'Don't live in a cave' - Potter gives Ward-Prowse free-kick verdict

The Saints captain scored his fourth direct free-kick of the season to put him within four of David Beckham’s all-time Premier League record (18).

Ward-Prowse halved the deficit right before half-time, after Potter’s side had raced into a two goal lead courtesy of Danny Welbeck and a Mohammed Salisu own goal.

The 27-year-old completed his brace after the break to draw Saints level, with neither side finding a winner to see a second draw between the two sides this season.

"They don't live in a cave. They are aware of him, they are aware of the dangers,” Potter joked, when asked if Ward-Prowse’s free-kicks are something they discussed in the build-up.

James Ward-Prowse celebrates scoring at Brighton (Pic: PA)

“But this is football, Southampton do it well. They play vertically, they win the second balls and they use the strikers well and get players in the inside channels, so you have to defend them.

“And of course we know their threat from set pieces. I thought we had done well in the first half and deserved to be 2-0 up at half time, but that goal gave them a lift."

Saints could have found themselves further behind at the break, and almost certainly did not deserve to still be in the game based on performance alone.

But Ward-Prowse’s magic gave them a chance, which he himself then helped the side capitalise on.

"We were frustrated with the first goal. It was a bit of a chicken and egg scenario going on,” Potter added.

“I thought we had more moments than them in the first half, and we probably deserved more than a 2-1 lead.

"But it affected them positively getting that goal and us negatively. It made the game a bit more open and was probably more to Southampton's liking.

“At the start of the second half, they did it better than us and we had to suffer a bit, but we changed the shape and after that in the second half of the second half, it could have gone either way I suppose.”