Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton Live Commentary & Result, 21/5/23, Premier League

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	MCI Manchester City	38	28	5	5	94	33	+61	89	L D W W W
2	ARS Arsenal	38	26	6	6	88	43	+45	84	W L L W W
3	MUN Manchester United	38	23	6	9	58	43	+15	75	W W W W L
4	NEW Newcastle United	38	19	14	5	68	33	+35	71	D D W D L
5	LIV Liverpool	38	19	10	9	75	47	+28	67	D D W W W
6	BHA Brighton & Hove Albion	38	18	8	12	72	53	+19	62	L D W L W
7	AVL Aston Villa	38	18	7	13	51	46	+5	61	W D W L L
8	TOT Tottenham Hotspur	38	18	6	14	70	63	+7	60	W L L W L
9	BRE Brentford	38	15	14	9	58	46	+12	59	W W W L W
10	FUL Fulham	38	15	7	16	55	53	+2	52	L D W W L
11	CRY Crystal Palace	38	11	12	15	40	49	-9	45	D D W L W
12	CHE Chelsea	38	11	11	16	38	47	-9	44	D L L D W
13	WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	11	8	19	31	58	-27	41	L D L W L
14	WHU West Ham United	38	11	7	20	42	55	-13	40	L W L W L
15	BOU AFC Bournemouth	38	11	6	21	37	71	-34	39	L L L L W
16	NFO Nottingham Forest	38	9	11	18	38	68	-30	38	D W D W L
17	EVE Everton	38	8	12	18	34	57	-23	36	W D L W D
18	LEI Leicester City	38	9	7	22	51	68	-17	34	W D L L D
19	LEE Leeds United	38	7	10	21	48	78	-30	31	L L D L L
20	SOU Southampton	38	6	7	25	36	73	-37	25	D L L L L

Brighton's fantastic flight shows no signs of stopping then. Their destination? Europe. That's all for now. Goodbye!

Brighton have all but confirmed they will finish sixth in this year's Premier League with this win. Only Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have scored more goals than De Zerbi's men this season, and they had 26 shots here. They continue to impress. Southampton stay bottom, winless in their last 12 games. They will be glad their season will soon be over.

Brighton have gotten back to winning ways by seeing off Southampton! The Seagulls were irrepressible as ever, racing to a 2-0 lead in the first half. The Saints briefly caused the hosts trouble after the break, pulling a goal back before Walcott's attempt was ruled out for offside. Gross scored shortly after to wrap the victory up.

90' + 7' FULL-TIME: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3-1 SOUTHAMPTON

90' + 5' Welbeck invitingly rolls the ball into the path of Estupinan, who shoots powerfully first time from the edge of the box. McCarthy blocks the shot with his legs.

F. Buonanotte

Yellow Card

90' + 3' Buonanotte stops Walker-Peters in his tracks. The Argentine is shown a late yellow card.

90' + 2' Brighton are still making efforts to extend their lead. McCarthy makes a smart save to push Buonanotte's powerful drive away from danger.

90' There will be seven minutes of added time before the final whistle. This game's been over as a contest since Brighton's third goal. The Seagulls get a corner. It's uneventful.

J. van Hecke

L. Colwill

89' Colwill can put his feet up for injury time too. Brighton bring on Van Hecke at centre-back.

B. Gilmour

K. Mitoma

88' Brighton give Mitoma the last few minutes off. Gilmour comes on to replace him.

87' Welbeck gratefully receives Estupinan's pass to the left of the box and fires off-target from a tight angle.

86' Brighton pepper Southampton's goal a little more. Mac Allister's effort from outside the box is too high. Undav has a crack of his own seconds later, curling wide of the left-hand post.

K. Doyle

R. Lavia

84' Southampton take another opportunity to bring a youngster on. The 17-year-old Doyle replaces Lavia.

83' The latest shot count: Brighton have had 20 shots. Southampton have had five. It would have been lax of the Seagulls not to win this game after being 2-0 up and cruising.

