Maupay makes Saints mopey
STRIKER HITS SAINTS WITH ANOTHER LATE, LATE LEVELLER
NEAL MAUPAY proved yet again ‘it ain’t over till the French striker swings’.
Brighton’s late-goal specialist struck with his clock-beating best of the season to rescue a precious point for the Seagulls in the 98th minute.
It was all too much for Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, who launched a furious tirade against his own keeper Alex Mccarthy – blaming him for “stupidity” in not informing the bench he was injured.
Maupay’s goal was far later than his 89th-minute leveller that earned a point against West Ham in midweek and even nearer the final whistle than his previous goal, a mere 92nd-minute equaliser against Palace in September.
This one was so advanced that Brighton fans had already started contemplating a miserable journey home after being told over the tannoy that their trains were all cancelled.
“One-nil and you’re walking home!” sang smug Saints fans until Maupay swung a right boot in the penalty area and suddenly the chant was out of date.
The goal was deserved and while manager Graham Potter’s side may still be winless after 10 league matches – a record-equalling sequence for the club in the top flight – their response to Armando Broja’s opener was brave even though it took too long to build.
Down to 10 men when Leandro Trossard was carried off on a stretcher, Brighton became more urgent in injury time and when they won a free-kick with eight of the 10 added minutes gone, they threw bodies forward.
Jakub Moder’s free-kick struck the wall, but when the substitute had a second shot, Maupay intervened, cushioning the ball before swivelling to fire past Mccarthy.
Hasenhuttl was furious that Mccarthy had not admitted to a hamstring injury the manager claimed had restricted the keeper’s movement in the late stages, although it was hard to see how he would have stopped Maupay’s powerful effort even if he had been fully mobile.
“When we are so stupid, we do not deserve three points,” he said.
“The way we played until then, we did deserve them.
“If you have a keeper who is not 100 per cent fit in that moment and cannot jump and then you send someone back into the line, then the rebound that comes out is normally offside.
“But Prowsey’s [ James Ward-prowse] there, he has a free shot at goal. This is something we cannot accept.
“There must be a message, ‘I cannot jump’ and we can make a change. Alex must be more professional than that.”
Potter claimed he was unaware Mccarthy was injured and instead lauded his French musketeer, Maupay.
“He just doesn’t give up,” said Potter, who had made three substitutions by the time Trossard injured his elbow.
“He has so much resilience that he always fights for the team and always believes another chance will come.
“He has so much belief.”