9:09pm
That was*good from Southampton.
A cross was cut back to Steven Davis outside the box and he hit it first time on the volley.
The shot*was well struck but Stockdale held it cleanly as it bounced right in front of him.
9:07pm
We're just looking for signs of encouragement here from an Albion viewpoint.
A deft little first-time touch by Bruno led to a right-wing attack featuring March. But Crofts' eventual cross did not find a team mate.
Soton have had a corner and a cross from open play, both of them overhit.
9:00pm
LuaLua, again playing quite centrally, picks up possesison and looks to go outside his man before shooting. But he can't get quite far enough ahead of Clyne and can only skew his shot well wide of the near post.
8:58pm
Not an immediate improvement from the hosts as Saints play their way through with incisive passing down their right before the cross is headed rather weakly wide by Isgrove. The striker had found space in the penalty area.
8:53pm
Off go Calderon, Greer, O'Grady and Fenelon.
8:51pm
Changes being made for the second half. Saints have sent on Targett for Bertrand at left back and Davis for Boruc in goal.
Albion send on Bruno, Dunk, LuaLua and Mackail-Smith.
8:32pm
And so ends a very tough first half for Albion
8:31pm
And there is the second. Initial danger caused when Saints got Yoshida to the byline again. The cross was headed away but the attack continued and DAVIS thumped*a shot past Stockdale.
8:30pm
I know that last bit did not look very exciting in black and white but it perhaps summed up what we have seen.
Southampton looking the sharper, quicker and better side.
8:24pm
A roar goes up as Crofts and Ince work a one-two which creates space for Calderon to go forward.
But Soton quickly have two men back to face him and the full-back is forced to check back.
8:23pm
Hyypia still sitting watching while Jones patrols the edge of the technical area.
This has been hard work for Albion, especially*for the last 20 minutes or so.
They can't get decent possession.
8:15pm
There were possibly question marks over Stockdale on the goal.
But he has just used his feet to block from Davis, who looked set to make it 2-0 after twisting into space in the box.
8:11pm
Another good move from Soton as Davis's lovely crossfield ball into the path of Yoshida gives the charging right-back room to cross.
But Tadic does not make proper contact as the ball goes across him and his shot slices wide.
Then Stockdale holds a well struck 25-yarder from by Ward-Prowse.
It's pretty much all Southampton right now.
8:07pm
And there is the first goal after some more slick passing by Southampton.
TADIC fired home low from the edge of the box.
8:05pm
Applause for Stockdale as he dives to block a close range flick by Pelle - but it was a nice move between Tadic and Yoshida down the Soton right which opened up Albion quite easily.
8:02pm
I think JFC went for a double bluff with that free-kick. He guessed Boruc would go behind his wall anticipating the curler so went down the keeper's side with his shot - and Boruc was there waiting
8:01pm
Nice move there from Albion with some neat passing down the left to force a corner.
Forster-Caskey's delivery was decent and seemed to hit Ince in the midriff after clearing a defender.*
Albion*now have a free-kick 25 yards out with Forster-Caskey to take.
But he curls tamely into Boruc's arms.
7:58pm
I can see Greer enjoying the chance to ping long diagonal balls for Chicksen to chase this season.
The left-back's charge forward just forced a corner from which Albion got the ball into the box.
It bounced around before Davis hooked clear.
7:53pm
As has been the case in previous friendlies, Albion are encouraging the full-backs to push forward.
Crofts is playing wide, and deep, on the right of midfield, further back than Calderon at times, with Ince just ahead of the central defenders.
Applause there as Stockdale catches the first cross of the night above his head.
7:47pm
So here we go, Albion going North to South - though both ends are empty tonight.
7:44pm
Albion walk out in their new orange shirts which are BRIGHT
Certainly brighter than they looked on the photos using Bruno as the model!
7:38pm
Let's start with news of an ex-Seagulls today - and someone whose face you will still see on the side of a bus in Brighton from time to time.
You will have read that Andrea Orlandi is poised to sign for Blackpool.
Now a free agent, Orlandi was at Blackpool on Monday to talk to their boss Jose Riga.
He returned today to tie up final details and undergo a medical.
We await confirmation as to how all that went.
7:35pm
So here we go again.
Albion back at the Amex for their only home run out of pre-season.
Apart from a few bits and peices on youtube, this is the first I've seen of the Seagulls under Sami Hyypia.
Of course score updates and goalflashes are far from essential this evening.
Tonight's live report is basically a little pre-season run for myslf and my laptop!
And a chance to tell you a little about who is playing and where - and how.
The serious stuff starts a little less than nine days from now.
