Post Match report for the Southampton game - Thursday, 16th July 2020

PREMIER LEAGUE restarted: Southampton v Brighton - 16/7/20, P36.
(Postponed 2/5/20 - Prem suspended).

ALBION FLATTER TO DECEIVE OVER NINETY MINUTES


RESULT: 1-1 ~ Maupay . (h-t 0-1) . SHAPE: 5-3-2


VENUE: St Marys, Southampton - eighteenth away match of thirty-six fixtures to date.
PRE-KICKOFF: this late season south-coast derby lacked usual fans build up, now being under pandemic restrictions. Home based previous travelling support was looking for other drop zone results, if not exactly over their shoulders at tv coverage.
WEATHER: warm evening in July.

GRAHAM POTTER would not have been happy with current form, which has exposed weaknesses in his modus operandi.
He duly made numerous alterations to the starting eleven beaten out of sight at home five days ago.

TEAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Ryan
. 2 Lamptey, 15 Webster. 5 Dunk, 33 Burn, 20 March
. . . . . 11 Trossard, 4 Stephens, 24 Propper
. . . . . . . . . . 7 Maupay, 17 Murray

BENCH: 27 Button, 30 Bernardo, 4 Duffy, 10 Mac Allister, 44 Connolly
18 Mooy (59), 22 Montoya (68), 8 Bissouma (68), 13 Gross (76), Mac Allister (76).


GOALS: 17 - 0-1. After a long throw, Murray flicks a header to MAUPAY who takes his opportunity with aplomb.
66 - 1-1. Saints striker found space and went one on one with Ryan.


INCIDENTS: 40 - hosts put the ball into the net but VAR decide on offside during the attacking foray. 61 - locals hit a post following sustained pressure when Dunk clears off the line. 78 - a blockbuster from down range rattles Seagulls crossbar with Ryan again flapping.

YELLOWS: none.

SUBS: 59 - Mooy replaces Murray in a tactical move to bolster midfield. 68 - Montoya & Bissouma for Lamptey & Propper. 78 - Gross & Mac Allister for Trossard & March


ANALYSIS: scoring first was an advantage to visitors who may well have added to their opener prior to the interval.
Locals put on subs immediately after halftime and continued with pressure going forward from later stages of the first forty-five minutes. Albion were mainly on the defensive now in 541 shape and breaking when opportune. It was mostly one way traffic against travellers as they backpedalled and looked slack as usual when facing slick movement.
Potter seemed at a loss to counter hosts superiority and his outfit appeared fragile and lightweight when put to the test.
The difference in fighting spirit, making best of what quality could be fielded and a ruthless will to win became more and more apparent as the clock wound down in Saints favour.
At the death Albion were effectively down to ten men. Somehow they scrambled a draw. Potter had been outthought and his team outfought.
MoM - Webster, tried hard and took a knock late in the day.


NUMBERS: poss 68%-32%, on target 6-2, off target 15-8, corners 8-2, fouls 6-10, yellows 1-0, subs 3-5 (5/9).

CONSEQUENCES: arithmetic was checked and compared to mathematical probabilities... or yet more rolls of the dice.

FS


MORE READING: via Stats page tabs - Squad, History & Travel, Archive for Prem table, facts, figs and Clubs info.