29 NOVEMBER 2024
BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1 ( Kaoru Mitoma 1 SOUTHAMPTON 1 ( Flynn Downes 1 )
PREMIER LEAGUE
at the AMERICAN EXPRESS STADIUM, FALMER.
It was Friday night football at the Amex as the Albion entertained bottom of the table Southampton in the Premier, the game being covered "live" by Sky Sports and broadcast over the airwaves by Talksport and BBC Radio Sussex Sport.
Last time out the Seagulls had won 2-1 at AFC Bournemouth in the Premier on the 23 November and for Southampton's visit the Albion made two enforced changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Tariq Lamptey and Matt O'Riley replacing Joel Veltman (injured) and Carlos Baleba (suspended).
Southampton gained promotion to the Premier by virtue of a May 2024 play-off final win over Leeds United at Wembley Stadium. Brighton-born Saints Head Coach Russell Martin, who still maintains a residence in Brighton has presided over a poor start to the current campaign and occupy bottom place in the Premier League table. In their previous outing Saints lost 2-3 to league leaders Liverpool at St. Mary's on the 23 November and for their visit to the Amex made four changes to their starting line-up from that game, with Joe Lumley, Yukinari Sugwara, Ryan Manning and Cameron Archer coming in for Alex McCarthy, Ryan Fraser, Adam Lallana (injured) and Paul Omuachu (injured). Keeper Joe Lumley (29) was making his Premier League debut, as the other goalkeepers in the squad, Aaron Ramsdale, Gavin Bazunu and Alex McCarthy were all injured.
Unsurprisingly, it was all Albion from the start, although Saints impressed with their possession football. The Albion created and squandered a number of chances early on, first Kaoru Mitoma got away from Saints defender Yukinari Sugawara but Mitoma inexplicably dragged his shot wide of the target. Next it was the turn of Georginio Rutter who cut in from the right and sent in a low shot which missed the target by inches and minutes later Rutter took a similiar route before unleashing a rasping shot which struck the post and bounced away. Danny Welbeck was the next to suffer when he saw his header from Pervis Estupinan's cross graze the post and bounce away.
Deservedly, the Seagulls took the lead on 29 minutes when Tariq Lamptey's cross from the right bounced kindly for Mitoma to stoop and send a header past Saints keeper Joe Lumley, 1-0.
The Saints continued to play their possession football, with 18-year old Tyler Dibling and Mateus Fernandes impressive and minutes before the break they missed a great opportunity to equalise when Cameron Archer placed his shot wide of the target from six yards out.
Albion Head Coach Fabian Hurzeler then received a yellow card from Referee Robert Jones after questioning some of the referee's decisions. Albion should have been out of sight at this stage.
Half-time 1-0.
The previous pattern of play continued at the start of the second-half as Mitoma and then Joao Pedro went close to adding to Albion's lead. On 59 minutes the visitors levelled the score after Adam Armstrong had two shots blocked but then Flynn Downes pounced to fire the loose ball into the Albion net. It was Downes first goal in the Premier. 1-1.
Saints thought they had taken the lead on 67 minutes when a fine move by Dibling and substitute Ryan Fraser ended with Archer tapping the ball home at the far post but VAR came to Albion's rescue when after a check lasting four and a half minutes it was adjudged that Armstrong was interfering with keeper Bart Verbruggen's vision during the build-up to the goal and the goal was chalked off. Saints Head Coach Russell Martin received a yellow card for his protestations.
Albion made a triple substitution on 72 minutes, including Lewis Dunk for Lamptey, it being Dunk's 250th Premier appearance and his first as a substitute. Ten minutes of time added on were signalled and in the very last minute of which substitute Simon Adingra was unlucky to see his goal-bound shot deflected on to a Southampton post and away for a corner. Phew - quite a night of drama at the Amex and two more points dropped by the Albion.
Final-score 1-1.
Match stats:
Albion had 22 attempts at goal, with 5 on target and won 7 corners, free-kicks conceded - 20.
Southampton had 10 attempts at goal, with 2 on target and won 6 corners, free-kicks conceded - 16.
SUMMARY - Another two points dropped by the Seagulls against lowly opposition at the Amex. Albion should have had the three points in the bank by half-time but in the Premier even lowly teams can provide stubborn opposition at any time. Saints appear to have unearthed a nugget in 18-year old winger Tyler Dibling.
At the end of Matchday 13, Albion found themselves in fourth position in the Premier.
Albion line-up (4-4-2):- Bart VERBRUGGEN; Tariq LAMPTEY (Lewis DUNK 72), Jan Paul VAN HECKE, Igor JULIO, Pervis ESTUPINAN; Georginio RUTTER (Yankuba MINTEH 88), Matt O'RILEY (Mats WIEFFER 72), Yasin AYARI, Kaoru MITOMA; Danny WELBECK (Capt) (Evan FERGUSON 79), Joao PEDRO (Simon ADINGRA 72).
Subs not used: Jason STEELE (G/K), Ruairi McCONVILLE, Jacob SLATER, Julio ENCISO.
Southampton line-up (5-4-1):- Joe LUMLEY; Yukinari SUGAWARA (Ryan FRASER 66), Taylor HARWOOD-BELLIS, Jack STEPHENS (Capt), Ryan MANNING, Kyle WALKER-PETERS; Tyler DIBLING, Flynn DOWNES (Joe ARIBO 65), Mateus FERNANDES, Adam ARMSTRONG (Ben BRERETON DIAZ 92); Cameron ARCHER (Kamaldeen SULEMANA 88).
Subs not used: Alex McCARTHY (G/K), Ronnie EDWARDS, James BREE, Samuel AMO-AMEYAW, Nathan WOOD-GORDON.
Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside). Fourth Official: John Busby. VAR Official: Jarred Gillett.
Yellow Cards:
Albion: 3 - Matt O'Riley, Mats Wieffer, Fabian Hurzeler.
Southampton: 5 - Taylor Harwood-Bellis, Kyle Walker-Peters, Tyler Dibling, Flynn Downes, Russell Martin.
Possession: Albion - 52%. Southampton - 48%.
BBC Sport Player of the Match: Tyler Dibling (Southampton).
Attendance: 31542.
FORTHCOMING FIXTURES:
5 DECEMBER 2024 - FULHAM - Away - Premier League - kick-off 19.30. "Live" on Amazon Prime.
8 DECEMBER 2024 - LEICESTER CITY - Away - Premier League - kick-off 14.00.
9-13 JANUARY 2025 - NORWICH CITY - Away - Emirates FA Cup - Third Round.
Jack Kaye.
4 December 2024.