SOU vs BHA
Match Centre
SOU vs BHA As It Happened
Key moments so far
- Southampton beaten 3-1 at home by Brighton
- Adam Lallana and an own goal put visitors 2-0 up by half time
- Solly March's wonder goal after half time made it 3-0
- James Ward-Prowse pulled one back for Saints late on
FULL TIME: Southampton 1-3 Brighton
Not the return to Premier League action that Saints would have been hoping for. Adam Lallana's header and Romain Perraud's own-goal put Brighton 2-0 up by half-time, and it was 3-0 when Solly March hit a stunner shortly after the break. James Ward-Prowse did pull one back late on, converting the rebound after his penalty was saved, but it ends in defeat for Saints.
Brighton & Hove Albion substitution: Billy Gilmour replaces Pascal Groß
Yellow Card for Moisés Caicedo (Brighton & Hove Albion)
Caicedo fouls Sékou Mara and is cautioned.
Brighton & Hove Albion substitution: Tariq Lamptey replaces Solly March
Brighton & Hove Albion substitution: Evan Ferguson replaces Leandro Trossard
Southampton substitution: Adam Armstrong replaces Samuel Edozie
Nathan Jones makes his fifth substitution.
Mara shoots off target
Saints are pushing for this second goal that would really set up a grandstand finish, and Sékou Mara tries his luck as he cuts onto his right foot about 25 yards out, but he doesn't get the desired curl on his shot, which flies well wide of the far post.
Southampton substitution: Sékou Mara replaces Mohamed Elyounoussi
Another switch for Saints.
Ward-Prowse pulls one back
James Ward-Prowse's penalty is saved by Robert Sánchez, who dives to his right and gets an arm on it, but the ball rebounds to the Saints skipper, who nods into the vacant net.
GOOOAL!!!
James Ward-Prowse (72’) | 1 – 3
Yellow Card for Robert Sánchez (Brighton & Hove Albion)
VAR Decision: Penalty awarded for Southampton [Samuel Edozie] was confirmed
There was a good look at this on VAR, but the decision to award the spot kick has been upheld.
Penalty to Saints!
Sam Edozie powers into the area and is knocked over by Pascal Groß's challenge, with referee Robert Jones pointing to the spot.
Brighton & Hove Albion substitution: Jeremy Sarmiento replaces Adam Lallana
Mitoma close to making it 4-0
A huge chance for Brighton to add another, but Kaoru Mitoma's header from six yards out at the back post goes wide, after Solly March's cross picked him out.
Yellow Card for Joe Aribo (Southampton)
Aribo trips Pascal Groß and is shown a yellow card by Robert Jones.
March with a stunning goal
It's an unbelievable strike from Solly March, who drifts onto his left foot 25 yards out and unleashes a rocket of a shot that flies into the far top corner, giving Gavin Bazunu no chance.
GOAL
Solly March (55’) | 0 – 3
Southampton substitution: Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaces Romain Perraud
A third change for Saints.
Edozie denied by Dunk block
Saints threaten again, as Ché Adams chests a ball into the area back to Sam Edozie, who takes a touch on the edge of the box and shoots, but Lewis Dunk throws himself in the way of the effort.
Edozie with an early chance
Better from Saints, as Stuart Armstrong's pass into the area finds Sam Edozie. He twists and turns to work room for a shot, but ends up firing it over.
Second half gets under way
We're back up and running at St Mary's, as Saints look to overturn a two-goal deficit.
Southampton substitution: Stuart Armstrong replaces Ibrahima Diallo
A double change for Saints at half-time.
Southampton substitution: Joe Aribo replaces Moussa Djenepo
Half time: Southampton 0-2 Brighton
It's the visitors who are well in control as referee Robert Jones brings the first half to a close. Ex-Saint Adam Lallana headed them into an early lead before Romain Perraud's own goal doubled the advantage. A lot of work to do after the break for Saints.
