U23 Report: Brighton 1-1 Saints

The hosts took the lead into the break thanks to Steven Alzate, but Saints rallied in the second-half and Armani Little's header was enough to earn a share of the spoils against a strong Brighton side, which included Leonardo Ulloa.

The visitors began confidently, weathering early pressure before growing into the contest to create chances of their own.

But it was the hosts who had the first opportunity, when Ulloa saw his shot from close range charged down by Jake Hesketh.

Tyreke Johnson was prompted to roam forwards by an incisive pass from Michael Obafemi in the seventh minute, although Connor Goldson was across well to clear.

Hesketh was finding pockets of space, receiving the ball on the half turn, and inviting others to journey forward. The 21-year-old linked well with Obafemi in the 20th minute, but he couldn’t get a telling touch.

Saints were in the ascendancy midway through the half and could have been ahead when Callum Slattery latched on to a loose ball in midfield and forced a fine low save stopper Tim Krul.

Another chance fell the way of Nathan Tella shortly before the break, with Hesketh the provider once more. The forward tussled with a defender, before dancing around another and looping a ball central, where Tella headed in to the hands of Krul.

At the other end, a good chance fell to Seagulls forward Henrik Bjordal just before half-time, but his tame effort was saved comfortably by Jack Rose. That proved, however, to be the lift the home side needed.

And the visitors’ resistance was broken on the stroke of half time. Viktor Gyokeres stood a ball up to the back post, where it was met by Steven Alzate and inadvertently turned in to his own net by Alfie Jones.

Saints continued to probe for a leveller in the second-half, with half-chances for Obafemi, before they got their reward on 73 minutes when Jake Vokins's corner delivery was met by the head of Little.