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Brighton & Hove Albion 2-2 Southampton: Ward-Prowse hits two in entertaining draw

By Joe BradshawBBC Sport

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments192

James Ward-Prowse scores
James Ward-Prowse is enjoying his most productive season for Southampton having now scored 10 goals in all competitions for the first time

James Ward-Prowse scored two stunning goals as Southampton came from behind to rescue a point at the Amex.

Brighton were cruising thanks to a second-minute strike from Danny Welbeck and Mohammed Salisu's own goal late in the first half, with Saints full-back Tino Livramento also carried off with a serious-looking leg injury.

However, Ward-Prowse's trademark free-kick on the cusp of half-time sparked the Southampton fightback, his 14th directly from a free-kick, second only to David Beckham (18) in the Premier League era.

After the break, he demonstrated his skills from open play with a fierce low drive that fizzed past Robert Sanchez bring his side level and take him to 10 goals for the season.

Southampton pushed for a winner against their shell-shocked hosts but lacked creativity and were relieved that Pascal Gross's late strike was ruled out for offside.

The point does mean Brighton match their record Premier League points tally of 41 and breaks their run of five home games without a goal.

South-coast sides struggle for consistency

The past eight days have typified Southampton's season, an impressive win over Arsenal followed by a dismal defeat at Burnley and then finding themselves two goals down to Brighton.

But, in Ward-Prowse, they have a player who is impressively reliable and continues to catch the eye for Ralph Hasenhuttl's side.

The 27-year-old signed a long-term contract last summer but his outstanding long-distance shooting is sure to have some of the Premier League elite looking in his direction.

Losing to Brighton might have killed off Saints' hopes of a top-half finish but the momentum given them by this comeback might just be what they need to leapfrog the likes of Newcastle and Leicester in their remaining four games.

Danny Welbeck celebrates
Danny Welbeck has scored five goals against Southampton, the joint-most with West Ham

As for Brighton, a season of great promise on the road has not been replicated at the Amex, with only Norwich and Watford having a poorer home record.

Wins at Arsenal and Spurs had put them within touching distance of the 41 points they have achieved in the last two campaigns.

They seemed to be on course for only their fourth home win of the season after an enterprising first half but lost their way in the face of Southampton's revival.

Gross thought he had won it for Seagulls with 12 minutes to go, lashing home from outside the box but home celebrations proved premature.

Still, Potter will be pleased with the threat his side posed and confident that their record points tally, and highest Premier League finish, will be secured over the final stretch of the season.

Player of the match

Ward-ProwseJames Ward-Prowse

with an average of 8.42

Brighton & Hove Albion

  1. Squad number18Player nameWelbeck
    Average rating

    6.73

  2. Squad number12Player nameMwepu
    Average rating

    6.20

  3. Squad number3Player nameCucurella
    Average rating

    6.19

  4. Squad number11Player nameTrossard
    Average rating

    6.16

  5. Squad number25Player nameCaicedo
    Average rating

    6.06

  6. Squad number5Player nameDunk
    Average rating

    6.04

  7. Squad number10Player nameMac Allister
    Average rating

    6.02

  8. Squad number34Player nameVeltman
    Average rating

    5.96

  9. Squad number1Player nameSánchez
    Average rating

    5.87

  10. Squad number4Player nameWebster
    Average rating

    5.81

  11. Squad number60Player nameSarmiento
    Average rating

    5.62

  12. Squad number9Player nameMaupay
    Average rating

    5.35

  13. Squad number20Player nameMarch
    Average rating

    5.09

  14. Squad number13Player nameGroß
    Average rating

    5.02

Southampton

  1. Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse
    Average rating

    8.42

  2. Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
    Average rating

    7.56

  3. Squad number18Player nameBroja
    Average rating

    6.93

  4. Squad number44Player nameForster
    Average rating

    6.63

  5. Squad number10Player nameAdams
    Average rating

    6.56

  6. Squad number2Player nameWalker-Peters
    Average rating

    6.52

  7. Squad number15Player namePerraud
    Average rating

    6.41

  8. Squad number21Player nameLivramento
    Average rating

    6.34

  9. Squad number6Player nameOriol Romeu
    Average rating

    6.34

  10. Squad number7Player nameLong
    Average rating

    6.33

  11. Squad number23Player nameTella
    Average rating

    5.98

  12. Squad number35Player nameBednarek
    Average rating

    5.97

  13. Squad number11Player nameRedmond
    Average rating

    5.87

  14. Squad number22Player nameSalisu
    Average rating

    5.29

Line-ups

Brighton

Formation 4-3-1-2

  • 1Sánchez
  • 34Veltman
  • 4WebsterSubstituted forGroßat 61'minutes
  • 5Dunk
  • 3CucurellaBooked at 45mins
  • 12MwepuSubstituted forMarchat 61'minutes
  • 10Mac Allister
  • 25Caicedo
  • 11Trossard
  • 9MaupaySubstituted forSarmientoat 85'minutes
  • 18Welbeck

