SAINTS ARE SO GRITTY IN PINK..

Jownes neds back Seagulls VAR denies Archer winner

- NEIL McLEMAN

BRIGHTON sneaked up to second in the Premier League and Southampton got a first away point of the season - but both were left frustrated by this stalemate.

Kaoru Mitoma gave Albion the lead as the hosts dominated the first half on the south coast.

But Flynn Downes equalised after the break - and Cameron Archer was denied a late winner by a controversial VAR call which infuriated Saints boss Russell Martin.

The point still saw Fabian Hurzeler's side climb a point above Arsenal and Chelsea and ahead of Manchester City on their head-to-head record to become Liverpool's closest challengers going into the weekend.