Post Match report for the Southampton game - Monday, 7th December 2020
PREMIER LEAGUE 20/21: Brighton v Southampton - 7/12/20, P11.
ALBION STATUS QUO RESUMED
RESULT: 1-2 ~ Gross . (h-t 1-1) . SHAPE: 5-3-2
VENUE: the Amex, Falmer - sixth home match of eleven fixtures to date . Monday 8pm k-o.
Match played under regional tier 2 coronavirus restrictions, allowing up to 2000 home support to attend.
BUILD UP: Brighton fans were back inside the community stadium for the first Prem contest held with a crowd since end of last February. The club had successfully staged a test event during pre-season in August and were readily up to speed with ongoing protocols.
WEATHER: cold winter evening.
GRAHAM POTTER was stuck in a rut. Whatever he tried, Albion were continuously berthed in 16th position and desperately needed a domestic victory to help raise our profile at least. However hosts did not have a winning record against Saints while competing among elite.
Players who represented first eleven regulars now began the second quarter of this irregular campaign with points still to prove prior to a hectic December & New Year period ahead.
TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. 2 Lamptey, 34 Veltman, 5 Dunk, 4 Webster, 20 March
. . . . . . . . . . 3 White, 13 Gross , 8 Bissouma
. . . . . . . . . . . 18 Welbeck, 7 Connolly
BENCH: 23 Steele, 30 Bernardo, 33 Burn, 17 Alzate,
16 Jahanbakhsh (82), 11 Trossard (82), 9 Maupay (64).
GOALS: 1-0 - 26 . GROSS fires in the spot kick following visitors unchallenged handling at a cross.
1-1 - 45 . Travellers head an equaliser, beating Seagulls rearguard a little too easily... and keeper to boot.
1-2 - 81 . Saints score from the spot.
INCIDENTS: 25 - VAR check handball in Saints area . 78 - VAR check for possible Saints penalty.
YELLOWS: Dunk, drawn into a scrap . Gross . Bissouma.
SUBS: 64 - Maupay for Connolly . 82 - Jahanbakhsh & Trossard for White & Welbeck.
SYNOPSIS: open football prevailed from the get go when both sides offered something threatening going forward. Taking the lead fortuitously put hosts in the driving seat, although feet came off that proverbial pedal approaching the interval.
Team talks beckoned while each outfit plugged away to do justice to first-half exertions. In the event parity ensued before coffee & sympathy were served.
Locals struggled to find earlier cohesion, when travellers were positively reactive to first period tactical cause & effect. Potter duly made a change of striker, pursuing plan A for the time being.
Seagulls were at a loss to raise their game, let alone take off and fly. Weaknesses in various positions were exposed, played & preyed upon by visitors superior press, knowhow and determination, causing panic.
Potter threw on other subs immediately following going behind... desperate for momentum... any threat... a half chance... clutching at straws.
NUMBERS: poss 47%-53%, on target 4-3, off target 8-7, corners 4-3, fouls 12-12, yellows 3-3, subs 3-2.
CONCLUSION: Albion remain 16th, in the bottom six as per previously from mid October.
FS
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