Brighton as much as second amid VAR drama in draw with luckless Saints

Kaoru Mitoma was on the right track as Brighton edged as much as second place within the Premier League desk but it surely was finally a irritating night for Fabian Hurzeler’s males as rock-bottom Southampton earned a 1-1 draw at Amex Stadium.

The Seagulls supplied the higher purpose menace all through the primary half with Georginio Rutter thumping the publish earlier than Kaoru Mitoma opened the scoring with a flying header from Tariq Lamptey’s cross on 29 minutes.

The guests grew in confidence following the restart and punished a subdued Brighton when Flynn Downes rifled house a unfastened ball simply shy of the hour. Russell Martin’s facet thought they’d accomplished the comeback 23 minutes from time, however Cameron Archer’s purpose was harshly dominated out for offside following a prolonged VAR examine.

The consequence means The Seagulls nudge above Manchester Metropolis into second place, stage on factors, however having performed a sport greater than their rivals in and across the high 4.

Southampton stay backside however keep away from defeat for simply the third time this season. Subsequent up, The Saints host Chelsea on Wednesday night time whereas Brighton go to Fulham on Thursday.

This was a morale-boosting consequence for Southampton as they claimed their first level on the highway.

It may have been even higher for Russell’s males too had VAR not dominated Adam Armstrong’s try to fulfill Ryan Fraser’s cross as ample for him to be deemed offside previous to Archer firing in what would have been a profitable purpose on the far publish.

The draw does little to have an effect on The Saints’ present place on the foot of the desk, however incomes a optimistic final result in opposition to a high-flying facet who stay unbeaten on house turf will improve perception that the St Mary’s facet can discover a solution to kick-start a push for survival.

As for Brighton, the desk will make for nice studying for now, however it should really feel very very similar to a possibility missed to maneuver clear in second spot forward of the remainder of the weekend’s motion.

The Saints star was an actual outlet, significantly within the second half. Carried the ball with a sequence of wonderful dribbles to assist create harmful moments on the break and received a number of fouls to earn his team-mates a breather throughout spells of Brighton strain.

BRIGHTON: Verbruggen 7, Lamptey 7, Igor 7, van Hecke 7, Estupinan 7, Ayari 7, O’Riley 7, Rutter 7, Joao Pedro 6, Mitoma 7, Welbeck 6. Subs: Dunk 6, Adingra 6, Wieffer 6, Minteh 6, Ferguson 5.

SOUTHAMPTON: Lumley 7, Sugawara 7, Stephens 7, Harwood-Bellis 7, Walker-Peters 6, Dibling 8, Downes 7, Fernandes 6, Manning 7, Archer 6, Armstrong 6. Subs: Fraser 7, Aribo 7, Sulemana 6, Brereton Diaz n/a.

16’ – BRIGHTON CHANCE! Rutter cuts in from the appropriate and unleashes a stinging strike that thuds in opposition to the far publish.

29’ – GOAL! – Brighton 1-0 Southampton: (Mitoma). The hosts make the breakthrough as Mitoma meets Lamptey’s bouncing cross with a thumping header.

59’ – GOAL! – Brighton 1-1 Southampton: (Downes). The guests are stage! Manning and Armstrong trigger chaos on the left facet of the Brighton space with the latter’s blocked shot falling for Downes to rifle a thunderous effort house from 10 yards out.

67’ – SOUTHAMPTON GOAL CHALKED OFF! Archer arrives on the again persist with volley house Fraser’s cross from the left. VAR checks for FIVE minutes. It’s deemed Archer was onside however Armstrong interfered as he attacked the ball on the close to publish. Appears harsh.