Brighton 1, Southampton 1: Murray landmark helps Albion to another precious point

Glenn Murray's second-half header ensured Brighton & Hove Albion shared the spoils with Southampton on the South Coast this afternoon.
Glenn Murray is mobbed by his Brighton & Hove Albion team-mates after levelling the scores against Southampton. Picture by PW Sporting PicsGlenn Murray is mobbed by his Brighton & Hove Albion team-mates after levelling the scores against Southampton. Picture by PW Sporting Pics
Glenn Murray is mobbed by his Brighton & Hove Albion team-mates after levelling the scores against Southampton. Picture by PW Sporting Pics

The striker notched his 50th home goal for the Seagulls to level up Saints skipper Steven Davis early opener at the Amex.

It was far from a Premier League classic, but lifted Albion to 11th in the table having lost just twice in their last eight league games.

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Goal-shy Saints, who went into the clash as the joint-lowest scorers in the top half of the table, having failed to score in nine of their last 15 league games, remain in tenth position.

Anthony Knockaert goes close to drawing Brighton & Hove Albion level. Picture by PW Sporting PicsAnthony Knockaert goes close to drawing Brighton & Hove Albion level. Picture by PW Sporting Pics
Anthony Knockaert goes close to drawing Brighton & Hove Albion level. Picture by PW Sporting Pics

Chris Hughton named an unchanged side from the one that won at West Ham last Friday, although there was a return for Tomer Hemed to the bench after serving his three-game ban.

Saints had the lead after just six minutes as a James Ward-Prowse free kick from 25 yards crashed off the post and Davis nodded home the rebound from close range.

And that was the only real action of a cagey opening 20 minutes apart from Davy Propper putting a header straight at Fraser Forster from an Anthony Knockaert free kick.

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Wrong decisions on the ball plagued Albion's game as they often gave the ball away as they looked to build attacking passages of play.

Pascal Gross tries to carve out an attempt against Southampton. Picture by PW Sporting PicsPascal Gross tries to carve out an attempt against Southampton. Picture by PW Sporting Pics
Pascal Gross tries to carve out an attempt against Southampton. Picture by PW Sporting Pics

It was Saints that came closest to adding to their early lead as Dusan Tadic's low strike from just inside the area was deflected just wide of the post.

Albion, however, finished the second half strongly and Knockaert went close to leveling the scores from a Jose Izquierdo cross and Shane Duffy headed a teasing cross narrowly over the bar.

Saints again had a spell of pressure at the start of the first half, but Albion were level within seven minutes of the restart. Assist king Pascal Gross stood a ball up to the far post where Murray roses highest to meet the ball and squeeze his header into the top corner past a diving Forster.

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That was the lift the hosts needed and with them in the ascendancy, Murray volleyed just over and a busy Forster was forced to collect a number of crosses.

Jose Izquierdo on the ball against Southampton. Picture by PW Sporting PicsJose Izquierdo on the ball against Southampton. Picture by PW Sporting Pics
Jose Izquierdo on the ball against Southampton. Picture by PW Sporting Pics

In a rare Southampton foray forwards, Dunk did well to deflect a Gabbiadini's strike away for a corner on 69 minutes. Back at the other end soon after, Izquierdo cut in and fired a fierce goalbound shot into the midriff of van Dijk.

Hughton turned to his bench late on and brought on the attacking Solly March and Izzy Brown, but Albion failed to find an elusive winning goal.

Albion: Ryan; Bruno, Dunk, Duffy, Bong; Knockaert, Stephens, Propper, Izquierdo (March 87); Gross (Brown 84); Murray. Unused subs: Krul, Hemed, Goldson, Schelotto, Suttner.

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Southampton: Forster; Cédric, Van Dijk, Hoedt, Bertrand; Davis, Romeu; Ward-Prowse (Hojberg 84), Tadić (Long 84), Boufal (Redmond 71); Gabbiadini. Unused subs: McCarthy, Yoshida, Stephens, McQueen.

Attendance: 30,564.