Original article
That was*good from Southampton.
A cross was cut back to Steven Davis outside the box and he hit it first time on the volley.
The shot*was well struck but Stockdale held it cleanly as it bounced right in front of him.
9:07pm
We're just looking for signs of encouragement here from an Albion viewpoint.
A deft little first-time touch by Bruno led to a right-wing attack featuring March. But Crofts' eventual cross did not find a team mate.
Soton have had a corner and a cross from open play, both of them overhit.
9:00pm
LuaLua, again playing quite centrally, picks up possesison and looks to go outside his man before shooting. But he can't get quite far enough ahead of Clyne and can only skew his shot well wide of the near post.
8:58pm
Not an immediate improvement from the hosts as Saints play their way through with incisive passing down their right before the cross is headed rather weakly wide by Isgrove. The striker had found space in the penalty area.
8:53pm
Off go Calderon, Greer, O'Grady and Fenelon.
8:51pm
Changes being made for the second half. Saints have sent on Targett for Bertrand at left back and Davis for Boruc in goal.
Albion send on Bruno, Dunk, LuaLua and Mackail-Smith.
8:32pm
And so ends a very tough first half for Albion
8:31pm
And there is the second. Initial danger caused when Saints got Yoshida to the byline again. The cross was headed away but the attack continued and DAVIS thumped*a shot past Stockdale.
8:30pm
I know that last bit did not look very exciting in black and white but it perhaps summed up what we have seen.
Southampton looking the sharper, quicker and better side.
8:24pm
A roar goes up as Crofts and Ince work a one-two which creates space for Calderon to go forward.
But Soton quickly have two men back to face him and the full-back is forced to check back.
8:23pm
Hyypia still sitting watching while Jones patrols the edge of the technical area.
This has been hard work for Albion, especially*for the last 20 minutes or so.
They can't get decent possession.
8:15pm
There were possibly question marks over Stockdale on the goal.
But he has just used his feet to block from Davis, who looked set to make it 2-0 after twisting into space in the box.
8:11pm
Another good move from Soton as Davis's lovely crossfield ball into the path of Yoshida gives the charging right-back room to cross.
But Tadic does not make proper contact as the ball goes across him and his shot slices wide.
Then Stockdale holds a well struck 25-yarder from by Ward-Prowse.
It's pretty much all Southampton right now.
8:07pm
And there is the first goal after some more slick passing by Southampton.
TADIC fired home low from the edge of the box.
8:05pm
Applause for Stockdale as he dives to block a close range flick by Pelle - but it was a nice move between Tadic and Yoshida down the Soton right which opened up Albion quite easily.
8:02pm
I think JFC went for a double bluff with that free-kick. He guessed Boruc would go behind his wall anticipating the curler so went down the keeper's side with his shot - and Boruc was there waiting
8:01pm
Nice move there from Albion with some neat passing down the left to force a corner.
Forster-Caskey's delivery was decent and seemed to hit Ince in the midriff after clearing a defender.*
Albion*now have a free-kick 25 yards out with Forster-Caskey to take.
But he curls tamely into Boruc's arms.
7:58pm
I can see Greer enjoying the chance to ping long diagonal balls for Chicksen to chase this season.
The left-back's charge forward just forced a corner from which Albion got the ball into the box.
It bounced around before Davis hooked clear.
7:53pm
As has been the case in previous friendlies, Albion are encouraging the full-backs to push forward.
Crofts is playing wide, and deep, on the right of midfield, further back than Calderon at times, with Ince just ahead of the central defenders.
Applause there as Stockdale catches the first cross of the night above his head.
7:47pm
So here we go, Albion going North to South - though both ends are empty tonight.
7:44pm
Albion walk out in their new orange shirts which are BRIGHT
Certainly brighter than they looked on the photos using Bruno as the model!
7:38pm
Let's start with news of an ex-Seagulls today - and someone whose face you will still see on the side of a bus in Brighton from time to time.
You will have read that Andrea Orlandi is poised to sign for Blackpool.
Now a free agent, Orlandi was at Blackpool on Monday to talk to their boss Jose Riga.
He returned today to tie up final details and undergo a medical.
We await confirmation as to how all that went.
7:35pm
So here we go again.
Albion back at the Amex for their only home run out of pre-season.
Apart from a few bits and peices on youtube, this is the first I've seen of the Seagulls under Sami Hyypia.
Of course score updates and goalflashes are far from essential this evening.
Tonight's live report is basically a little pre-season run for myslf and my laptop!
And a chance to tell you a little about who is playing and where - and how.
The serious stuff starts a little less than nine days from now.
Original article