BRIGHTON showed they are still looking tasty without Big Mac.
Adam Lallana’s opener, a Romain Perraud own goal and a Solly March rocket meant the Seagulls soared into the top six.
The Boxing Day bulldozing came without World Cup hero Alexis Mac Allister, who is enjoying a fortnight off after starring in Argentina’s triumph over France, and injured striker Danny Welbeck.
On the flip side it prompted alarming questions over what Southampton have actually been doing for the past six weeks?
Afterall, they were supposed to be buoyed by new boss Nathan Jones who was overseeing his first home game since he took over from Ralph Hasenhüttl in November.
Saints stars have credited him for stopping the rot in the dressing room after Hasenhuttl’s last four months were plagued by rumours of player disquiet.
But they looked even more shambolic with Gavin Bazunu producing an almighty cock up to allow Lallana’s fairly tame header to slip through his gloves for the opener.
And an embarrassing gaffe from Perraud saw him kick a cross into his own net to make it 2-0.
The hosts looked as though they were up for it early on when James Ward-Prowse whipped two back-to-back corners into the box – but no one could quite make the crucial touch.
It didn’t take long for Brighton to hit back strongly as Japan midfielder Kaoru Mitoma’s twinkle toes twisted inside and out before lashing a shot at Bazunu.
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Robert Sanchez was called into action up the other end with Mohamed Elyounoussi rising highest to meet a cross but his header was steered straight at the Brighton stopper.
Brighton sparked another blistering counter attack up the other end and made Saints pay.
Former St Mary’s skipper Lallana came back to haunt the club where he made his name and had so much success.
The former England midfielder layed off to March before continuing his run to head home past Bazunu who let the ball squirm through his fingers on 14 minutes.
Lallana didn’t celebrate against his old side, but the Brighton fans certainly did, giving it large in the away end.
Lallana’s last goal came in March 2021 and it was also his first goal scored against Southampton since he left for Liverpool in 2014.
Brighton were building again and this time it was Pervis Estupinan’s turn to cause havoc as he got the Saints defence in a tizz and whipped an inch-perfect cross into the box.
Saints left-back Perraud managed to get there before March but got his feet in a tangle under pressure and kicked into his own net.
Brighton were bossing it after the break and March was allowed acres of space to unleash a rocket striker into the net for his first goal in nearly two years on 56 minutes.
It was also the English left-back’s first in the Prem since November 2020.
Southampton refused to go down without a fight and on 73 minutes they were handed a glimmer of hope.
Sam Edozie danced into the box but was clattered into by Pascal Gross, prompting the referee to point to the spot.
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Ward-Prowse stepped up and his initial effort was expertly saved by Sanchez but it only fell back to the Saints skipper who headed home the rebound.
Tempers flared when Sanchez pushed Che Adams sparking a melee between both sides and a cacophony of boos around St Mary’s as Southampton remain in the drop zone.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
