By Tim Hodges from the Amex
Brighton & Hove Albion 1 Southampton 1
Albion played out their second consecutive 1-1 draw at the Amex and are now 3 games unbeaten in the Premier League
Southampton pressed high up the pitch and contained the Seagulls in the early stages.
It was from a James Ward- Prowse free kick that saints took the lead. The Portsmouth born midfielder’s free kick rattled the bar and before Maty Ryan or any Albion defenders could react, Steven Davies nodded home the rebound to put the visitors in front.
The Seagulls looked a little out of sorts. The momentum gained after the victory at West Ham was lacking as the Albion midfielders wanted too much time on the ball and passsd began to go astray
The Seagulls dug themselves back in the match. Jose Izquierdo proved a willing outlet, but he couldn’t get away from the Saints defence and was unable to deliver a telling ball.
Albion didn’t force Saints keeper Fraser Forster into a meaningful save in the first half. The nearest the Seagulls came to equalising was Shane Duffy’s header from a Knockaert cross, which went inches over the bar.
As so often happens Albion came out with their tails up as the second half started. After some good work between Knockaert and Izquierdo , the ball fell for Pascal Gross, he lofted a cross towards the back post, where Murray placed a header beyond Forster to pull Albion level, with 35 minutes still to play.
The Seagulls didn’t test Forster again. The Albion’s best chance fell, after a superb run by Knockaert, to Duffy, who scuffed a shot from 14 yards, well wide.
Southampton looked for a while like they might step up and react, but the Seagulls soaked up any attacking threat.
Bong and Izquierdo had linked well again. The Columbian international easing past former Albion target Virgil van Djik only to see his shot cannon off Wesley Hoedt and out for a corner.
Towards the latter stages Southampton pressed, but Albion again in the shape of Lewis Dunk and Duffy held firm. Ryan also look confident claiming crosses and dealing any aerial threat Southampton occasionally posed.
However, it was a match in which neither keeper got their gloves dirty to any great extent.
Albion drop to 12th in the Premier League and go to Swansea for a rare 3pm kick off next Saturday 4 November.