More danger from Brighton
Kaoru Mitoma again causes problems and gets in behind down the left, but his low ball across the face of goal somehow eludes everyone and drifts out to safety.
Elyounoussi heads off target
He's been Saints' biggest threat so far, and Mohamed Elyounoussi is this time on the end of a Kyle Walker-Peters cross, but his header back across the goal loops high and wide.
Mitoma heads over
A tough one for Kaoru Mitoma, who is picked out by a Leandro Trossard cross following his run down the left. The ball comes to him quickly and he heads well off target.
Brighton double their lead
Pervis Estupiñán gets away down the inside-left and sends a low delivery towards the back post, which ends up being turned into his own net at close range by Romain Perraud, who had Solly March challenging with him for the cross.
OWN GOAL
Romain Perraud (35’) | 0 – 2
Inches wide from JWP 😫
Oh so close! Ward-Prowse whips the ball up and over the wall, and he has Robert Sánchez diving to his left at full stretch, but it's agonisingly just wide of the post.
Free-kick for Saints in dangerous position
Sam Edozie causes problems for Brighton again, and he's tripped about 25 yards out, to the left of centre, by Solly March. A chance for James Ward-Prowse here...
Brighton grab the lead
Solly March cuts onto his left foot on the corner of the area and swings a cross in. It's perfect for the run of Adam Lallana, who flicks a header goalwards, and although Gavin Bazunu gets his hands to it, the ball squirts past him and into the corner.
GOAL
Adam Lallana (13’) | 0 – 1
Elyounoussi threatens again
Great work down the left from Sam Edozie, who sends a nice delivery into the box, where Mohamed Elyounoussi leaps well at the back post. He can't get quite enough power on his header, though, and his effort back across goal is saved by Robert Sánchez.
Applaude for George Cohen MBE
Southampton's players join in a period of applause ahead of kick-off, in honour of the England World Cup winner's contribution to football.
Mitoma denied by Bazunu
Danger for Saints, as Brighton break on them. Kaoru Mitoma drives into the area and twists and turns to get an angle on Gavin Bazunu's goal, but the Southampton keeper saves well at his near post.
Positive start from Saints
Saints force a pair of early corners, which both almost lead to something for Moi Elyounoussi. First, Brighton keeper Robert Sánchez just gets to James Ward-Prowse's near-post delivery before he can head home, then the resulting set-piece falls to Elyounoussi, whose first-time effort is scrambled clear by the visitors' defence.
KICK-OFF: We're under way at St Mary's!
Following a period of applause in memory of England World Cup winner George Cohen, referee Robert Jones blows the whistle and gets the match under way. Come on, Saints 👊
15.01Warm-ups ✅
The players are warmed and ready and about to head out of the tunnel! Stay tuned for live updated from throughout the match...
14.56Premier League start #1
It's a landmark occasion for 19-year-old winger Samuel Edozie, who makes the first Premier League start of his career this afternoon.
14.19Three changes for the boss...
The team news is in, and Nathan Jones has made three alterations from Tuesday's Carabao Cup win over Lincoln. Ibrahima Diallo, Moussa Djenepo and Samuel Edozie come in for Armel Bella-Kotchap, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Adam Armstrong, in what looks like a change of formation.
14.16Brighton team confirmed
Starting XI: Sánchez, Veltman, Dunk, Colwill, Estupiñán, Caicedo, Lallana, March, Groß, Mitoma, Trossard.
Subs: Steele, van Hecke, Lamptey, Sarmiento, Moran, Gilmour, Enciso, Undav, Ferguson.
14.01Southampton team confirmed 😇
Starting XI: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Lyanco, Salisu, Perraud, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, Djenepo, Adams, Edozie.
Subs: Caballero, Ćaleta-Car, Bella-Kotchap, Maitland-Niles, S. Armstrong, Aribo, A. Armstrong, Mara, Morgan.
