later via an error by Adam El-Abd. The teenage rightback failed to control a hopeful pass by Gareth Ainsworth, which released Tony Thorpe.

The former Luton marksman, spotting Roberts off his line, scored with a delightful chip.

A hamstrung Richard Carpenter was replaced by McPhee for the second half, which allowed Yeates to move back into the middle of midfield.

The Seagulls showed commendable resolve as McGhee continued to make changes, Nathan Jones and Gary Hart coming on for Harding and Lee.

Culkin had to tip over long range efforts by Rehman and Yeates, who also had another angled shot stopped one-handed by Rangers' busy stand-in custodian.

Albion finally broke through, in a manner as freakish as Rangers' opener, with 12 minutes left.

Carlisle block-tackled McPhee's cross-shot from just inside the box, the simultaneous connection looping the ball over the helpless Culkin.

McPhee's eighth goal of the campaign was the first conceded by Rangers at Loftus Road since they defeated Dagenham and Redbridge by the same score in the previous round a month ago.

The table-toppers will now be considered firm favourites for the competiton. Albion, as the old saying goes, can concentrate on the League.

Finishing above their conquerors will be an intriguing challenge after Sunday's events, as will the return League meeting at Loftus Road next month.