Southampton boss Russell Martin and Brighton head coach Fabian Hurzeler squared up to each other at the end of a bad-tempered, controversial 1-1 draw at the Amex Stadium. Both bosses accused each other of a lack of respect following a match which saw Saints denied a priceless victory by a VAR decision in the second half.
The manager decided to say something about respect, said Martin, who was clearly unimpressed with his opposite numbers touchline antics. Saints denied by controversial VAR call in draw at BrightonLive Premier League table | Watch free PL highlightsGet Sky Sports or stream with NOWIve never known a manager try to get as many players booked as that.
Respect is reciprocal. Its mutual. Flynn Downes had just cancelled out Kaoru Mitomas opener when Cameron Archer converted a cross from Saints substitute Ryan Fraser. A check of more than four minutes eventually decided Archer was onside but then penalised Adam Armstrong, who was offside but did not touch the ball, for interfering with play.
The official explanation was that Armstrong was in an offside position and deemed to be impacting Brighton goalkeeper Bart Verbruggens ability to play the ball. After 13 minutes of added time, during which Brightons Simon Adingra hit a post, both benches gave each other a piece of their mind.
The bosses had also been booked during the match; Hurzeler for waving an imaginary yellow card in the first half and Martin for his reaction to more protesting from the Brighton head coach after a foul by Downes, who was on a yellow card and probably lucky to still be on the pitch.
Questioned about Downes not receiving a second yellow, Hurzeler said: Thats exactly what I said at half-time and then he makes another foul. Theres no explanation for that and thats something that changes the game.
It changes the game in Bournemouth [when Brightons Baleba was sent off], in the other direction. Today, it could change the game in our direction, but you have to be very careful what you say here in England because also my yellow card is something that I cant understand and I have to adapt to this here.
Asked about his confrontation with Martin at full-time, the German said: For me, its just important to have respect for each other. Its so important to respect each other, how you talk to each other on the sideline, I think thats the most important and thats how I get educated.
Martin fumes at disallowed Archer goalMartin was also unhappy at the decision to disallow Archers second-half goal. He told Sky Sports: Im just fed up with talking about decisions – I just dont want to be that guy.
I really respect how difficult the referee and assistant referees decision is on the pitch so I understand they may be getting it wrong because in the heat of the moment theres so much going on and its really difficult, but then I really struggle to accept that because the on-pitch decision holds a lot of weight and its not really clear and obvious, when I think it is because Ive been told Adam Armstrongs run affects the goalkeeper.
Ive seen it a lot already and Ive had a few messages about it as well. We were told it was affecting Van Heckes ability to get the ball which it doesnt. The ball goes behind Adam and if Adams run had moved Verbruggen at all from his position to deal with Arma (Archer), I would understand the decision but he hasnt.
He hasnt moved, the ball goes behind Adam and I cant see how its affected the goalkeeper, I really cant. He actually takes a step this way away from Adam so for me, in understanding the game and playing it a lot, the interpretation, and this is the point of VAR, I would rather the guy makes a mistake on the pitch and we can all go no problem afterwards but when they take so much time to look at it, in the same way we had a penalty decision against us on Sunday at 2-1 up [in the 3-2 defeat to Liverpool] with Adam Armstrong, which I still think is a penalty, and me and Howard (Webb) will argue for ages about it, which we have, this is like a problem when you have so much time to look at it.
The interpretation is so subjective still, so its still human error in my opinion because they watch it and they make a mistake. Now the mistake is its not clear and obvious enough to correct so even if what Im saying is right, which I think it is, and people who have played the game probably understand it, now its not clear and obvious enough to correct because the on-field decision carries weight so Im annoyed about it as you can probably tell.
Im frustrated, I think anyone would be but Im really happy with the performance and Im really proud of my players. Minimal decision but its harshEx-Brighton midfielder Steve Sidwell speaking to Sky Sports: If youre a Southampton fan, staff or a player youd be very disappointed.
I get what theyre saying in terms of Armstrongs making a run and whatever his motion is, and its a motion where the ball is behind him, so hes trying to backheel it here, he knows hes run too far in front, hes trying to backheel it.
If he does get any connection to that ball it will impact Verburggen of where he then goes. So Verbruggen is actually waiting for some kind of connection from Armstrong there so you can see his eyes there because hes watching the ball exactly when it goes by so it does impact Verbruggens decision-making I expect until the very, very end when the ball goes in the back of the net.
Sky Sports Izzy Christensen: Its an incredibly bitter pill to swallow for Southampton. I do feel for them because this epitomises the way they got back into the game. There seemed to be a real hunger and energy about the way they played and were talking fine margins.
Cameron Archers onside but its Armstrong whos marginally offside and thats why the decision has been given that way, but the balls behind him and he makes an attempt to try and backheel it. Its minimal but its harsh.
It took them a while to get to that decision and if youre in that Southampton dressing room right now its a bitter pill.