14.00Brighton memories 🎞
Saints were comprehensive winners over today's visitors back in 2011, when a Rickie Lambert hat-trick fired promotion-chasing Saints to victory.
13.51Lyanco meets Saints Brass! 🎺
Our Brazilian defender took the time to meet the band for a quick photo as he arrived at the stadium this afternoon.
13.09The boys are back in town! 👋
The players (and the boss) have arrived to begin their matchday preparation ahead of kick-off, which is now less than two hours away...
13.08Boxing Day bangers 💥
As it's December 26th, sit back and enjoy some cracking Southampton Boxing Day goals. Hopefully there will be a few more to add to this video after today 🤞
12.40In the festive spirit at training 🎄
There was no time off for the players over Christmas, with Nathan Jones working his squad at Staplewood yesterday. Ahead of getting down to the serious business, they still got into the festive spirit as they warmed-up.
12.2312.00they (Brighton) are a fantastic side. they're a real, good, forward-thinking side that is difficult to play against. we're going to have to be at our best to get anything, but this is the test we want. it's a fantastic occasion and that's why we came here.
nathan jonessouthampton manager
Hear from the boss! 🎙
Nathan Jones spoke to the media ahead of today's game to offer an update on team news, and how Saints have spent the last six weeks preparing for the Premier League restart.
11.57The Premier League is BACK! 🙌
After 44 days away, Southampton return to Premier League action this afternoon, as new manager Nathan Jones finally takes charge of his first home league game seven weeks since his arrival on the south coast. It's a Boxing Day showdown with Brighton at a sold-out St Mary's! Stay with us for all the build-up, team news, match updates and live commentary...
11.55SOU vs BHA Line Ups
Southampton
| 31 |
Gavin Bazunu (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 2 |
Kyle Walker-Peters
|
| 4 |
Lyanco
|
| 15 |
Romain Perraud
Ainsley Maitland-Niles (54′)
|
| 22 |
Mohammed Salisu
|
| 24 |
Mohamed Elyounoussi
Sékou Mara (78′)
|
| 23 |
Samuel Edozie
Adam Armstrong (84′)
|
| 8 |
James Ward-Prowse (C)
|
| 27 |
Ibrahima Diallo
Stuart Armstrong (45′)
|
| 19 |
Moussa Djenepo
Joe Aribo (45′)
|
| 10 |
Che Adams
|
Substitutes
| 46 |
Jimmy Morgan |
|---|---|
| 3 |
Ainsley Maitland-Niles |
| 9 |
Adam Armstrong |
| 6 |
Duje Caleta-Car |
| 7 |
Joe Aribo |
| 18 |
Sékou Mara |
| 13 |
Willy Caballero |
| 37 |
Armel Bella-Kotchap |
| 17 |
Stuart Armstrong |
Brighton and Hove Albion
| 1 |
Robert Sánchez (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 30 |
Pervis Estupiñán
|
| 5 |
Lewis Dunk (C)
|
| 6 |
Levi Colwill
|
| 34 |
Joël Veltman
|
| 22 |
Kaoru Mitoma
|
| 14 |
Adam Lallana
Jeremy Sarmiento (67′)
|
| 13 |
Pascal Groß
Billy Gilmour (91′)
|
| 25 |
Moisés Caicedo
|
| 7 |
Solly March
Tariq Lamptey (83′)
|
| 11 |
Leandro Trossard
Evan Ferguson (83′)
|
Substitutes
| 20 |
Julio Enciso |
|---|---|
| 21 |
Deniz Undav |
| 19 |
Jeremy Sarmiento |
| 28 |
Evan Ferguson |
| 23 |
Jason Steele |
| 2 |
Tariq Lamptey |
| 29 |
Jan Paul van Hecke |
| 49 |
Andrew Moran |
| 27 |
Billy Gilmour |
SOU vs BHA Match Stats
Head to Head Stats
-
Possession (%)3466
-
Shots147
-
Shots on target44
-
Corners42
-
Passes Complete254590
