Brighton hold Southampton as Fraser Forster error lets lead slip

Glenn Murray's header earned Brighton a 1-1 draw with Southampton in a low-octane South Coast derby at the Amex Stadium.

Southampton took an early lead when Steven Davis headed home after James Ward-Prowse's excellent free-kick came back off the post.

But Mauricio Pellegrino's men could not press home their advantage and left Brighton a route back into the game - Anthony Knockaert went close just before the break but nobody could turn in his low cross in front of goal.

Seven minutes into the second half Pascal Gross floated a cross over from the right and Glenn Murray's header took a slight touch off Cedric and looped beyond the leaden-footed Fraser Forster.

Both sides pushed for the winner in the final part of the game but both were let down by a lack of a cutting edge in the final third.

It was a surprise to see Brighton not turn to Tomer Hemed as he returned from suspension whilst Southampton missed the injured Mario Lemina.

A thumping challenge on Shane Long, for which Gaetan Bong was lucky to receive just a yellow card, enlivened the closing minutes but the draw was a fair result.

Brighton's fight will make sure they're safe. Brighton started the game really, really poorly. They were flat and sluggish and Southampton took full advantage. However they rode it out and ensured that they only went into the break one down. In the second-half it was a different story as Gross, Anthony Knockaert and Jose Izquierdo took the game to Southampton. They are now unbeaten in their last four at home in the league and they move back level with fellow newly promoted side Huddersfield on 12 points. You feel that both will be able to beat the drop this season.

Pascal Gross (Brighton) - Was Gross the signing of the summer? Brighton are believed to have paid around £3 million to Inglostadt to sign the midfielder and so far he has been involved in seven of Brighton's ten Premier League goals, scoring two and assisting five. He moves about the pitch constantly as one of the three behind Murray and he is always looking to make things happen. His delivery is exceptional both from open play and dead-ball scenarios and his presence means that Brighton will always be in matches.

Brighton - Ryan 5, Bruno 6, Duffy 6, Dunk 5, Bong 5, Stephens 4, Propper 6, Knockaert 6, Izquierdo 6, Gross 7, Murray 7. Subs: Brown 5, March 5.

Southampton - Forster 3, Cedric 5, Van Dijk 5, Hoedt 6, Bertrand 4, Davis 6, Romeu 7, Ward-Prowse 5, Tadic 5, Boufal 5, Gabbiadini 4. Subs: Redmond 5, Hojbjerg 5, Long 5.

7' - GOAL! BRIGHTON 0-1 SOUTHAMPTON (DAVIS) What an outrageous hit from Ward-Prowse. It's swerving and dipping and it smashes the post. It comes back to Davis and he heads it into the empty net.

42' - First proper chances for Brighton! First the ball is swung in from the left and Knockaert does brilliantly to keep it alive and send it back across goal. However there is no-one there. Then the ball is chipped in by Knockaert and Duffy heads over. He's furious and thinks it should be a corner.

52' - GOAL! BRIGHTON 1-1 SOUTHAMPTON (MURRAY) Oh that's not great from Forster. Looping ball over from the right and Murray heads it towards goal. Forster is slow to react and he can't keep it out.

62' - Handbags between Murray and Hoedt and Swarbrick books them both. Murray pushed Hoedt over and then there's some afters.

90+1' - Bong goes into the book for a crunching challenge. Can Southampton get something from this late free-kick? The answer is no.

Only David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne (6) have more Premier League assists this season than Pascal Groß (5).

Brighton are now unbeaten in their last 4 Premier League home games.

Both of Steven Davis' goals for Southampton this season have been away from home.