30 November 2024
Brighton 1 Southampton 1
Fabian Hurzeler was another new manager enjoying his start to Premier League life. Brighton had made their best-ever start to a top-flight campaign. As they welcomed bottom of the league Southampton to the Amex Stadium, the visitors had showed that they still have some fight left in them against Liverpool last weekend.
On paper, this seemed like a simple home victory. The Seagulls started the game like a team with that mindset also. The Saints forced an early corner but the hosts held firm. As they won the ball back, they countered with pace. Southampton seemed to have it under control until Sugawara dwelled on the ball and was pickpocketed by Mitoma.
The Japanese winger took it off him and looked to bend the ball around the keeper. Sadly he got his angles all wrong as the ball nestled into the outside netting of the goal. Martin’s side have given away far too many goals from sloppy play by their own defence and keeper. Unless they address this, they are doomed to be plying their trade in the Championship next season.
As it stands the Southampton defence is open for business. They gave Liverpool two goals last weekend, which cost them dearly. Lumley was the third keeper to make an appearance in The Saints’ goal this season and they still looked like a clown troop. At some point in the modern game everyone decided to play out from the back, irrelevant to the ability of their players.
The hosts continued to keep the pressure on. Rutter picked the ball up wide in the penalty area. He managed to create some space, cutting inside onto his left foot, before getting a rasping shot away. It had the keeper beaten but struck the face of the par post and went wide. At this stage, Brighton weren’t knocking on the door, they had a battering ram.
Lamptey then swung in a sublime cross and Mitoma made a darting run to get on the end of it. His header flew past Lumley, he had no chance of keeping it out. The Amex Stadium erupted as the hosts finally broke the deadlock. Now the test would to be how Southampton respond, The Seagulls felt they were there for the taking.
In the closing stages of the first-half, the visitors created their first real chance of the game. The ball was swung in by Sugawara, picking out Archer to perfection. However, the striker got his attempt all wrong as it struck him halfway up his shin and looped harmlessly over the crossbar. These are the sorts of chances luckless Southampton can ill-afford to miss.
Dibling continued to cause problems after the break. He worked the ball into Armstrong in the box, but every time he looked to get a shot away, it was blocked. The loose ball dropped to Downes who thundered his shot into the back of the net to stun the home faithful. The Saints’ fans in the corner of the ground went into delirium.
Brighton had been good value for their lead but in the Premier League, slender advantages mean nothing. It was now the visitors who were brimming full of confidence. Moments like this can be the catalyst a side like Southampton need right now. They had not managed any points on the road this season, something that needs addressing.
Downes was penalised for a foul on Pedro. Having already been booked in the game, the Brighton players and staff were demanding that he be shown a second yellow card. Fortunately for the visitors, the referee did not agree with them. We are at a stage now in football where everyone thinks once you have been booked, every challenge is worth a yellow card.
The Saints then countered and the ball was played out wide to Fraser in acres of space. He played a superb cross in behind the defence to pick out Archer. He slotted the ball past Verbruggen to give Martin’s side a surprise lead. The goal had been awarded but now came a lengthy wait for a VAR review. This is what PGMOL have turned the modern game into, a waiting room.
If you ever thought the gods were against you, this was that moment for Southampton. The replay shows that Archer was onside when he scored. Armstrong in front of him is off by a country mile but does not touch the ball whatsoever. You would think this is a simple decision for the VAR studio, think again. They don’t play that way.
After nearly five minutes deliberation, the goal was ruled out as Armstrong was interfering with play. It is a crazy decision, the Southampton striker played no part in the attack. Brighton have got away with one here. As for The Saints, if they didn’t have bad luck, they would have no luck at all right now. They are justified to feel hard done by. But it will no doubt mean something in the post.
Am assuming that is how these apologies from PGMOL ring-master Howard Webb happen. A card comes in the post with a picture of a cute kitten on and the word ‘sorry’ on it. It will be interesting to see if you get five of them, whether they can be cashed in for points at the end of the season. If not, what is his actual job and what value is it bringing to the game?
The points were shared at the Amex Stadium despite Brighton almost scoring with the last kick of the game. Mitoma got down the left wing to cross and Adingra’s sliding effort clipped the outside of the post before going wide. It would have been harsh on the visitors, given that they had scored a perfectly good winner only to see it ruled out.
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