Southampton result should be seen in context of Brighton season
Brighton gained only one point from their home game against Southampton, who arrived at the Amex bottom of the table and having lost all their Premier League away matches so far.
The result was understandably disappointing for most of us. But when I looked at the Premier League table on Friday night and saw the Albion sitting second, it helped place the draw in the context of the whole season so far. Sometimes it helps to look at the bigger picture.
We have never sat so high in the table after 13 matches. This is a great achievement and one we should all be proud of.
Even more so when you remember Brighton have beaten Manchester United, Spurs, Newcastle and Manchester City to occupy second spot, albeit only until the Saturday and Sunday action took place.
Johnny Cantor on BBC Radio Sussex predicted facing the Saints could be a banana skin game. The Albion needed to punch through this myth they generally do not perform as well against sides at the lower end of the table. And you cannot get much lower than 20th place.
But we also know there are no easy fixtures in the Premier League. As the match progressed, Southampton clearly grew with belief they could take something. Maybe even a win.
Perhaps Brighton 1-1 Southampton should be viewed as a useful point, seeing as a tight offside call going the other way could have sent the Albion to defeat?
I was a surprised before the game by bumping into two ex-work colleagues out of the blue outside the Amex. One of whom I did not know was an Albion supporter.
The new Fan Zone structure continues to take shape outside the stadium. It won’t be long now until that becomes operational and further improves the matchday experience.
With this being Rainbow Laces Day, the Amex was its usual sea of colour. We even had an email come around late on Friday afternoon, explaining there would be a crowd-surfing flag passed over our heads before the game in the East Upper.
It started to my left and looked quite cosy underneath on what was a dry and out-of-character warm winter’s evening for the time of year. Saints manager Russell Martin even took his jacket off. Just as well as he ended up quite hot under the collar before full time.
Southampton also brightened up the pitch, wearing fluorescent pink shirts. These really stood out. Their supporters were in good voice from kick off until Kaoru Mitoma scored the Brighton goal.
Even then, they rallied themselves to get going again and played a big part in helping their players. Unlike us Albion fans, who I felt were too quiet all night as things started to not go our way.
Mitoma nearly put Brighton ahead early on with a chance coming from him running like the clappers. However, Mitoma lifted his effort just past the goal with Saints goalkeeper Joe Lumley beaten.
Georginio Rutter shot wide and was then slipped in for a second chance by Yasin Ayari. Rutter curled a wonderful shot which caught the far post from this opportunity.
When Danny Welbeck put a header wide, I started to think it was going to be one of those days. Brighton with all the chances, go 1-0 down against the run of play, left struggling to break down 10 men behind the ball to find an equaliser.
That did not happen as Mitoma gave the Albion the lead on 29 minutes. Tariq Lamptey delivered an excellent cross from the right, a dipping ball which Mitoma ran onto and headed past Lumley.
The question now was could the Albion go and take the game away from Southampton? Chances dried up a little after Mitoma scored and Southampton fired a warning sign when Cameron Archer missed an actual tap in on the stroke of half time.
Saints should have been down to 10 men before they equalised as Flynn Downes constantly committed fouls on Albion players. Several of these warranted a yellow card but referee Rob Jones kept appearing to give Downes opportunities to stay on the pich.
Downes did pick up a first half booking with the most obvious candidate for a second being when he took out Joao Pedro in the fourth minute of first half injury time. Can you guess who went onto score the Southampton goal?
Whilst Downes drew the ire of the home crowd, even Brighton fans would have to admit that young Tyler Dibling was one of the best players on the pitch.
If Southampton do end up going “Down with the Palace” as the North Stand suggested, Dibling is certain to remain in the Premier League. What a talent.
The inevitable happened on 59 minutes when Downs – who should have been red carded by this point – put the ball in the Albion net after a little bit of bagatelle in the box.
Brighton seemed to panic in response and were made to look second best by Southampton, causing many of us in the East Upper to lose our rags a little.
Eight minutes after the Southampton goal and brilliant football from Dibling found Archer, who slotted home from six yards. A five minute VAR review was needed to decide that Archer was onside but Adam Armstrong was off and he was deemed to be interfering with play.
The goal was disallowed, controversially it must be said. The Albion had used up a lot of refereeing luck in one night with the let off finally kicking Brighton back to life, alongside some substitutions.
Lewis Dunk returned from five weeks out injured in place of Lamptey. Matt O’Riley made way for Mats Wieffer, Joao Pedro for Simon Adingra, Georginio Rutter for Yankubu Minteh and Danny Welbeck for Evan Ferguson.
An acrobatic scissor kick may have gone in if had not ricocheted off a defender. The last minute saw Mitoma race away and put a peach of a cross in. Adingra got a foot to it, but a hand from Lumley diverted just wide.
That gave Brighton a corner as they kept the pressure on right until the final whistle. Ayari went down in the penalty area but was in an offside position, meaning that took precedence over the foul.
An aptly frustrating way to end a frustrating evening. But to sit fourth in the table after 13 matches, ahead of Manchester City and Manchester United and Spurs. We all would have taken that at the start of the season, right?
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
