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The History of Brighton and Hove Albion v Southampton

Despite Sky Sports desperation to paint Brighton v Southampton as some sort of local rivalry, there has never really been any history between the Albion and the Saints going back over nearly 100 games.

The closest it has come to a rivalry was when both sides were battling for promotion from the third tier in 2011 and Gus Poyet seemed to enjoy stoking it up as such. Poyet's side of course won the title that season, with Nigel Adkins Southampton coming up as runners up.

Poyet's first game in charge came against the Saints and as such the fixture has an interesting past for Brighton managers. We went into that game looking in deep relegation trouble following the sacking of Russell Slade but, in a sign of what was to come under the enigmatic Uruguayan, comprehensively won 3-1 at St Mary's thanks to a Glenn Murray brace and one from Andrew Crofts.

For Mark McGhee, it was the complete opposite on our visit in 2006. He seemingly went completely mad on the coach there, throwing off Michel Kuipers and starting Florent Chaigneau in goal in his place. Youth team products Joel Lynch and Joe Gatting made their debuts and Kerry Mayo started in central midfield - and only bloody scored the consolation in a 2-1 defeat. The Albion never really recovered from that bizarre team selection and ended up relegated at the end of the season. McGhee was gone shortly after.

While squad rotation may seem like a new idea, the Albion were actually pioneering it against Southampton as long ago as 1913. With a big FA Cup game to come against Everton a couple of days later, manager Jack Robson played his entire reserve side in a Southern League Cup tie against Southampton at the Goldstone.

The stiffs surprised everyone by hammering the Saints 4-1 and Robson decided to play them in every round from that point on. They ended up making the final, only to be beaten by an experienced Queens Park Rangers side at The Den.

 
Football League P W D L F A
Top tier 9 2 4 3 7 11
Second tier 10 1 3 6 9 20
Third tier 8 1 2 5 6 5
Third tier South 14 4 2 8 15 22
FA Cup 3 0 0 3 0 4
League Cup 1 0 0 1 0 3
Total 45 8 11 26 37 65
             
Southern League P W D L F A
Southern League One 30 14 5 11 40 46
Southern League Cup 5 3 2 0 13 5
Total 35 17 7 11 44 51
             
