Brighton & Hove Albion moved up to second position in the Premier League rankings on Friday after a 1-1 draw with Southampton at home.
Kaoru Mitoma’s header in the first half was neutralised by a goal from Flynn Downes just before the hour.
Brighton and champions Manchester City are locked at 23 points going into Sunday’s matchup with leaders Liverpool.
Liverpool is eight points ahead. The visitors choose Joe Lumley as their third starting custodian of the season, which immediately put pressure on him as the home team got out to a quick start.
Mitoma had the game’s first excellent opportunity as Brighton swiftly broke out from defence in the seventh minute.
Lumley was far off his line, though, and the Japanese winger’s shot just missed the right-hand post.In the sixteenth minute, Georgino sprinted in off the wing once more before crashing his attempt off the far post.
Georgino again attempted to cut across the penalty box from right to left two minutes later, but his attempt just missed.
When Brighton’s pressure paid off, Mitoma’s well-placed header from a bouncing Tariq Lamptey cross ultimately beat Lumley, ending his Premier League debut clean sheet after just 29 minutes.
After being reinvigorated in the second half, Southampton equalised in the 59th minute after Adam Armstrong’s two successive attempts were stopped.
Downes, a midfielder, smashed in the rebound from the second attempt with ease.
Cameron Archer’s goal for Saints was controversially disallowed for offside eight minutes later as Adam Armstrong was found to have interfered by flicking his heel at the ball as it passed behind him while in an offside position.
Brighton gained the point necessary to climb to second position in the standings as a result.
