HOME IS finally where the goals are for Graham Potter’s Brighton.
But James Ward-Prowse was on hand with yet more free-kick wizardry and a beauty with his right boot to complete a stunning south-coast comeback for Southampton.
James Ward-Prowse scored two beauties for Southampton at Brighton Credit: Reuters
The Saints skipper inspired his team once again Credit: Reuters Pascal Gross thought he had snatched a late winner for the Seagulls from the bench only for VAR to rule it out with the narrowest of offsides.
Brighton may have ended their five-game goal drought at the Amex, but they are still searching for a first home league win of 2022 with only two chances remaining.
It took them just one minute and 14 seconds to grab that elusive net-bulger – Danny Welbeck poking home for both his and Brighton’s quickest-ever Premier League goal.
And having waited almost eight hours for a first, the home fans were gifted a second thanks to a calamitous own goal by Mohammed Salisu.
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Inside Benzema’s crime-ridden Lyon suburb that moulded him into Real Madrid star The Saints were hanging on before skipper Ward-Prowse stepped up to fire in a 14th Prem free-kick on the brink of half-time.
The 27-year-old is now just four away from David Beckham’s record of 18 – and you would not put it past him closing that gap further before the end of the season next month.
Ward-Prowse grabbed his second in the 54th minute with a thunderbolt of an effort to ensure the points were shared.
It is now just one victory in their last eight for the Saints, and you feel boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is still searching for that magic formula to get back to winning ways.
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The Austrian coach made six changes from the poor defeat away to Burnley, bringing in the likes of Tino Livramento, Nathan Redmond, Shane Long and Che Adams.
Pre-match, Hasenhuttl admitted some of his inclusions needed the chance to “show up” – but they were missing from the off to make it 12 league away games without a clean sheet.
Marc Cucurella fired a low ball into the box as Fraser Forster collided with Salisu allowing Welbeck to tap home for his sixth goal in 14 career starts against the Saints.
Potter lined his men up in a 3-5-2, but it was more like 3-4-3 with Leandro Trossard – the goal hero for their recent wins over Arsenal and Tottenham – pressing tenaciously.
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The visitors’ best chance came to Adams who failed to make connection with the ball from a yard out with the goal gaping before Neal Maupay had an effort chalked off for offside.
The Saints were struggling, and it got worse as Livramento was carried off on a stretcher in the 38th minute after appearing to twist his left knee in the turf.
Brighton claimed a deserved second in the 44th minute as Trossard looked to play Welbeck in on the counter only for Salisu to intercept into his own net.
Yet a needless Cucurella foul in first-half injury time meant Ward-Prowse stepped up and whipped his fourth direct free-kick of the campaign in off Robert Sanchez’s left post.
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‘Unsteady’ Putin bites his lip and fidgets in church fuelling health rumours Southampton emerged revitalised in the second half and got level soon after as Ward-Prowse thumped one into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
The hosts spent the rest of the half on the back foot as the Saints pressed for a third, with Gross’ harshly ruled-out effort in the 78th minute Brighton’s only real response.
Danny Welbeck gave Brighton the perfect start Credit: AFP
Mohammed Salisu turned past Fraser Forster into his own net Credit: AFP
Ward-Prowse’s second strike whistled into the back of the net Credit: PA Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
