Seagulls draw Saints in Carabao Cup
Well, you’d struggle to have a duller Carabao Cup draw if you tried. Brighton and Hove Albion will face Southampton in the second round of the competition.
The tie will take place at the Amex on the week commencing August 27th, sandwiched in between Premier League games away game at Liverpool and the home meeting with Fulham.
It’s good news for all those supporters who have complained of the “closed shop” system that means they can never get enough points to go to Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea or Arsenal away.
Demand is likely to be at rock bottom for the visit of the Saints and 15 loyalty points will be available, leaving no excuses for those who need to build their points up not to attend.
There has been no announcement on ticket prices, but if Paul Barber has any sense he shouldn’t be pricing it at more than a couple of quid.
The Albion and Southampton have met once before in the League Cup back in 2001. It was quite a big deal before the game – the Albion were taking on Premier League opponents for the first time in seven years, Brighton boss Micky Adams was an ex-Saints player and the visitors to Withdean had a long-standing interest in Bobby Zamora.
Unfortunately, the game became a bit of a side event a few hours before kick off when a couple of planes were flown into the World Trade Centre.
Brighton lost 3-0 that day to goals from James Beattie and an Anders Svensson brace but nobody at the Theatre of Trees was overly bothered with most glue to radios for news from the United States. Let’s hope there isn’t a repeat before this one.
Both league meetings between the two ended level last season. There was a 1-1 draw at the Amex in which Glenn Murray’s header cancelled out Steve Davis’ early opener.
Murray was also in target in the return game at St Mary’s which also finished 1-1, scoring from the penalty spot with Jack Stephens equalising in the second half.
The tie is the only all Premier League game of the round. Brighton exited the competition after a similar draw last season with a 1-0 defeat away at Plucky Little Bournemouth in the third round.
