Adam Lallana scored against his former club as Brighton dealt Southampton boss Nathan Jones a 3-1 defeat on his first Premier League home game in charge at St Mary’s Stadium.
Southampton were booed off by their own supporters at half-time after a header by former captain Lallana and an own goal by left-back Romain Perraud heaped more misery on Jones’ relegation-threatened side.
Solly March then added a third for the Seagulls in the second half, thumping a shot into the top corner from 20 yards out that Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu had no chance of saving.
A penalty was awarded to Southampton in the 73rd minute after Samuel Edozie ran into Pascal Gross inside the area, and while Sanchez saved James Ward-Prowse’s initial effort, he could not keep out the headed rebound by the home skipper.
Southampton had come into the game on the back of Tuesday’s 2-1 win over Lincoln City in the Carabao Cup fourth round and they caused Brighton early problems when Moussa Djenepo’s cross was diverted out before a Ward-Prowse corner was punched to safety by Seagulls goalkeeper Robert Sanchez.
The optimism faded, however, after Lallana found March out wide on the right and continued his run into the box, meeting the winger’s cross and guiding his header past Bazunu in the 14th minute.
Southampton fell further behind when Pervis Estupinan sent a low ball across goal which sent panic through the Saints defence. Perraud got there before March but the French defender could not adjust his feet and put the ball into his own net.
Saints stay 19th in the table, while Brighton move up to sixth before seventh-placed Liverpool take on Aston Villa at 17:30 GMT.
source – BBC
