Southampton beat Brighton 2-1 in a game marred by yet more controversy involving VAR and one that saw two penalties awarded.
Danny Ings scored for Southampton on his return to first-team action in a win which takes the Saints up to fifth in the table, while the Seagulls remain stuck in 16th.
Brighton enjoyed the best of the opening exchanges and were rewarded for their efforts after 26 minutes when a James Ward-Prowse handball inside the area gave Pascal Gross the opportunity to score from the spot. Gross, 29, duly obliged and capped an impressive personal turnaround – having only made his first start of the season away to Tottenham in November.
Despite going a goal down, Southampton fought back impressively and levelled on the stroke of half-time. Danish centre back Jannick Vestergaard made it 1-1 with a bullet header from another Ward-Prowse set piece. On November 29 these two combined to give Southampton a 1-0 lead during their 3-2 home defeat by Manchester United.
Southampton introduced Ings at the break, who had been out injured since their dramatic win at Villa Park, as they looked for the all-important matchwinning goal.
They went close through loan signing Theo Walcott but were presented a golden chance after Solly March was adjudged to have tripped Kyle Walker-Peters in the area following minutes of intense scrutiny from Peter Bankes who was on VAR Duty. This was after referee David Coote originally blew for a free kick.
Cool as you like, Ings dispatched his penalty into the middle left of the goal and to leave Brighton and the 2,000 home fans watching inside the stadium, plus the many more at home, feeling very hard done by. Amid all the controversy the Saints held on to take the three points, despite Brighton No 9 Neal Maupay going close with a header late on.
After the game, in an interview with Sky Sports, Ings admitted he ‘didn’t even know himself’ if it was a penalty and was aware the Brighton players had issues with its awarding. It goes to show there is work to be done on VAR and its application as those at the top of the game strive to find a happy medium.
Southampton will look to carry their good form into their next game, which is at home to Sheffield United on Sunday and will see the club play in front of 2,000 supporters as the south coast club is in tier two.
Meanwhile, Brighton face a tricky trip to the East Midlands to play Leicester on Sunday – who coincidentally beat the Blades 2-1 last time out on December 6.
By Dylan Chavasse
