Georginio Rutter tries to find a way through (Image: BHAFC/James Boardman)
Georginio Rutter tries to find a way through (Image: BHAFC/James Boardman)
Albion lacked firepower and dodged a late bullet as they opened pre-season with a Scandinavian stalemate.
And it sets up a second leg of the Conference League play-off tie with Tromso which is probably more intriguing than Fabian Hurzeler wanted it to be.
The sides meet at the Amex next Thursday after a 0-0 draw in the first leg.
Albion dominated possession and were generally the side looking to make the breakthrough.
But Bart Verbruggen produced a late save to match a super stop by his opposite number in the first half.
Then Tromso somehow got defender Isak Vadebu bearing down on goal with opponents in his wake.
But he sent his shot wide.
Albion had a few bright points, including Ibrahim Osman on the left wing and Malick Yalcouye in midfield.
Osman showed a willingness to attack down the outside as he started on the left wing and was particularly bright in the first half.
His spectacular volley, brilliantly saved by Haugaard high to his right, was the outstanding moment of the first half.
Haugaard, the former Stoke and Wigan goalkeeper, also made a decent stop diving to his right from a venomous effort by Georginio Rutter.
But much of the first half was about the Seagulls looking to prompt, play and pass their way through the well-organised Tromso ranks.
They had 21 goal attempts to one – a header over the bar at a corner – in the first half and created some promising moments around the edge of the box.
But every block, clearance or failed Albion pass was cheered by a sell-out Tromso crowd right behind their side.
Their team successfully put the brakes on Albion.
When the attack had a little more tempo. Pascal Gross shot too close to Haugaard.
But Albion might have reflected they should have made more of some tempting deliveries by Osman, whipped in at pace after attacking his full-back down the outside.
There is a vacancy on the left wing with Kaoru Mitoma and Yankuba Minteh both out injured and Osman was lively in the first half.
Albion had moments in the second half and certainly pushed for the win.
They went through a range of substitutions, some of which required positional changes as well.
Charalampos Kostoulas looped a header on to the roof of the net.
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And Haugaard saved well again, this time to his left from Yasin Ayari.
But belief grew in the home support and their side sensed they could pick a way through on counter attacks with one simple pass.
Verbruggen stood big and made an excellent save when Asen Larsen was sent through.
And, when Vadebu went through late on and sent his shot past the big keeper, it seemed the hosts would have a slender advantage to bring to the Amex.
Instead, it is basically a one-off cup tie.
Albion: Verbruggen; Wieffer, Vuskovic, Boscagli, Kadioglu (Yohanna 88); Yalcouye (Cozier-Duberry 67), Ayari; Gomez (Kostoulas 67), Geoss, Osman (De Cuyper 77); Rutter (Hinshelwood 78). Unused subs: Steele, McGill, Dunk, Costinha, Svoboda, Oriola.
Attendance: 6,015