Albion's Friday night hoodoo continued as they threw away a two-goal lead.

Bobby Zamora took just five minutes to score for his tenth game in succession with a sweetly struck volley.

The points seemed to be in the bag for Peter Taylor's Seagulls when Lee Steele added his seventh of the season from a Zamora cross on 50 minutes.

Sean Parrish pulled a goal back for much-changed Chesterfield ten minutes later and the game slipped dramatically away from Albion after substitute Paul Rogers was sent off for the second time this season.

Rogers, a 67th minute replacement for Nathan Jones, received his marching orders just 11 minutes later for a second bookable offence.

A debut goal by Mark Innes on 81 minutes snatched an improbable point for the Spireites.

Albion's only two League defeats so far this season were on a Friday night, at Northampton in August and at home to Brentford in October.

The two points dropped on this occasion wrecked their hopes of returning to the top of the table.

Albion were forced into a couple of changes to the team which beat Rushden & Diamonds in the second round of the FA Cup a fortnight ago.

Pethick and Steele were recalled to the starting line-up in place of the injured Kerry Mayo and Gary Hart.

Pethick slotted in at rightback, with Watson switching to the left.

New signing Webb was among the substitutes.

Chesterfield, plagued by injuries, made six changes to the side defeated 2-0 at Southend on Tuesday in an FA Cup second round replay.

Allott and Innes, both signed on a month's loan this week from Oldham, were drafted in for their debuts.

Zamora almost put Albion ahead within 25 seconds of the kick-off. Brooker's cross reached him beyond the far post, but he could only angle his header straight at goalkeeper Abbey.

Zamora did not have to wait long for his 19th goal of the season however. Chesterfield failed to clear a long throw from Pethick and the Seagulls' young hot-shot rifled home a right foot volley from ten yards.

Jermaine Defoe also scored in ten successive appearances last season for Albion's second division rivals Bournemouth during a loan spell from West Ham, although all of his were in the League.

Zamora's early strike means that he has matched the club league record of goals in eight games in a row, set by Cyril Thompson back in the 50s.

Zamora might have scored a hat-trick inside seven minutes. He directed another far post header from a probing cross by Pethick into the arms of Abbey.

Premiership referee Andy D'Urso was clearly not going to stand for any nonsense. He lectured Oatway and Howard following scrimmaging inside the Albion area as Chesterfield prepared to take a free-kick.

Four Chesterfield players had their names taken in the opening 19 minutes of the contest.

Skipper Payne was booked for a foul on Zamora and Allott's first contribution for his new club was a yellow card for a challenge on Carpenter.

Abbey then talked his way into a caution after D'Urso had consulted his assistant and Parrish was also punished by the Essex official for using his elbow in an aerial duel.

Chesterfield's robust approach suggested they were not prepared to fold.

Kuipers had to make two fine saves midway through the half to preserve Albion's advantage.

The big Dutchman dived to divert a shot on the turn by Burt before retreating to claw away Allott's close range lobb at the expense of a corner.

A swirling wind and driving rain made conditions difficult, but the action in both penalty areas was unrelenting.

Steele bustled away from Payne to set up Jones for a cross to the far post which the unmarked Zamora really ought to have buried instead of heading over.

Moments later Pethick made a last-ditch tackle to deny the dangerous Burt. The former Bristol Rovers defender injured himself in the process but was able to continue after treatment.

The energetic Steele was keeping the Spireites' defence on their toes. He glanced a header from a long clearance by Kuipers into the path of Brooker, raiding again down the right.

The cross bounced invitingly inside the six yard box where Payne demonstrated a calm nerve in chesting the ball back to Abbey with Zamora lurking.

The Seagulls needed the security of a second goal against spirited opponents and Steele provided it five minutes into the restart.

Brooker fed Zamora, who assessed his options before squaring the ball across the face of the area. Steele's side-footer from close range crept in via keeper Abbey.

It ended a famine for the former Shrewsbury marksman dating back to a double in Taylor's first match in charge against Oldham at Withdean in October.

Chesterfield, to their credit, simply refused to lay down. A snap shot on the turn from Allott was kept out with his feet by Kuipers on 57 minutes, but the visitors halved their arrears three minutes later.

Allot's right wing cross was left by a static Albion defence for Parrish to knock in at the far post from close range.

Taylor decided a change was needed so Rogers replaced Jones in midfield. The Seagulls' veteran skipper was booked within two minutes of his introduction for a mis-timed tackle on Williams.

The Seagulls were grateful to Kuipers once more with 15 minutes left. He dashed off his line to smother at the feet of Hurst after a shot deflected into the Chesterfield striker's path.

The tide turned against Albion when Rogers saw red for a second bookable offence on 78 minutes after he was adjudged to have fouled Burt.

Taylor responded to the numerical disadvantage by introducing young stopper Virgo in place of Steele, but Chesterfield levelled within a minute.

A left-footed stab by Innes from just inside the area flew past the diving Kuipers.