Substitutes

  • 13Groß
  • 14Lallana
  • 17Alzate
  • 20March
  • 23Steele
  • 24Duffy
  • 57Offiah
  • 58Ferguson
  • 60Sarmiento

Southampton

Formation 4-4-2

  • 44Forster
  • 21LivramentoSubstituted forPerraudat 37'minutes
  • 35Bednarek
  • 22Salisu
  • 2Walker-Peters
  • 11Redmond
  • 8Ward-Prowse
  • 6Romeu
  • 23TellaSubstituted forS Armstrongat 66'minutes
  • 10Adams
  • 7LongSubstituted forBrojaat 79'minutes

Substitutes

  • 4Lyanco
  • 9A Armstrong
  • 13Caballero
  • 15Perraud
  • 17S Armstrong
  • 18Broja
  • 24Elyounoussi
  • 27Diallo
  • 43Valery
Referee:
Robert Jones
Attendance:
31,335

Match Stats

Home TeamBrightonAway TeamSouthampton
Possession
Home49%
Away51%
Shots
Home8
Away18
Shots on Target
Home5
Away5
Corners
Home6
Away6
Fouls
Home12
Away7

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Southampton 2.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Brighton and Hove Albion 2, Southampton 2.

  3. Post update

    Offside, Southampton. James Ward-Prowse tries a through ball, but Armando Broja is caught offside.

  4. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Moisés Caicedo (Brighton and Hove Albion) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marc Cucurella with a cross.

  5. Post update

    Foul by Armando Broja (Southampton).

  6. Post update

    Joël Veltman (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  7. Post update

    Che Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  8. Post update

    Foul by Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  9. Post update

    Attempt missed. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left.

  10. Post update

    Attempt missed. Oriol Romeu (Southampton) header from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Stuart Armstrong with a cross.

  11. Substitution

    Substitution, Brighton and Hove Albion. Jeremy Sarmiento replaces Neal Maupay.

  12. Post update

    Attempt missed. Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) left footed shot from the centre of the box is too high.

  13. Post update

    Kyle Walker-Peters (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Pascal Groß (Brighton and Hove Albion).

  15. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.

  16. Post update

    Corner, Brighton and Hove Albion. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.

  17. Post update

    Foul by Nathan Redmond (Southampton).

  18. Post update

    Alexis Mac Allister (Brighton and Hove Albion) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  19. Substitution

    Substitution, Southampton. Armando Broja replaces Shane Long.

  20. Post update

    VAR Decision: No Goal Brighton and Hove Albion 2-2 Southampton.

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Comments

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192 comments

  • Comment posted by Grumpy_Haggis, at 16:32 24 Apr

    Wonderful, any time a good player comes through at a non glamourous club, the media try and tout them for a bigger team. This lack of respect for any team outside the big 6 is elitism and demeaning.

    • Reply posted by cunning plan, at 16:37 24 Apr

      cunning plan replied:
      I share your sentiments; it is disgraceful.

  • Comment posted by dlions, at 16:03 24 Apr

    Can we all agree that Ward-Prowse needs to be at the World Cup this year....

    • Reply posted by KellogsKeegan, at 16:26 24 Apr

      KellogsKeegan replied:
      And no Pickford in goal!

  • Comment posted by Wiggy83, at 16:53 24 Apr

    Fair play to Saints, they were much the better team in the 2nd half, their fans were louder and Ward-Prowse was the best player. Shame we couldn't build upon our two goal lead but still hopeful of finishing above Palace. Southampton should be confident of finishing at least 40 places above Pompey!

    • Reply posted by Treasureisle, at 19:06 24 Apr

      Treasureisle replied:
      If their fans were louder than Brighton, god knows how quiet they must have been. Pathetic.

  • Comment posted by Mark, at 15:59 24 Apr

    BBC, any chance you could put those player ratings options beneath the live text and stats, the latter of which are of far more interest to anyone over the age of fourteen.

    • Reply posted by ND Know, at 16:16 24 Apr

      ND Know replied:
      Probably 12!

  • Comment posted by Roy Simmons, at 16:17 24 Apr

    Southgate s biggest mistake in Euros shoot out was in not having JWP on the pitch.

    • Reply posted by ordinary footie fan, at 17:27 24 Apr

      ordinary footie fan replied:
      No, Southgate’s biggest mistake in the Euros was managing.

