[Albion] Southampton vs Brighton & Hove Albion *** Official Match Thread ***

[Dick Head]

Southampton v Albion

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: St Mary's Stadium
Date: Thursday 16th July 2020
Kick-off: 20:15 BST
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistants: Sian Massey-Ellis, Neil Davies
Fourth Official: John Brooks
Reserve Assistant Referee: Timothy Wood
VAR: Andrew Madley
Additional VAR: Peter Kirkup
​

TEAM NEWS

Brighton midfielder Steven Alzate requires surgery on a groin injury and will miss the rest of the season.

He joins Jose Izquierdo on the sidelines, but they are head coach Graham Potter's only absentees.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has said he may make changes to his starting XI given the tight turnaround between fixtures for his side.

The injured trio of Sofiane Boufal, Moussa Djenepo and Yan Valery have again been ruled out.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• 
  [*=left]Brighton are the side Southampton have faced the most in the Premier League without losing, having gone undefeated in all five matches against them.
  [*=left]The Saints have lost just two of their past 19 matches against the Seagulls in all competitions.
  [*=left]Brighton's solitary league win in six matches at St Mary's was in League One in November 2009.

Southampton

• 
  [*=left]Southampton are the only Premier League side this season to have earned more points away than at home (17 home, 28 away).
  [*=left]One more home defeat would set a new club league record of 11 in a season.
  [*=left]The Premier League record for most home defeats in a single campaign and avoiding relegation is 11 by Hull City (2008-09), Sunderland (2013-14) and Chrystal Palace (2016-17).
  [*=left]After scoring in seven of his first 11 home league matches this season, Danny Ings has netted in just one of his last six at St Mary's.

Albion

• 
  [*=left]Brighton are unbeaten in five Premier League away games (W1, D4), which is the longest current run in the top flight.
  [*=left]If they avoid defeat in this match they would set a new club record for top-flight away games without losing.
  [*=left]They are aiming to win consecutive top-flight away fixtures for only the third time after April 1981 and October to November 2017.
  [*=left]They have won just two of their 21 midweek Premier League matches, beating Chrystal Palace in December 2018 and Arsenal earlier this season.
  [*=left]Graham Potter's only Premier League experience as a player was eight appearances for Southampton in 1996-97. His only victory in those matches was a famous 6-3 win over Manchester United in October 1996.

 

[Juan Albion]

I see what you did there.

 

[OzMike]

3 points please would be great for when I wake up tomorrow.
Then the last 2 games could be treated as pre season friendlies.

 

[Perfidious Albion]

I did see this as one to win. However, after last weekend’s fiasco I would settle for a decent performance, keeping our shape, and being tight at the back.
A draw would be welcome.

 

[Boroseagull]

Hoping to see Glen playing a part tonight - he loves scoring against the Saints.

 

[lawros left foot]

I’d take a draw

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited

 

[Foul Play Rocks]

Come on the Albion! Decent performance and at least a point.

 

[Seasider78]

Southampton are playing well I think a point would be a decent result

 

[Worried Man Blues]

Hopefully they'll save themselves for beating Bournemuff, take a draw

 

[Bry Nylon]

Let’s just not start like we’re on Mogadon and we thought the fixture is this coming Saturday.

Please

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Yep big challenge tonight, definitely not how I saw this game 3 weeks ago.
If they press in the same way they did against United we could struggle.

Hoping for, rather than expecting 3 points to keep the dream alive.

 

[sparkie]

Tough game tonight; a point at Southampton could be very valuable at the end of the season.

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Potter definitely conceded the points on Saturday with the next 3 in mind.
A big performance in this one is required to quieten the doubters.

Someone made the point yesterday that the next 3 games will really give us a good view on where we are at as a club.
If we manage to go unbeaten then things are definitely on the up.

Saints and Burnley have been performing well since the restart, but I'm hopeful we can get results from the next 3 games.

 

[southstandandy]

Tough game tonight; a point at Southampton could be very valuable at the end of the season.

Very much this. Although suspect the Newcastle game will be the key. Just don't want to be on the end of a big defeat affecting our GD tonight. A draw would be amazing.

 

[Official Old Man]

I'm working. I never work match days, especially away match days, but put myself down to work until 4:30 and home for the match. Will the days of away travel ever happen again in my life time?

 

[sparkie]

It's on BT Sport. How tedious for us non-subscribers.

 

[Dick Head]

So excited

were loose

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Very much this. Although suspect the Newcastle game will be the key. Just don't want to be on the end of a big defeat affecting our GD tonight. A draw would be amazing.

Ok, ok. I expected the flak i got for wanting Villa to beat Palace. That was fair enough, with all the mathematical permutations available and a naturally cautious fanbase.

BUT!!

Enough is enough!!!!!

Worrying about the impact to our Goal Difference!!
Against Southampton!!

I agree it's a tough game, but not a "happy with keeping it down to 2" game

FFS!!!!

 

[Uh_huh_him]

Hoping to see Glen playing a part tonight - he loves scoring against the Saints.

Yeah I would love to see it too..

Not sure Potter would even play him if we were safe and he had announced his retirement.