Seagulls sink Saints: Southampton 0-4 Brighton photos
It was a superb Saturday as our photos from a pretty sunny St Mary’s show, where Southampton 0-4 Brighton gave the Seagulls their biggest Premier League win under Fabian Hurzeler so far.
Many Albion fans expected this to be a massive banana skin before kick off. Having just beaten Chelsea 3-0 in the top flight and 2-1 in the FA Cup, it seemed entirely predictable Brighton would go and lose to opponents who are threatening to break Derby County’s record low of 11 points across an entire Premier League campaign.
Instead, the Albion did something entirely out of character. They went and comfortably despatched the team sitting bottom of the table. One whom they had only drawn 1-1 with three months earlier at the Amex.
Joao Pedro got the party started midway through the first half. Georginio Rutter played in the Brazilian forward, who duly raced clear of the Southampton defence before dinking over Aaron Ramsdale.
A one goal never feels safe when your support Brighton. Neither does a two goal lead if we are being honest. Saints fired a warning shot within 120 seconds of the second half kicking off when Cameron Archer had the ball in the back of the net.
Up though went the assistant referee’s flag for offside. A much clearer cut decision than the controversial VAR interjection which denied Archer what would have been a Southampton winner in the previous meeting.
Brighton to their credit were ruthless in responding to that scare. The outstanding Georginio Rutter made it 2-0 not long after. Kaoru Mitoma added a third to wrap up victory and Jack Hinshelwood provided the icing on the cake with a fourth.
It could have been more. Ramsdale made some excellent saves. Yankubu Minteh tripped over his own leg when one-on-one and somehow missed an open goal from 10 yards. Carlos Baleba hit a post.
But to complain about not scoring seven and undoing the goal difference damage done by the Forest shambles at the beginning of the months seems churlish.
Especially when results elsewhere went the Albion’s way. Brighton climbed to eighth in the table and are now well in the fight for Europe (again ole ole).
If you have any photos you would like included in our Southampton 0-4 Brighton gallery please e-mail them to wearebrighton@hotmail.co.uk or tweet them to us @wearebrighton
