Neal Maupay’s late, late strike earned Brighton & Hove Albion an unlikely point at Southampton.
Having scored late on to earn the Seagulls a point at West Ham on Wednesday, the Frenchman struck in the eighth minute of stoppage time to give the visitors a point at a chilly St. Mary’s.
Armando Broja had given Southampton the lead in the first half of a game that the Saints will be bitterly disappointed they couldn’t see out for only a fourth win of the season.
Team news
Ralph Hasenhuttl made two changes from the midweek draw with Leicester City, with Lyanco coming into defence in place of the injured Jan Bednarek whilst there was a start for Chelsea-loanee Broja, with Adam Armstrong dropped to the bench.
Brighton, meanwhile, made five changes from their trip to West Ham on Wednesday. In came Tariq Lamptey, Dan Burn, Shane Duffy, Pascal Gross and Enock Mwepu with Lewis Dunk the most notable absentee after he picked up a knock late on at the London Stadium.
Saints on the front foot
The Saints were on the front foot early on at St. Mary’s, with Che Adams leading a break and playing through Broja, who advanced through on goal but saw his shot saved by Robert Sanchez – with the Spaniard doing well to get up to save Adams on the follow-up.
Sanchez was then called into action again inside six minutes when Nathan Redmond found the feet of Broja, and the Albanian forward twisted and turned to make room for the shot which was turned behind for a corner.
Brighton looked to grow into the game as the half wore on, with Leandro Trossard doing well to pick out Mwepu inside the D but his effort was pushed away by the diving Alex McCarthy.
McCarthy was then called into action again when Mwepu’s ball forwards found Lamptey on the right, and his cross found Trossard on the edge of the area. Taking the shot on first time, the Belgian’s well struck effort was beaten away by the keeper.
Broja brilliance
But Brighton continued to look disjointed, and Southampton deservedly went in front before the half hour mark.
Sanchez’s clearance from a pass back wasn’t the best and Redmond headed the ball on into the path of Broja who turned away from the committed Duffy before firing past the keeper.
And Southampton had a big chance to double their advantage early into the second half. Redmond did well to win possession and play in Tino Livramento down the right hand side and he cut the ball across to Broja, but he scuffed his effort wide when well placed.
Graham Potter made a tactical switch to try and get his side back into the game, and they had a big chance to draw level with 13 minutes to go.
Substitute Solly March cut inside from the right and fed Aaron Connolly, who slipped the ball across to Maupay but he fired straight at McCarthy from inside ten yards.
Late drama
There was then a long stoppage after Trossard was forced off on a stretcher after a coming together in his own half, and Albion made the ten minutes of stoppage time count.
Jakub Moder’s free-kick from a central position came back off the wall, and the Polish International’s follow up fell to Maupay and from eight yards out he fired home.
Whilst it’s now ten games without a win for Brighton, this point is certainly one gained as suppose to two dropped whereas Southampton will be kicking themselves for not seeing out the win that they would have deserved.