BRIGHTON SOTON
...AND SEAGULLS HAVE GOT HUMP WITH VAR AGAIN
BRIGHTON fans vented their anger at VAR after being convinced that Stockley Park had robbed them for a second week running.
Unfortunately, Seagulls boss Graham Potter could not agree with their sentiments – despite his dejection at tasting his first defeat in the Amex hotseat.
It was a very different story in the away end where the travelling army sang the praises of Moussa Djenepo, who scored a cracker in the 55th minute moments after arriving as sub to set up Southampton for their first points of the season.
Nathan Redmond pounced at the death to settle the issue.
The home supporters’ fury centred on two first-half incidents. First, a straight red card for Romanian hothead Florin Andone had them turning the air blue in the 30th minute.
And it was no different nine minutes later when Lewis Dunk’s header was disallowed. That tipped the masses over the edge.
But as with Andone’s dismissal for his ugly studs-up lunge on Yan Valery, the decision was bang on again. Dan Burn was offside before
■ barging into Saints keeper Angus Dunn.
Potter had no complaints, despite having seen Brighton denied victory against West Ham seven days earlier by technology.
He said: “Sometimes you need the margins to go your way – but they didn’t today. It was an even, hard game, even after the red card. “Andone has apologised. He didn’t meant to hurt anyone and I’m pleased their lad was OK.
“As for the disallowed goal, I’m told it was offside. The trouble is whenever the VAR sign goes up, everyone in the stadium gets tense.”
With his first five touches Djenepo, Saints’ £ 14mil l i on summer signing, 21, picked up possession, cut inside before curling a peach into the far corner.
Rubbing salt into the Seagulls’ wounds, the excellent Redmond’s tap-in wrapped up the points in added time.
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl’s said: “Moussa’s first touches were unbelievable. He had a big impact on the game.
“He was certainly more special today than when doing his initiation song after dinner. He tried hard with his singing... but I think he’s better on the pitch.
“The red card was not in question. I’m happy Yan isn’t injured, it was a horrible foul.
“We’re pleased but know we can do better – especially at 1-0 up. It was not easy to find the balance between pressing and sitting back.”