Wartime League P W D L F A
WWII League South 12 5 2 5 34 30
Total 12 5 2 5 34 30
             

OVERALL

 92 30 20 42 115 146

Brighton 1-1 Southampton Sun 29/10/17 / Top tier / Amex Stadium / 30.564
Glenn Murray
Brighton 3-0 Southampton Mon 02/01/12 / 2nd tier / Amex Stadium / 20,773
Jake Forster-Caskey, Matt Sparrow (2),
Just three days after losing 2-0 at bottom of the table Coventry without mustering a shot on goal, the Albion comprehensively beat promotion chasing Southampton
Southampton 3-0 Brighton Sat 19/11/11 / 2nd tier / St Mary's / 31,812
Brighton 1-2 Southampton Sat 23/04/11 / 3rd tier / Withdean Stadium / 8,169
Ashley Barnes
Champions Brighton lose at home for the first time in the 2010-11 season in their penultimate game at Withdean as Nigel Adkins Saints go a step closer to joining Albion in gaining promotion
Southampton 0-0 Brighton Tue 23/11/10 / 3rd tier / St Mary's  / 26,237
Brighton 2-2 Southampton Thu 01/04/10 / 3rd tier / Withdean Stadium / 7,784
Elliott Bennett, Ashley Barnes
Former Albion captain Dean Hammond scores for Southampton, running the length of the South Stand touchline to celebrate and gaining instant villain status in the eyes of the Albion support.
Southampton 1-3 Brighton Sun 15/11/09 / 3rd tier / St Mary's / 21,932
Glenn Murray (2), Andrew Crofts
Gus Poyet's first game in charge of Brighton ends with a shock 3-1 victory away at Southampton in front of the Sky cameras.
Brighton 0-2 Southampton Sat 08/04/06 / 2nd tier / Withdean Stadium / 7,999
Southampton 2-1 Brighton Mon 02/01/06 / 2nd tier / St Mary's / 19,101
Kerry Mayo
Joel Lynch and Joe Gatting make their debuts and Mark McGhee chucks Michel Kuipers off the coach en route to Southampton as the Albion lose 2-1 on their first visit to St Mary's
Brighton 0-3 Southampton Tue 11/09/01 / League Cup R2 / Withdean Stadium / 6,489
Brighton 0-2 Southampton Sat 08/03/86 / FA Cup QF / Goldstone Ground / 25,069
Two goals inside the first 30 minutes set Southampton on their way to FA Cup victory in front of the biggest Goldstone crowd of the season. Saints would lose to eventual winners Liverpool in the semis.
Southampton 0-0 Brighton Tue 05/04/83 / Top tier / The Dell / 18,253
Brighton 0-1 Southampton Mon 27/12/82 / Top tier / Goldstone Ground / 21,794
Brighton 1-1 Southampton Sat 03/04/82 / Top tier / Goldstone Ground / 20,977
Neil McNab
Southampton 0-1 Brighton Tue 08/12/81 / Top tier / The Dell / 22,128
Andy Ritchie, Steve Gatting
Steve Foster keeps Kevin Keegan quiet to press home his claims for an England spot as the Albion win at the Dell for the first time in 26 years thanks to goals from Andy Ritchie and Steve Gatting.
Brighton 2-0 Southampton Tue 24/02/81 / Top tier / Goldstone Ground / 23,715
Gary Williams, Giles Stille
Southampton 3-1 Brighton Sat 06/09/80 / Top tier / The Dell / 22,225
Gordon Smith
Southampton 5-1 Brighton Sat 09/02/80 / Top tier / The Dell / 21,853
Peter Ward
Brighton 0-0 Southampton Sat 22/09/79 / Top tier / Goldstone Ground / 26,918
Brighton 1-1 Southampton Mon 02/01/78 / 2nd tier / Goldstone Ground / 32,979
Mark Lawrenson
An all ticket Goldstone Ground sees 10 man Albion battle to a 1-1 draw despite having Andy Rollings sent off for two bad fouls; Mark Lawrenson cancelling out Alan Ball's opener.
Southampton 1-1 Brighton Sat 20/08/77 / 2nd tier / The Dell / 24,306
John Ruggiero
Around 5,000 Albion fans make the journey to the Dell for Brighton's first game since promotion back into the second tier and they were rewarded with a 1-1 draw against the Sainta.
Brighton 0-0 Southampton Sat 24/02/62 / 2nd tier / Goldstone Ground / 11,952
Southampton 6-1 Brighton Sat 07/10/61 / 2nd tier / The Dell / 16,314
Bobby Laverick
Brighton 0-1 Southampton Sat 04/02/61 / 2nd tier / Goldstone Ground / 20,640
Southampton 4-2 Brighton Sat 17/09/60 / 2nd tier / The Dell / 19,349
Bobby Laverick, Roy Jennings
Brighton 1-1 Southampton Sat 08/02/58 / 3rd tier South / Goldstone Ground / 17,304
Adrian Thorne
Southampton 5-0 Brighton Sat 28/09/58 / 3rd tier South / The Dell / 4,000
Brighton 1-0 Southampton Sat 23/02/57 / 3rd tier South / Goldstone Ground / 8,213
Roy Jennings
Southampton 1-0 Brighton Sat 13/10/56 / 3rd tier South / The Dell / 22,103
Southampton 1-2 Brighton  Sat 04/02/56 / 3rd tier South / The Dell / 14,895
Peter Harburn (2)
Brighton 5-0 Southampton Sat 24/09/55 / 3rd tier South / Goldstone Ground / 16,169
Glen Wilson, Frankie Howard, Albert Mundy, OG, Denis Foreman
Southampton 3-2 Brighton  Sat 01/01/55 / 3rd tier South / The Dell / 16,164
Bernard Moore, Albert Mundy
Brighton 1-2 Southampton Sat 28/08/54 / 3rd tier South / Goldstone Ground / 22,258
Albert Mundy
Brighton 2-1 Southampton Sat 27/03/54 / 3rd tier South / Goldstone Ground / 31,025
Bert Addinal, Dennis Gordon
The Goldstone hosts its first ever 30,000 plus league crowd as Southampton are defeated 2-1 to maintain the Albion's promotion bid
Southampton 1-0 Brighton Sat 07/11/53 / 3rd tier South / The Dell / 19,579
Brighton 2-0 Southampton Tue 26/12/44 / WWII South / Goldstone Ground / 6,780
Len Townsend, Jock Weir
Southampton 3-2 Brighton Sat 23/12/44 / WWII South / The Dell / 7,000
Joe McDermott, Ernie Reid
Southampton 3-0 Brighton Sat 29/04/44 / WWII South / The Dell / 6,000
Brighton 2-4 Southampton Sat 14/11/43 / WWII South / Goldstone Ground / 15,000
John Shafto. Bert Stephens
