RUSSELL MARTIN was left seething after Southampton were denied only a second win of the season as VAR caused chaos once again.
Saints were in dreamland when Cameron Archer looked as though he had slotted home a 67th-minute winner to finally provide the club with a glimmer of hope.
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It came after Flynn Downes had cancelled out Kaoru Mitoma’s opener for the high-flying Seagulls who had the prospect of soaring into the heady heights of second-place in the table with a draw or a win.
But you can always rely on VAR to inflict more misery on a Southampton side who look all but down before the advent calendars have been opened.
A lengthy check by VAR ref Jarred Gillett which involved lots of zooming in and out and lines resulted in the goal being chalked off for offside, leaving Martin and co gobsmacked.
It was ruled out not because Archer was offside but because Adam Armstrong was offside and deemed to be interfering with play as the cross came in.
The cameras panned to Martin who was effing and blinding on the touchline with Saints rock bottom of the table.
He continued his fury after the full-time whistle when he had angry words with Brighton gaffer Fabian Hurzeler.
Injured keeper Aaron Ramsdale hit out at the decision on Twitter, writing: “You can not be serious.”
After the game, Martin raged that he had sympathy for on-field officials but “struggled to accept” errors from those in Stockley Park.
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Hurzeler added: “I think it’s about respect. You should ask him [Martin] about it.”
It’s worth remembering his Southampton strugglers would stay at the foot of the table no matter what happened at the Amex last night.
It was a huge let off for Brighton who are now sitting pretty in second, bang on level with Manchester City on goal difference.
Brighton’s model as a football club has always been revolutionary and refreshing in equal measure, but last night begs the question of whether they have got the minerals to become real little contenders?
Stats driven recruitment is the beating heart of their success while their young and ambitious manager, Fabian Hurzeler has produced an exceptional start to the season, but consistency will be key.
With 23 points from their first 13 games, this remains Brighton’s best start to a top-flight season.
And since the beginning of October, only leaders Liverpool have won more points.
As expected, the hosts burst out the traps, with Georginio Rutter teeing up Mitoma, who would have lashed in the opener had it not been for Joe Lumley’s finger tips.
Rutter was back for more with his twinkle toes twisting inside and out of three pink shirts before he flicked a shot just wide.
It was no surprise that the French 22-year-old produced Brighton’s best chance as he cut inside and drilled a shot off the far post.
Brighton were building and got their deserved opener on 28 minutes as Tariq Lamptey pulled away from Taylor Harwood-Bellis to tee up Mitoma who headed home.
It was dreadful defending though as Saints allowed the ball to bounce around the penalty spot while the defenders shirked their duties once again.
The cameras panned to a dejected Martin who was shaking his head as the goal replayed on his ipad.
He should have played Candy Crush on his ipad instead of looking at his side’s abysmal defending.
Meanwhile Mitoma, another hidden gem unearthed by Tony Bloom, is now one goal short of Shinji Okazaki’s 14-goal record as the top Japanese scorer in the top-flight.
Chants of “You’re going down with the Palace” rang out from the boisterous North Stand, but it only riled up Martin and co.
The Saints boss shouted “f***ing come on” just after a huge chance for Archer who latched onto an inch-perfect Yukinari Sugawara cross before shinning it over from eight-yards.
Brighton looked as though they were bossing it again after the break as Lamptey and Welbeck linking up before Matt O’Reily fired in a cross, but Mitoma was unable to make the crucial touch.
The hosts were stunned though when out of absolutely nothing Downes hammered the ball home on 58 minutes.
The leveller was fired in on the edge of the box after the ball ricocheted out to the Saints midfielder after Armstrong and Ryan Manning both had shots blocked.
Southampton couldn’t believe it when Ryan Fraser’s cross found Archer six-yards out and he slotted into the bottom corner, sparking mayhem in the away end on 67 minutes before the VAR misery.
Brighton hit back strongly with Rutter nearly making it 2-1 with an outrageous bicycle kick from Welbeck’s cross but they couldn’t find a second.
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