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

[Dick Head]

Southampton v Albion

PREMIER LEAGUE

Venue: Saint Mary's Stadium
Date: Sunday 26th December 2022
Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Referee: Robert Jones
Assistants: Lee Betts, Ian Hussin
Fourth Official: Dean Whitestone
VAR: Michael Salisbury
Additional VAR: Scott Ledger
​

TEAM NEWS

Theo Walcott hopes to be fit despite coming off during Southampton's midweek EFL Cup win with a tight calf.

Full-back Kyle Walker-Peters played an hour in that game in his first action since suffering a hamstring injury in October, and is set to feature again.

Brighton's World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister has been given a fortnight off after Argentina's triumph in Qatar.

Adam Webster and Danny Welbeck are both out after sustaining injuries in a friendly earlier this month.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• The home side has not won in any of the 10 Premier League meetings, with six draws and four away victories.
• Southampton have lost just one of those 10 games (W3, D6), going down 2-1 at home in March 2021.

Southampton

• Southampton could lose four consecutive Premier League matches for the second time this season.
• They are in the Premier League relegation zone on Christmas Day for the first time since 2004-05, which was also the most recent season in which they were relegated from the top flight.
• Saints have the worst home record in the top flight this season, earning six points from seven games and with their only win coming in August.
• Southampton have kept just one clean sheet in their 15 league matches in 2022-23 - and that came away from St Mary's. They are the only top-flight team without a home clean sheet.
• Nathan Jones' side can equal the club Premier League record of failing to score more than once in 11 successive games, set in 1998 and matched in 2013.
• Southampton are unbeaten in all six Boxing Day league fixtures they have played at St Mary's, winning the last three.

Albion

• Brighton have won two of their past three games in the Premier League.
• The Seagulls are seventh, their highest top-flight position at Christmas.
• They have lost four of their eight Premier League matches under Roberto De Zerbi (W2, D2).
• Albion have kept just one clean sheet in their last 10 games.
• Their last four league fixtures have produced a total of 17 goals (scoring nine and conceding eight), at an average of 4.3 per game.
• Brighton are winless in their last six away matches on Boxing Day (D1, L5), last winning one in 2002.

Roberto De Zerbi's Southampton Press Conference

 

[Mortdecai]

 

[Psychobilly freakout]

Gus Poyet is part of the Amazon Prime TV punditry team today.
I remember well his first game in charge, it was his birthday and felt like mine, as I had three bets that day, Murray 1st goalscorer, a 3-1 win for us and those as a double.

Too top it all my half brother supports them

 

[OzMike]

Being dragged around the 'sales' at present, apparently I agreed to it just before I uncorked the second bottle at dinner yesterday !
Worried about the Nathan Jones and playing a team in the bottom 3 factors.

 

[Brok]

• Saints have the worst home record in the top flight this season, earning six points from seven games and with their only win coming in August.

What can possibly go wrong?

 

[BadFish]

• Saints have the worst home record in the top flight this season, earning six points from seven games and with their only win coming in August.

What can possibly go wrong?

3 points for them then.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

It’s back

Let’s hope todays queue is up to premier league standards

 

[giveusfalmerplease]

We have a terrible record already this season with teams in the bottom three.
Lost to Villa and drew with Forest. Knowing us we'll lose to saints and then become only the second team to beat Arsenal at the weekend

 

[Guinness Boy]

Welcome to one of my favourite days of the year. Sports and Leftovers Day (or Boxing Day, if you must).

Today's festivities will include, in all likelihood, cider, wine, whisky, cheese, cold goose, sausage sandwiches, Mrs GB saying "you're not watching another game are you?" and Brighton losing to Southampton. Already given it up after Wednesday.

Let the games begin!

 

[oldboyroy]

Not confident about this 1. Got a feeling its going to be 3 losses on the bounce including the cup game

 

[Originunknown]

At least it won't go to penalties..

 

[Live by the sea]

A Brighton win with Trossard back in form !

 

[BN41Albion]

• Saints have the worst home record in the top flight this season, earning six points from seven games and with their only win coming in August.

What can possibly go wrong?

What do you mean? Villa only hadn't won away since before Covid pretty much before rocking up at the Amex in our last PL fixture

 

[Justice]

We are like Santa this time of year giving away three points to those in need.

Big Deniz & miss from a yard out March will have those defenders quaking

 

[Beach Hut]

So excited

 

[Perfidious Albion]

Looking forward to this… I can watch it on the Firestick and I am hungry for an Albion game after all that World Cup stuff.
Not so confident about the result though. Missing a key forward and defender. Trossard didn’t look great midweek , Ally Mac recovering ( still hungover?) .
Oh well, we will enjoy it anyway……

 

[portlock seagull]

Twenty years since we last won on Boxing Day

(21 next year! )

 

[LANGDON SEAGULL]

We won last year on Boxing Day

 

[Codner's Wallop]

I’d like to be optimistic but I predict a scrappy mess of a game and a tight win for Saints.

Saints HAVE to start winning these type of games as they are genuine candidates for the drop this season. I’d imagine this will be right near the top of their target list.

As for Albion, missing AMA, Webster AND Wellbeck will probably be at least one absentee too many…

Happy New Year!!

 

[Dick Head]

So excited

were loose