Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
Follow all the action from St. Mary's Stadium
Brighton & Hove Albion provisionally climbed to sixth in the Premier League standings after they won 3-1 away to Southampton in a riveting Boxing Day clash.
A header from Adam Lallana and a stunning long-range strike by Solly March along with Romain Perraud’s own goal helped Brighton take their points tally to 24 - two more than seventh-placed Liverpool who play at Aston Villa later.
Brighton went ahead in the 15th minute when Lallana scored against his former club after he connected with March’s cross and sent his header into the net as goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu scuffed an easy save.
The visitors doubled their lead in the 35th minute after defender Perraud turned the ball into his own net while trying to clear a cross from Pervis Estupinan.
March made it 3-0 in the 55th minute with a sensational effort from outside the box after he cut in from the right side for a brilliant solo move. Brighton could have had a fourth goal shortly after but Kaoru Mitoma’s header went wide.
In the 73rd minute, Southampton were awarded a penalty for Pascal Gross’s foul on Samuel Edozie and although James Ward-Prowse’s spot-kick was stopped by keeper Robert Sanchez, the Southampton skipper nodded home on the rebound.
Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Substitution Moussa Djenepo Joseph Oluwaseyi Temitope Ayodele-Aribo
Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton are unbeaten in the last 15 Premier League games they've led at the break, dating back to May 2021. It's hard to see Southampton coming back to win this. They've picked up just one point from games in which they've trailed at half-time this season.
Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
A chorus of boos rings out at St. Mary's as both teams head in for the half-time break. Brighton have been by far the better team so far, looking composed on the ball and well-organised off it. Southampton haven't been able to lay a glove on them yet.
Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION
Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion
There'll be just one minute added at the end of this half. It's almost a fatal one for Southampton, as Mitoma tests Bazunu at his near post. The ball bounces across goal towards March who can't convert it! The Saints race up the other end and Diallo's hopeful shot gets blocked. That's all for now.
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