Brighton 1-2 Southampton: Bissouma only one to shine in player ratings
The Amex opening its doors to supporters for Premier League action for the first time since February was a big moment. Nobody seemed to have told the players this as a final result of Brighton 1-2 Southampton and only one individual scoring over 7 in our WAB Player Ratings is indicative of.
Yves Bissouma was the man in question with his rating of 7.47 being a huge 1.06 more than the second best Brighton player on the park, Pascal Gross who scored 6.41.
Those two aside, there were low ratings all round with Maty Ryan on 4.71 and Adam Webster on 4.18 suffering in particular. A score of 5.59 for Ben White suggested his return to central midfield did not work whilst even Solly March – winner of back-to-back WAB Player of the Month awards coming into the game – could not find a way to inspire his side. March’s rating of 6.18 was his second lowest of the season after the 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion.
The average score for the Southampton game did not quite plummet to the depths that the October stalemate with the Baggies had managed, but even so these player ratings for Brighton 1-2 Southampton do not make for pleasant reading – unless you happen to be a Malian midfielder in the form of your life.
Maty Ryan – 4.71
Such a low score seems harsh on the Brighton goalkeeper from where we are sitting and is perhaps a sign that the boo boys have found their new favourite following Dale Stephens’ departure to Burnley. There was little Ryan could do about Jannik Vestergaard’s towering header which came about through a pinpoint delivery and some typically poor marking from a set piece and the second Southampton goal was a penalty. To blame him for this defeat is plain weird.
Joel Veltman – 5.88
Quite rightly kept his place after last week’s barnstorming display against Liverpool, although he found himself in a more familiar centre back role than the right wing back position he had occupied against the champions. Was the highest scoring Albion centre back in our Brighton 1-2 Southampton ratings, not that it is much of an achievement.
Lewis Dunk – 5.82
Has not been at his best this season and judging by the frustration he showed against the Saints, he knows it. Involved in a couple of flashpoints with the officials, not a particularly good look for the captain of a young side who should be leading by example. He also missed a glorious chance when putting a free header off target from a pinpoint Gross delivery.
Adam Webster – 4.18
Brighton’s worst performer according to the ratings. Does not seem to be suited to playing as the left sided central defender in a back three, his calmness in possession and ability on the ball have deserted him and just to compound a poor evening, he missed an even easier chance than Dunk to get on the scoresheet.
Tariq Lamptey – 6.00
Southampton arrived at the Amex having given fewer chances down their left flank than all but five teams in the Premier League this season. Tariq Lamptey became the latest player to find out just how difficult playing against Ryan Bertrand is as the right wing back recorded one of his lowest player ratings of the season on his return from suspension.
Ben White – 5.59
Moved back into central midfield after a few weeks spent at centre back. On the face of it, he did not appear to do much and that is probably why he picked up such low ratings in Brighton 1-2 Southampton. The work he got through defensively and his willingness to sit in did however allow Bissouma a little more freedom, which the Mali international obviously revelled in.
YVES BISSOUMA – 7.47
Ah yes, that man Bissouma. Earlier in the week he was linked with Liverpool and Arsenal and this performance will have added a couple more million to his price tag. He consistently turned possession over for Brighton and was always looking to make things happen which put him head and shoulders above anyone else in blue.
Solly March – 6.18
In contrast to how good Southampton are defending down their left, their record down the right flank is poor. March whipped in a couple of decent crosses but was not a performance which reached his recent high standards and a luckless evening was summed up when he conceded the late penalty that should never have been a penalty.
Pascal Gross – 6.41
Brighton’s second best player on the night according to the ratings, he confidently scored the penalty which gave the Albion the lead to move onto two goals and two assists from five Premier League starts. He would have added to his assist numbers if Dunk and Webster had not squandered chances from a couple of his pinpoint set pieces.
Danny Welbeck – 6.24
It was his clever play which earned the Albion their first half spot kick. Should have done better when he side footed a first half shot which was easily by repelled Alex McCarthy when it looked like he should have been sticking his laces through it.
Aaron Connolly – 5.00
Terrorised Liverpool in the 1-1 draw at the Amex last week and given that Southampton play with a high defensive line, he would have been hoping to have a similar impact against the Saints. It never quite happened for him though and he was again wasteful in front of goal.
Neal Maupay – 4.94
That injury he picked up which forced him off the pitch minutes after missing his penalty against Liverpool – whether you believe it to be a hamstring or a bruised ego – meant he was only considered fit enough for a place on the bench. Came on with 25 minutes to go and managed to get in one of his now-trademark misses when firing wide in a promising position.
The WAB Player Ratings are formulated using marks out of 10 given by Brighton fans via Twitter. To have your scores included, follow We Are Brighton on Twitter and look out for the player rating thread after each game.
