Great strides of March – Albion play Saints off the park

Southampton 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 3

An inspired Solly March performance helped Brighton to overcome Southampton with ease and move up to sixth place in the Premier League.

Albion took the lead through the former Southampton skipper Adam Lallana from a March cross after 14 minutes.

But the Saints old boy didn’t celebrate as the ball squirmed through Gavin Bazunu’s hands to make it 1-0 to the Seagulls.

At one point Albion had 80 per cent possession – and this afternoon they made it count.

Kaoru Mitoma was terrorising Kyle Walker-Peters but it was Pervis Estupinan who made the next breakthrough on 35 minutes.

The Ecuador international played in a cross for March, causing Romain Perraud all sorts of problems.

Under pressure from March, the French defender bundled the ball into his own goal to double Albion’s lead.

Mitoma had the chance to put Albion further in front from a Lallana cross but headed over.

Albion did go 3-0 ahead with a superb March finish into the top corner on 56 minutes.

March then created another chance for Mitoma five minutes later but the Japan international glanced a header wide five minutes later.

VAR – the video assistant referee – gifted Southampton a penalty on 73 minutes after Pascal Gross was adjudged to have impeded the 19-year-old winger Samuel Edozie.

James Ward-Prowse took the spot kick and Robert Sanchez saved – but the former England man headed home the rebound for a consolation.

Next up, Albion are due to host the Premier League leaders Arsenal at the Amex on New Year’s Eve (Saturday 31 December) at 5.30pm.