Brighton give us a goal at last, but not a wave from the team coach
What could be better than travelling down to the Amex on a sunny Sunday lunchtime? Brighton had performed much better on the road in their past three matches, so would this form continue at home and lead to us home fans finally seeing a goal?
It had been over 90 days since Adam Webster last gave us something to celebrate when he scored against Chelsea. Arriving at the ground early, Southampton fans were heard to be saying they did not hold out much hope for their chances against the Albion.
I took my friend along with me who is a Tottenham Hotspur supporter. We sampled the fish and chips outside the ground and very good they were too.
My guest was soon singing the praises of the Amex Stadium and how great it looked. I said to him: “It always looks great, especially when the sun shines and the Albion win!” We have enjoyed plenty of sun this season, but not quite as many wins.
Whilst we were enjoying our fish and chips, the Brighton team coach drove past the Seagulls Superstore area. As it made its way slowly through the crowd, I spotted Graham Potter at the front.
Both me and an Albion supporter much younger than me who I was stood next to waved at Graham. This little chap was frantic, sending all the players sat on the bus the best of luck.
The players seemed to think that because the coach had blacked out windows, fans outside cannot see them and so they did not need to wave back.
Well, just to let them know, we can see you lads when the light shines right on the coach as it was on this afternoon.
Not one of the players sitting on the left side of the coach acknowledged the fans. I felt sorry for the young man, it seemed like a hello from an Albion hero would have made his day!
Waves may have been in short supply but it did not take long for Brighton to give us a goal and break that scoring duck. It took just two minutes for Danny Welbeck to put the ball in the Southampton net.
Great teamwork in front of the East Stand led to the goal, which looked like would set us up for a winning afternoon.
Taking an early lead gave the players confidence and they were full-on throughout the first half, playing as if they were fighting to stay in the Premier League like Burnley.
Southampton came back with a shot from Tino Livramento which hit the post of Robert Sanchez’s goal. The ball bounced off the woodwork, hit Sanchez in the back and then Che Adams nearly connected with it. Thank goodness he didn’t as Adams had an empty goal to aim at.
Adam Webster was a picture of calm in the first half and it was great to see him back in the side, moving the ball up the field so well.
Welbeck too was playing well and he had a shot which hit Fraser Forster and went out for a corner. More good build up play from an Enock Mwepu chip had created that chance.
Neal Maupay had my Spurs friend and me out of our seats when he appeared to have doubled the advantage, all of us in the East Upper monetarily forgetting about the offside rule.
Another bagatelle-type moment in the Saints box followed but Maupay could not quite force it over the line. Brighton had scored once, was it greedy of to expect another?
No, it wasn’t. Webster found Welbeck, who cut inside and crossed to Trossard. Trossard tried to return to Welbeck, only for Mohammed Salisu to intercept the pass.
Unfortunately for Mr Salisu, his rushing back saw him Rick O’Shay it into the back of the net to make it 2-0 with 44 minutes played.
Having seen Rick O’Shay score twice when Man City beat Brighton 3-0 on Wednesday night, it was good of him to make an emergency transfer to the Albion and give us the luck we have been missing in recent months.
Five minutes of first half injury time were needed after Livramento had been stretchered off. It has since been reported that Livramento suffered a bad knee injury and faces many weeks out.
We wish him well for his recovery from such an unfortunate injury. It was no foul, Livramento just landed badly after jumping for the ball.
With 60 seconds of the additional time to go, Marc Cucurella challenged Nathan Tella and the Saints player went down just outside the penalty area.
Southampton now had a free kick in James Ward-Prowse territory. I have seen Ward-Prowse score so many times from this position that I guaranteed my friend it was about to become Brighton 2-1 Southampton.
As sure as eggs are eggs, Ward-Prowse bent the ball into the left hand corner. Everyone knows how brilliant he is when taking free kicks and yet here we were, awestruck again.
My next pearl of wisdom to my Spurs supporting friend was that this may not now be plain sailing for Brighton. Little did I expect the Albion to lose the plot slightly in a second half which could have gone either way, as Potter said in his press conference after the match.
Brighton kicked towards the North Stand and needed a third goal to put pressure back on Southampton. It was the Saints who scored next however, an Oriel Romeu backheel placing the ball perfectly into the feet of Ward-Prowse. He fired another unstoppable shot to make it all-square at Brighton 2-2 Southampton.
Sanchez had to show his best when springing like a cat to save a shot from Shane Long which looked like it was going in. Things became very bitty from end-to-end with Southampton appearing to be the most likely scorers of the next goal.
Almost from nowhere, a neat piece of play enabled Pascal Gross to slam a shot past Forster and into the back of the net.
Sadly, it turned out to be fractionally offside once VAR at Stockley Park had drawn their lines, by no more than a finger tip.
Four times we had been out of our seats celebrating goals over the 90 minutes. Two counted and two did not, but the fact Albion fans were getting so much excercise jumping up and down made this an improvement on the last few home games.
The hard work and effort put in by the squad paid off with another point added to the tally, helping us equal our best Premier League total of 41.
Even a draw from the trip to face Wolves at Molineux next weekend will break the record. Surely a reason for the players to wave out the coach window to the kids and us old boys next time?
One last thing before I sign off – please remember to vote for me via the Albion website for the new Fan Advisory Board. The voting is meant to go live this week. Thank you in advance – and up the Albion!
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