  • Comment posted by GreatCharacter, at 16:12 24 Apr

    JWP is my lad's favourite footballer, now... Eating up grass, excellent service for his teammates, deadball expert. Reminds me of Becks.

    Even though the guy steals the show with his free kicks, I always remind my son that he's an excellent teammate, doesn't give up, and has a great attitude.

    Penandes, take note.

    • Reply posted by ordinary footie fan, at 17:01 24 Apr

      ordinary footie fan replied:
      Leads by example, that’s why he was made captain.

  • Comment posted by wemarchon, at 15:58 24 Apr

    What a player James Ward-Prowse is.

    That’s a bit better Saints 👍

  • Comment posted by Finkelstein, at 16:57 24 Apr

    What a player Ward-Prowse is. When ever he takes free kick he represents a clear and present danger and yet again delivered. His goal from open play was also an absolute cracker. Saints will be disappointed they didn't win after such a great comeback.

  • Comment posted by ARHReading, at 15:59 24 Apr

    Looks like a good game with two evenly matched sides. They can do it all again next season.

    • Reply posted by The Spin Doctor, at 16:44 24 Apr

      The Spin Doctor replied:
      A PL team’s pre season is usually from late June to mid August, lasting about a month and half, close to two months at most. If that is the case, then why has Southampton’s current pre season end up lasting almost six months? Wonder what is the world record for the longest pre-season in football is?
      Guinness World Records could you provide an answer?

  • Comment posted by RR, at 15:58 24 Apr

    I'm rubbish at football but I'd like a free kick masterclass from Ward-Prowse. He's amazing at them

  • Comment posted by strawberry, at 19:35 24 Apr

    As a Brighton fan, we regularly have players having a good game and then they are touted as targets for the "bankrupt 6". Respect to Ward-Prowse as not only consistently good, but keeping with a good team rather than getting blinded by glitz and clamour for silly wages. Two great goals for him today.

    • Reply posted by ChilcoSaint, at 21:27 24 Apr

      ChilcoSaint replied:
      Well said, it gets so boring that clubs like ours continually have their best players talked about as fodder for the richer clubs. The only attraction for the Liverpools and the Manchester clubs for the likes of JWP is the money. James, contrary to what some say, wouldn’t thrive at a bigger club because he plays best when he is on the field every minute of every game.

  • Comment posted by EPSeagull, at 16:08 24 Apr

    Should’ve won today by the sounds of it but to be sat mid table in the top division with other mid table top division specialists like Southampton I’ll take thank you very much.

    • Reply posted by topo, at 16:47 24 Apr

      topo replied:
      Safe and mid table definitely a step in the right direction. Soton so up and down, didn’t turn up against Burnley but put a shift in here. Damned inconsistent.

  • Comment posted by cartercooldancer, at 17:32 24 Apr

    Just got back from the game. Classic game of two halves. Southampton were excellent second half. Without their talisman there would've been no revival. For us Brighton fans, we bemoan a lack of cutting edge but we live in hope we find that in the transfer window.

  • Comment posted by hightower, at 16:19 24 Apr

    UTA

  • Comment posted by steggsy, at 16:49 24 Apr

    Made at Soton and hope he stays. I wish the others would start to pull their fingers out. Frustrating as ever.

  • Comment posted by SherbertDipper, at 16:04 24 Apr

    Steady result, need some investment for next season! COYS!

    • Reply posted by steggsy, at 16:51 24 Apr

      steggsy replied:
      We're not going to get any, the owners have almost guaranteed it. Wouldn't be surprised if Ralph resigns. He's done wonders but no back up.

  • Comment posted by MoyeT, at 16:04 24 Apr

    JWP is just inevitable

    • Reply posted by topo, at 16:52 24 Apr

      topo replied:
      Sadly for Southampton, they are a ‘selling’ Club, every year it seems their best player(s) are offloaded. Good at bringing through talent though. Probably the only way to survive against the Billionaires Clubs.....

  • Comment posted by Owls49, at 18:20 24 Apr

    Good match, both teams safe, well done.

  • Comment posted by Chip chops, at 22:13 24 Apr

    I was at the game today and when we (Brighton) gave away the free kick, a guy behind me shouted- “Oh noooo. Ward-Prowse loves these.
    And the guy in front put his head in his hands and said that’s 2-1 before he even picked the ball up for the free kick.

    #Give him a chance for England👍

  • Comment posted by seagull72, at 16:02 24 Apr

    Draw specialists do it again. C’mon, Albion, for crying out loud.

    • Reply posted by topo, at 16:54 24 Apr

      topo replied:
      Safe. Some years you’d be grateful for that, not looking at the bottom three until the last day of the season....