Brighton & Hove Albion: Tano no saint as Southampton spot opportunity

By Tim Hodges

Southampton 3 Brighton & Hove Albion 0

The Albion were the victims of some shoddy refereeing decisions to say the least at St Mary’s this afternoon and a scoreline that flattered Southampton.

Gus Poyet continued with Ryan Harley and Alan Navarro who both started in the win against Barnsley.

However, there was no place for the fit again Will Buckley who had intimated he expected to start when questioned in midweek.

The Albion more than matched the Saints in the first period, a corner from Craig Noone in the first few minutes was headed over by Gordon Greer.

Liam Bridcutt was having another good game. The midfielder really has raised his performances to championship level, and seems to revel in mixing it up with players of international standard. Not only does he break up play effectively, he also continually looks for opportunities to set Albion into attacking mode.

Neither team were really able to get their teeth into the game and efforts on goal were few and far between. Only Noone, with an effort charged down by José Fonte, made any headway for Albion.

In effect Albion controlled Southampton for the first 45 minutes and looked to be doing a job, to stifle the league leaders.

However, just a minute into the second half the complexion of the game changed as Frazer Richardson raced clear and pulled the ball back for Rickie Lambert at the back post, who headed it firmly past Steve Harper to put the Saints 1-0 up.

Southampton were now in top gear. Billy Paynter had a great chance to put Albion level but his shot was bundled off the line.

The Saints could sense the Albion were now rattled and there for the taking. And just after some nonsense from Dean Hammond and his theatrics in the area, Southampton did win a penalty.

Fonte and Lewis Dunk had a tussle in an area that appeared to be well outside the box. After a cursory chat with his linesman, ref Peter Walton upheld his own decision and Lambert blasted the ball past Harper for 2-0.

The punishment didn’t end there. Assistant player manager Mauricio Taricco was so incensed by Walton’s decision that he was eventually sent off for dissent.

Tano even motion towards his back pocket as he walked off suggesting the referee had enjoyed some St Mary’s hospitality.

Southampton were very much in control and Lambert had another shot that went wide and then forced Harper into a great save.

With just over 20 minutes left Inigo Calderon, who had replaced Harley, was adjudged to have brought down Lambert. The Saints striker didn’t waste his chance to grab a lucky hat-trick with his second penalty of the game.

The Albion didn’t lie down and Dunk had a chance for consolation late on, but in truth for reason one or another, on and off the pitch it hasn’t really been Albion’s week.

Albion: Harper; Taricco, Greer, Dunk, Painter; Bridcutt, Navarro, Harley; Noone, Paynter, Mackail-Smith. Subs: Ankergren, Calderon Sparrow, Barnes, LuaLua

Southampton: Davis; Richardson, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox; Chaplow, Hammond, Cork, Lallana; do Prado, Lambert. Subs: Bialkowski Schneiderlin, Barnard, Martin, De Ridder.

Referee: Peter Walton (Northants)