Moussa Djenepo and Nathan Redmond were on target as Southampton clinched a 2-0 victory at 10-man Brighton. An exquisite 55th-minute strike by Mali international Djenepo and stoppage-time effort by Redmond proved to be enough for Saints as they won their first match of the campaign after Florin Andone had earlier been sent off for the home team.
Neal Maupay had an early effort for Brighton saved by Angus Gunn before the Frenchman headed another effort wide.
The Seagulls were the better team in the opening exchanges and the lively Leandro Trossard set up Martin Montoya whose header was narrowly wide of the far post.
However, Graham Potter’s team were reduced to 10 men just past the half-hour mark when Andone was shown a straight red card for an awful challenge on Yan Valery who was fortunate to escape serious injury.
Saints created their first clear-cut opening in the 34th minute but Mat Ryan saved Redmond’s low drive while Brighton had a goal ruled out by VAR after Lewis Dunk had headed home.
The home team went close to breaking the deadlock soon after the interval when Trossard curled a shot from the edge of the box wide but it was Southampton that took the lead 10 minutes into the second half, Djenepo curling his shot past Ryan.
The goal lifted Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team who almost doubled their advantage in the 64th minute when Redmond curled a low effort wide after dispossessing Davy Propper.
The closest Brighton came to grabbing an equaliser came with four minutes remaining when substitute Jurgen Locadia’s shot hit the outside of a post but Redmond wrapped up the three points for the visitors when he slotted home Sofiane Boufal’s cross late on.