81' Brighton are still looking for goals, albeit less intensely than before. Buonanotte doesn't trouble McCarthy with a wayward shot from distance.

79' Livramento hands Brighton a corner. They can't do anything with it as Colwill heads over, but at this stage of the game they will be fine with that.

T. Livramento

J. Bree

77' Southampton substitution. Livramento takes Bree's place at right-back.

76' That third Brighton goal looks to have finally killed Southampton off. It's a shame for Selles' men. They had their tails up for a minute before Walcott's goal was ruled out. Estupinan fires across goal from the left of the box. The ball rolls comfortably wide.

D. Undav

J. Veltman

74' Brighton play things safe by taking Veltman off. Undav comes on, allowing Gross to slot in at right-back.

73' Southampton pressure Buonanotte into handing them another corner. Brighton manage to deal with this one more confidently.

J. Veltman

Yellow Card

71' Veltman's booked for halting Walker-Peters' run down Southampton's left.

K. Sulemana

M. Elyounoussi

71' Southampton's goalscorer Elyounoussi is last to leave the pitch for now. Sulemana is his replacement.

S. Armstrong

C. Alcaraz

71' Alcaraz is the next Southampton player to go off. On comes Stuart Armstrong.

D. Ballard

J. Aribo

70' Southampton make a string of substitutions. The 18-year-old Ballard replaces the anonymous Aribo.

L. Colwill

Assist

69' Colwill didn't fully intend that assist for Gross, but he'll take it all the same. Brighton will be glad to have their two-goal cushion back.

P. Groß

Goal

69' GOAL! BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 3-1 SOUTHAMPTON! Gross restores Brighton's two-goal advantage! Southampton don't fully clear the hosts' corner, from which Colwill heads wide. The German takes charge to the right of the box, shifting his feet before beating McCarthy at his near post.

68' Chance for Brighton! Veltman reaches Gross' free-kick and heads it towards the bottom left corner. McCarthy prevents the header from reaching its target, tipping it out for a corner.

J. Bree

Yellow Card

67' Bree adds his name to the book by scything down Mac Allister. Southampton have five players on yellow cards now.

D. Welbeck

E. Ferguson

65' Brighton decide to make another change. Welbeck takes the place of Ferguson up front.

J. Ward-Prowse

Yellow Card

64' Ward-Prowse lands himself in the referee's book for dissenting the decision to rule Walcott's goal out. He can complain all he likes. It's the correct decision.

63' NO GOAL! BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2-1 SOUTHAMPTON! Walcott was offside as he reached Ward-Prowse's throughball, so Southampton's equaliser won't stand. The Saints are understandably disappointed. Brighton will breathe a sigh of relief.

62' GOAL! BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2-2 SOUTHAMPTON! Incredibly, Southampton are level! Walcott shows his pace of old to race behind Brighton's high line and onto Ward-Prowse's throughball. The Englishman draws Steele off his line and calmly clips it over him. The visiting fans celebrate, but the goal's being checked for offside...

62' Ferguson controls Mitoma's cutback from the left, turns and hits a defender from the centre of the box.

60' Southampton force another corner down their right and try a carbon-copy routine to the one they scored from. Brighton manage to deal with it as Elyounoussi heads wide this time, but they suddenly look jittery.

J. Ward-Prowse

Assist

58' Ward-Prowse may be the only Southampton player to end this season with any credit. Without his set-piece prowess, the Saints' relegation would have been confirmed even sooner. Brighton can't afford to rest on their laurels yet.

M. Elyounoussi

Goal

58' GOAL! BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2-1 SOUTHAMPTON! Out of nowhere, Southampton are back in the game! The visitors win a corner down their left. Elyounoussi meets Ward-Prowse's ball in at the near post and flicks it into the far bottom corner with his head.

57' Gross twists this way and that on the edge of the box but can't get a clean shot away. The German tries again and gets a routine save out of McCarthy.

55' Southampton show signs of life. Brighton win the first header from Alcaraz's cross from the right. Steele claims the loose ball.

