Stuffed turkey and stuffed Saints makes a good Christmas
The World Cup has come and gone along with Christmas as well, which meant Boxing Day was upon us and the restart of the Premier League.
Things got off to an exciting start with the lunchtime game featuring Brentford at home to Spurs. Brentford went 2-0 up but left the door open for Spurs to equalise as they finished with a point apiece.
The result kept the Albion seventh in the table ahead of our own Boxing Day trip to Southampton, where the sun was shining, the sky was blue and conditions were good for football.
Amazon Prime were showing every game in this round of Premier League matches. I have their service for business reasons but still stuck with Johnny Cantor and Warren Aspinall on BBC Radio Sussex at the same time. This ensured I knew immediately what was happening at the match without the 30 second delay.
Southampton had only won six points at home this season but Brighton did not have a particularly good record against the Saints.
Albion fans were singing their heart out as our squad walked onto the St Mary’s Stadium turf, heard loud and proud over the radio.
Applause for the late George Cohen was played out by all the players and the fans before kick off. Cohen’s passing leaves only Sir Bobby Charlton and Sir Geoff Hurst still alive from the 1966 World Cup winning team.
Southampton started the game looking more likely to take an early lead. Then as if by magic, the inference swung Albion’s way with Brighton playing the most delightful football.
Brighton began to be quicker on the ball than Southampton, and the passing was so exact the stats say it all. One of the Prime commentators said, and I quote: “If you put light blue shirts on the Albion players, you would think you are watching Manchester City.”
The stats showed we had 66 percent possession overall in the game and 680 passes to Southampton’s 329. Our passing accuracy was shown as 86.8 percent.
This football was what Roberto De Zerbi wants from his players. If it continues, it will begin to raise eyebrows across the Premier League.
It was truly amazing. There was so much energy chasing and winning second balls and the goals stemmed from great play up and down the lines.
We first saw how important wide play would be when Kaoru Mitoma magic nearly got us the first goal. It needed a good save by the Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu.
Then came the opener for the Albion. Great build up from Adam Lallana playing the ball out wide to the right to Solly March, who returned the ball towards the penalty spot.
Lallana got an important touch on the header and placed the ball to Bazunu’s right to put Brighton into the lead. What a gracious man Lallana was, no heavy celebrations as he respected his old club.
Southampton teased a free kick in a dangerous position for James Ward-Prowse to take right in the area where he is normally lethal.
Thankfully, the free kick went a foot wide of Robert Sanchez’s right hand post. Sanchez still made an amazing cat-like dive which meant had Ward-Prowse’s shot been on target, Sanchez would have actually probably saved.
The next impressive piece of play by the Albion saw build up down the left side which sent Mitoma away like the Tokyo to Yokohama Express Buller Train.
Mitoma was closely chased by Estupinan, who overtook Mitoma to receive a pass on the overlap. Estupinan crossed towards goal with March charging to the back post, where the ball dropped at the feet of Southampton defender Romain Perraud to deflect nicely into his own net.
Brighton led 2-0 but there was no let up. More link up down the left saw Leandro Trossard racing away and crossing for Mitoma whose header went over the bar.
Next, Mitoma put a great cross into the box which March could not get a foot on. Brighton could have easily led by four or five going into the break, so whilst 2-0 was a good scoreline you also felt the game could have already been put to bed.
Southampton made some changes for the second half and youngster Samuel Edozie had a really good early chance. Luckily for Brighton, he did a Harry Kane and sent the ball over the stand and nearly into the water surrounding Southampton.
It was down to March to show Edozie how to do it. March hit a blinder of a shot from outside the penalty area which found its way into the top left hand corner of the net like a rocket.
It was a strike on a part with World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister at the Amex against Leicester City earlier in the season.
Bazunu had no chance with the goal underlying the potential March has. He has already looked improved under the new coaching team and I cannot wait to see how De Zerbi gets even more out of him over the coming years.
March was having one of his best games of the season. Next he teased Kyle Walker-Peters before putting a pass across the Saints goal. Mitoma just needed a touch with the goal gaping but he could not connect accurately and put the header wider.
Edozie broke up the other end, beating Moises Caicdeo and Joel Veltman but running straight into Pascal Gross. It was like Edozie had hit a brick wall he had not spotted and even though the Southampton player should have shown greater awareness of Gross, referee Robert Jones had no hesitation in awarding a penalty.
Sanchez was not impressed and received a yellow for his troubles in confronting the ref. Ward-Prowse stepped up take the penalty; as he did, I was saying to myself that Sanchez was going to save it.
Well, initially he made a great save. But the ball bounced straight back from his hands and was headed back into the net by Ward-Prowse to make it Southampton 1-3 Brighton.
The 73rd minute brought Sanchez into focus again. Che Adams fouled Levi Colwill on the edge of the Brighton box, continuing his run and running through to blatantly charge into Sanchez.
Sanchez lost his temper and confronted Adams. Hurriedly, Lewis Dunk separated the pair, doing his captain’s job. Luckily, nothing further occurred. It was a stupid move on the part of Adams; there was no need to go into Sanchez and cause such problems.
As Mr Jones blew the full time whistle, the sound of booing could be heard around St Mary’s with Southampton fans far from happy with their new team and manager Nathan Jones.
It was only a few years back that Jones managed the Albion at the Amex in a Boxing Day game. Now, he was on the end of defeat against Brighton on Boxing Day. How things change.
This was another good three points for Brighton to add to their tally with Southampton stuffed like the Christmas turkey a day earlier.
Next up, it is the Gunners on New Year’s Eve. I will again find myself keeping quiet as my wife’s side of the family are lifelong Arsenal fans.
PMA – a positive mental attitude – can see us through. Thanks to the Albion for the great Christmas gift and here is hoping for another present to kick off 2023.
Happy New Year everyone.
Tony Noble @Noble1844Tony