Brighton 2-6 Southampton Sat 20/02/43 / WWII South / Goldstone Ground / 3,000
John Shafto, Frank O'Donnell
Southampton 2-2 Brighton Sat 14/11/42 / WWII South / The Dell / 5,800
Bert Stephens, Stan Morgan
Brighton 3-1 Southampton Sat 19/04/41 / WWII South / Goldstone Ground / 2,000
Ron Jones, Don Welsh (2)
Brighton 6-3 Southampton Mon 14/04/41 / WWII South / Goldstone Ground / 4,000
Bert Stephens (3), Don Welsh (2), Jack Balmer
Brighton 3-1 Southampton Sat 08/03/41 / WWII South / Goldstone Ground / 2,500
OG, Welsh (2)
Brighton 0-0 Southampton Sat 12/10/40 / WWII South / Goldstone Ground / 500
Two German air raids took place during this game, meaning that the first half was only 20 minutes long and the second was cut short to 25 minutes. Despite this, the result was allowed to stand!
Brighton 9-4 Southampton Sat 30/12/39 / WWII South / Goldstone Ground / 944
Joe Wilson (3), Bobby Farrell (3), Jock Davie (3)
Southampton 3-2 Brighton Sat 11/11/39 / WWII South / The Dell / 3,000
Stan Ridson, Ernie Marriott
Southampton 1-0 Brighton Sat 31/01/25 / FA Cup R2 / The Dell / 17,795
Southampton 1-0 Brighton Sat 01/10/21 / 3rd tier South / The Dell / 10,500
Brighton 0-3 Southampton Sat 24/09/21 / 3rd tier South  / Goldstone Ground / 13,000
Southampton 1-0 Brighton Wed 23/02/21 / 3rd tier South / The Dell / 8,000
Brighton 1-1 Southampton Sat 05/02/21 / 3rd tier South  / Goldstone Ground / 9,000
Jack Doran
Southampton 3-0 Brighton Sat 14/02/20 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 10,500
Brighton 1-0 Southampton Sat 04/10/19 / Southern 1  / Goldstone Ground / 9,000
Bill Jones
Southampton 4-2 Brighton Sat 10/04/15 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 5,000
Billy Booth, Billy Reed
Brighton 4-0 Southampton Sat 05/12/14 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 2,000
George Coomber, Billy Reed (2), Billy Miller
Southampton 0-0 Brighton Wed 10/09/13 / Southern 1  / The Dell / 5,000
Brighton 1-0 Southampton Wed 03/09/13/ Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 4,500
Bert Longstaff
Southampton 1-1 Brighton Sat 22/02/13 / Southern 1  / The Dell / 7,000
Tom Flannery
Brighton 4-1 Southampton Wed 29/01/13 / Southern Cup R1 Replay / Goldstone Ground / 800
Charlie Matthers, Tom Flannery, Harvey Longstaff (2).
An early example of squad rotation as the Albion fielded a reserve side in this Southern Cup game, with the stiffs doing so well in winning that they played the remainder of the competition, reaching the final
Southampton 1-1 Brighton Mon 09/12/12 / Southern Cup R1  / The Dell / 1,000
Fred Goodwin
Brighton 4-1 Southampton Sat 19/10/12 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 5,500
Charlie Webb (4), Freddie Smart
Southampton 1-3 Brighton Sat 10/02/12 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 5,000
Charlie Webb, Jimmy Smith, Archie Needham
Brighton 6-2 Southampton Wed 15/11/11 / Southern Cup R1 Replay / Goldstone Ground / 3,000
Jimmy Smith (2), Archie Needham (3), Charlie Webb
Brighton 5-0 Southampton Sat 07/10/11 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 4,000
Archie Needham (2), Billy Booth, Charlie Webb (2)
Southampton 1-1 Brighton Wed 13/09/11 / Southern Cup R1 / The Dell / 2,500
Bill Hastings
Brighton 2-0 Southampton Sat 28/01/11 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 7,000
Charlie Webb, Bill Jones
Southampton 1-2 Brighton Sat 24/09/10 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 8,000
Bert Longstaff, Bill Hastings
Southampton 2-1 Brighton Sat 28/01/10 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 7,000
Charlie Webb
Southampton inflict the Albion's only defeat in their final 23 matches as the side go onto claim the Southern League Title
Brighton 0-1 Southampton Sat 15/01/10 / FA Cup R1 / Goldstone Ground / 10,000
Brighton 1-0 Southampton Wed 24/11/09 / Southern Cup R2 / Goldstone Ground / 1,500
George Featherstone
Brighton 2-2 Southampton Sat 23/10/09 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 7,000
Charlie Webb, Harry Middleton
Southampton 4-1 Brighton Mon 12/09/08 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 5,000
Jack Martin
Brighton 1-3 Southampton Wed 07/09/08 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 6,000
Jim Robertson
Brighton 3-2 Southampton Sat 18/03/08 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 2,000
Jack Hall, Arthur Holme, Bert Longstaff,
Southampton 3-2 Brighton Sat 21/09/07 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 8,000
Jack Hall, Duncan Ronaldson
Southampton 0-1 Brighton Sat 16/03/07 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 4,000
Jack Lewis
Brighton 2-0 Southampton Sat 10/11/06 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 6,000
Tom Allsopp, Jack Lewis
Southampton 1-0 Brighton Sat 17/02/06 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 1,000
Brighton 1-3 Southampton Sat  14/10/05 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 6,000
Harry Kent
Brighton 1-0 Southampton Sat 28/01/05 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 6,000
Ben Hulse
Southampton 1-1 Brighton Sat 01/10/04 / Southern 1 / The Dell / 6,000
Billy Roberts
Brighton 1-3 Southampton Sat 19/03/04 / Southern 1 / Goldstone Ground / 8,200
Ben Garfield
Southampton 5-1 Brighton Sat 21/11/03 / Southern 1 / The Dell / "small"
Billy Roberts