With his side trailing 2-0 in the 88th minute, Ryan dived well to his right to prevent further damage from Rooney's well-hit spotkick.

“It was pretty late in the game as the result was already done and dusted, but who knows what influence goal difference could have further down the line?" Ryan told the club website. 

“In a situation like that it’s good to come out on top against someone who’s had a fantastic career.

"It will be a memory that I cherish, but across the ball we weren’t good enough in the game for long enough period.”

Earlier, Ryan had some hairy first-half moments, firstly where he flapped at a corner where Yannick Bolasie hit the side netting.

A series of headers also had Ryan questioning his positioning as Bolasie headed wide later in the first half.

Ryan could do little to prevent Gaetan Bong's 60th minute own goal and Cenk Tosun's thunderous strike on 76 minutes.

The result leaves Brighton in 11th spot on the league table, seven points above the drop zone.

Ryan has played all 30 of Brighton's Premier League matches this term.