Jack Kaye's Albion Reports
( featuring the Southampton (26/12) and Charlton Athletic (21/12) games )
26 DECEMBER 2022 -
SOUTHAMPTON 1 ( James Ward-Prowse)
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3 ( Adam Lallana 1Romain Perraud 1og Solly March 1)
- PREMIER LEAGUE - at ST. MARY'S STADIUM, SOUTHAMPTON.
Following their six-week World Cup break, the Albion resumed their Premier League
programme as they travelled west along the coast to meet Southampton at St. Mary's
Stadium in front of the Amazon Prime Video cameras and broadcast over the airwaves
on BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out in the Premier the Seagulls had lost 1-2 at home to Aston Villa on the 13 November and the team was looking to bounce back from the Carabao Cup exit to Charlton Athletic of Sky Bet League One on the 21 December.
The Albion were also wanting to preserve their unbeaten record against Saints in the Premier at the St.Mary's Stadium.
Roberto De Zerbi the Albion Head Coach made two changes to his starting line-up from the Villa game, with Joel Veltman and Kaoru Mitoma coming in for Alexis MacAllister (unavailable) and Danny Welbeck (injured).
Former Albion favourite Nathan Jones had recently been installed as Head Coach at Southampton and the Seagulls presented at St. Mary's for his first home Premier League game.
Last season the teams drew twice in the Premier, on the 4 December 2021 the score was 1-1 at St. Mary's, with Neal Maupay (90+8m) scoring a last-gasp equaliser for the Albion after Armando Broja (29m) had put Saints ahead.
In the return game at the Amex on the 24 April 2022 it was 2-2, with Danny Welbeck (2m) and Mohammed, own goal (44m) netting for the Seagulls and James Ward-Prowse 2 (45+4m) and (54m) replying for Southampton.
It was all Albion from the start and they nearly took an early lead as a mazy run by Kaoru Mitoma ended with a shot which was blocked by Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu. It was no surprise when the Albion took the lead on 14 minutes when former Saint Adam Lallana headed home a Solly March centre. 1-0. James Ward-Prowse then went close for the home side, with a free-kick from distance which just missed the target. The Albion increased their lead on 35 minutes when the sprightly Pervis Estupinan got free on the left and his searching cross was diverted into his own net by luckless Saints defender Romain Perraud . 2-0. Prior to the break the Albion had two chances to clinch the points, firstly a fine move by Estupinan, Mitoma and Leandro Trossard ended with Mitoma heading over the crossbar and then a fine intervention by Perraud prevented March converting Mitoma's cross.
Half-time 2-0.
Nathan Jones made a double substitution for Saints at the start of the second-half, with Stuart Armstrong and Joe Aribo replacing Ibrahimo Diallo and Moussa Djenepo respectively. Saints carved out two early chances, both falling to home debutant Samuel Edozie, his first effort cleared the bar by miles and the second saw Levi Colwill make a timely defensive block to deny Edozie. The Saints were to rue those missed chances, as on 56 minutes Joel Veltman found March on the right and from 25 yards out he unleashed a superb left-foot shot which flew into the top of the net, leaving keeper Bazunu helpless. It was March's first goal in two years and a contender for goal of the season. 3-0.
Southampton were awarded a dubious penalty on 73 minutes, when the lively Edozie appeared to run into Pascal Gross and threw himself to the ground. The resultant penalty-kick taken by Ward-Prowse was parried by Albion keeper Robert Sanchez into the path of Ward-Prowse who headed the ball into the net. 3-1. The Seagulls thereafter easily saw out the remaining minutes for their fourth away win of the Premier season. The Saints team left the field to a chorus of boos from their supporters.
Final-score 3-1.
Albion had 7 shots at goal, with 4 on target and won 2 corners, free-kicks conceded - 10. Southampton had 14 shots at goal, with 4 on target and won 4 corners, free-kicks conceded - 9.
TO SUM UP - A good win on the road for the Albion and a stunning goal of the season contender from Solly March. The Seagulls midfielder Moises Caicedo will be missing from the line-up on the 31 December, after picking up his fifth yellow card of the campaign when league leaders Arsenal pitch up at the Amex.
Albion line-up (4-2-3-1):- Robert Sanchez; Joel Veltman, Lewis Dunk (Capt), Levi Colwill, Pervis Estupinan; Moises Caicedo, Pascal Gross (Billy Gilmour 90+1); Solly March (Tariq Lamptey 83), Adam Lallana (Jeremy Sarmiento 67), Kaoru Mitoma; Leandro Trossard (Evan Ferguson 83).
Subs not used: Jason Steele (G/K), Jan Paul Van Hecke, Julio Enciso, Deniz Undav, Andrew Moran.
Southampton line-up (4-2-3-1):- Gavin Bazunu; Kyle Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Mohammed Salisu, Romain Perraud (Ainsley Maitland-Niles 54); James Ward-Prowse (Capt), Ibrahimo Diallo (Stuart Armstrong 46); Moussa Djenepo (Joe Aribo 46), Mohamed Elyounoussi (Sekou Mara 78), Samuel Edozie (Adam Armstrong 84); Che Adams.
Subs not used: Willy Caballero (G/K), Duje Caleta-Car, Armel Bella-Kotchap, Jimmy-Jay Morgan.
Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).
Yellow Cards: Albion: 2 - Robert Sanchez, Moises Caicedo. Southampton: 1 - Joe Aribo.
Possession: Albion - 66%. Southampton - 34%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Lewis Dunk (Albion).