53' Southampton clear the corner, but they can't escape their own half. Aribo is looking very isolated up front.

51' Brighton are showing no signs of letting up yet. Mitoma pings a pass in the direction of Buonanotte. The ball deflects out for a corner to the hosts.

49' Buonanotte drifts inside from the right and slams the ball into Lavia. The Belgian's left winded and needs treatment.

47' Mac Allister gets bundled over outside the box. From the free-kick, Estupinan picks out Colwill at the far post, who fouls Aribo in his eagerness to attack the ball.

46' We're back underway for the second half. Brighton will want to resume where they left off.

F. Buonanotte

J. Enciso

46' Brighton make a half-time substitution. Buonanotte replaces the lively Enciso.

Southampton have failed to score a first-half goal in 26 of their 37 Premier League games this season. That's more than any other side in the division. It's easy to see why they're going down. In contrast, Brighton have been effervescent. They wouldn't look out of place in Europe next season at all.

This is looking like a routine win so far for Brighton. The Seagulls have been in control of this game and deserve their convincing lead, with both their goals scored by their young Irishman Ferguson. Southampton are playing like the team they are: a relegated one with nothing to play for.

45' + 5' HALF-TIME: BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2-0 SOUTHAMPTON

45' + 4' Mitoma's been brilliant in this first half. The Brighton man receives Caicedo's pass, checks inside on the left of the box and drags the ball wide at the near post.

45' + 2' Lavia gets back in time to intercept Gross' cross before Ferguson can reach it. Walker-Peters buys Southampton a free-kick to ease the pressure on them for now.

45' The officials indicate there will be a minimum of five added minutes at the end of this first half. It's been an easy one for Brighton.

M. Elyounoussi

Yellow Card

43' Enciso lands another Southampton player in the referee's book. This time it's Elyounoussi who can't stop the 19-year-old fairly.

41' Southampton have yet to have a shot on target. The Saints have been underwhelming going forward and porous at the back all season. It's no surprise they'll soon be relegated.

K. Mitoma

Assist

40' Lavia looked like he had the situation under control, but Mitoma used his strength to outmuscle the midfielder and get the cross in. Southampton will argue they should have a free-kick, but Brighton scored fair and square.

E. Ferguson

Goal

40' GOAL! BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 2-0 SOUTHAMPTON! This is a lovely goal! Southampton get caught upfield. Mitoma beats Lavia down the left and centres the ball for Ferguson, who smashes it past McCarthy to get his second goal of the game!

39' Gross is too eager to get the ball back from Lavia in Southampton's box and ends up fouling the Belgian.

37' Lyanco and Ferguson are thankfully both fine. Play gets back underway.

35' Mac Allister clips the ball across the box. Lyanco slips as he clears it and lands awkwardly. The Brazilian and Ferguson both need some medical attention.

C. Alcaraz

Yellow Card

34' Alcaraz gets booked for barging Enciso over down Brighton's right.

32' Southampton are showing flashes of quality, but they've not been consistent enough to worry Brighton yet. Walcott wriggles free down the right and gets off a cross-cum-shot that bounces wide of Steele's goal.

31' Brighton have been well on top in the opening half hour of this game. They've had seven shots to Southampton's one.

A. Mac Allister

Assist

29' Mac Allister's pass was perfectly weighted for Ferguson, who made the most of it. Brighton have the lead their early dominance deserves.

E. Ferguson

Goal

29' GOAL! BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION 1-0 SOUTHAMPTON! Ferguson receives a pass from Mac Allister, takes a touch, and lashes at goal from the right of the box. It's straight at McCarthy but he can't get down quickly enough to stop it from finding the net.

27' Gross' latest delivery into Southampton's box comes to nothing. Brighton come straight back though, and McCarthy rises high to claim Gross' sailing shot.

25' Brighton earn another foul in the centre of the pitch. They'll get another opportunity to test Southampton from a set-piece.

23' Enciso has another speculative shot blocked. Brighton are starting to rack up shots at goal.

