Southampton earned their first three points of the season, dropping ten men Brighton Hove & Albion 2-0.
Southampton showed next to nothing in the opening 25 minutes. Brighton were on the front foot, creating chances while dominating possession. The Danny Ings and Che Adams connection in Hasenhuttl’s 4-2-2-2 was non-existent, but fortunately for Saints they survived the toughest period of the game.
The match changed when Florin Andone went airborne into Yan Valery, earning a straight red card. Credit to Southampton’s favourite referee, Kevin Friend, who never hesitated in presenting the Romanian with his dismissal.
Even with ten men, Brighton displayed an improved side from a year ago and never let up. Hasenhuttl was forced to make his first change after 51 minutes, removing Valery and replacing him with the exciting Moussa Djenepo. The young man from Mali wasted no time, gently taking his first touch out of the air, and driving the ball ten yards before unleashing a far post curler he will never forget. The epitome of an impact substitution.
Brighton however, would not back down. Jan Bednarek was fortunate not to be whistled for a handball in the box, and Jürgen Locadia smashed one of the post from 4 yards out. Glen Murray’s entrance added some tension, but the Saints kept the clean sheet they have been so desperate for.
Nathan Redmond finished the game off in stoppage time after Sofiane Boufal found him all alone at the back post. The win sees Southampton off the bottom of the table and headed in the right direction for a two-match week.
Here are the player ratings for the Saints players from the match with Brighton.