21' Quick as a flash, Brighton are in! Mitoma gets loose in the penalty area and blasts straight into McCarthy, who rushes off his line. The ball hits the woodwork and back into safety for Southampton.

21' We're 20 minutes into the game. The Brighton fans have already started cheering their team's every touch of the ball.

19' Brighton soon win another free-kick down their right. Gross floats it towards the far post, where Estupinan is offside.

17' Brighton squander their free-kick but Southampton can't make the most of it! The visitors break at speed, and Alcaraz plays a one-two with Walcott to fire wide. The Argentine should have tested Steele with that shot at least.

16' Brighton have yet to take their free-kick after Bednarek's foul. Ward-Prowse is down receiving treatment for a minor knock. Selles takes the opportunity to impart some advice to his players.

J. Bednarek

Yellow Card

14' Bednarek arrives late on Mac Allister and lands himself the game's first yellow card.

12' Caicedo ends a Brighton counter-attack with a careful curling shot from range. It lands straight into the arms of McCarthy.

11' Mitoma drives towards the byline but is shrugged off by a combination of Bree and Bednarek. Southampton goal-kick.

9' Mitoma motors down the wing. Bree's forced to come across to put the ball out for a throw-in. Brighton's Japan international has started this game brightly.

8' Brighton create their first real chance of the game and it's a great one! Mitoma wins the ball down the left, drives into the box and fires just wide of the right-hand post.

6' Enciso bombs down the right and rolls a tame low cross into the box. McCarthy easily claims the Paraguayan's effort.

5' Southampton make brief progress down their right through Walcott. The former England forward has no options in the box though, and is forced to pass backwards.

3' Brighton are getting settled in Southampton's half early on, stroking the ball around with ease. De Zerbi's men have loved playing on the front foot all season.

2' Enciso gets the ball from Mac Allister and has a shot blocked from outside the box.

1' We're underway here at Amex Stadium!

Brighton have been better in this fixture of late, having won two of their last four league meetings with Southampton. However, the Saints are unbeaten in their last five visits here in the Premier League. In fact, the home side has never won in 11 league meetings between this pair.

Ruben Selles makes three changes to Southampton from their 2-0 home loss to Fulham. Bree, Elyounoussi and Aribo start.

There are five changes to Brighton from their bad day at the office against Newcastle. Veltman, Colwill, Enciso, Mac Allister and Ferguson return to their starting lineup.

SUBS: Gavin Bazunu, Kamari Doyle, Dominic Ballard, Stuart Armstrong, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Paul Onuachu, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Duje Caleta-Car, Valentino Livramento.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Alex McCarthy; James Bree, Jan Bednarek, Lyanco, Kyle Walker-Peters; Mohamed Elyounoussi, James Ward-Prowse (c). Romeo Lavia, Joe Aribo; Theo Walcott, Carlos Alcaraz.

SUBS: Andrew Moran, Thomas McGill, Deniz Undav, Cameron Peupion, Facundo Buonanotte, Jan-Paul van Hecke, Yasin Ayari, Danny Welbeck, Billy Gilmour.

BRIGHTON & HOVE ALBION (4-2-3-1): Jason Steele; Joel Veltman, Levi Colwill, Lewis Dunk (c), Pervis Estupinan; Pascal Gross, Moises Caicedo; Julio Enciso, Alexis Mac Allister, Kaoru Mitoma; Evan Ferguson.

Southampton have lost their last four Premier League games and are sinking to the Championship without a whimper. The Saints have shipped three or more goals in each of their last three league games away from home. This short trip across England's south coast could feel like another long slog for them.

Brighton are still strong favourites to finish in the Premier League's top six despite slumping to a 4-1 defeat away to Newcastle United last time out. The Seagulls will be confident they can get back to winning ways against already relegated Southampton.

Hello and welcome to our live text commentary of this Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Southampton at Amex Stadium.

Brighton & Hove Albion v Southampton Live Commentary, 21/5/23

Key Events

Match Stats

Key

Commentary