AliousBrighton will travel to St. Mary’s Stadium this weekend for their latest Premier League fixture, with the officiating team now confirmed. Darren Bond has been appointed as the referee, marking the first time he will take charge of a Brighton game this season.
The Seagulls head into the match in high spirits after back-to-back victories over Chelsea—first eliminating them from the FA Cup and then securing a dominant 3-0 league win. Their cup triumph has set up a fifth-round clash against Newcastle United next week.
Southampton, meanwhile, find themselves in a desperate battle for survival. Sitting on just nine points, they are at risk of recording one of the worst-ever Premier League campaigns. They need at least one win or three draws to avoid equaling Derby County’s infamous 11-point total from the 2007/08 season. A recent loss to an in-form Bournemouth side added to their struggles, though an away victory at Ipswich Town has provided a slight morale boost.
### **Match Officials for Southampton vs. Brighton**
– **Referee:** Darren Bond
– **Assistant Referees:** Marc Perry & Natalie Aspinall
– **Fourth Official:** Sam Barrott
– **VAR:** Darren England
– **Assistant VAR:** Scott Ledger
Bond, a Lancashire-based official, has primarily overseen Premier League fixtures this season, officiating 17 matches so far. His latest assignment was Manchester City’s 2-1 FA Cup victory over Leyton Orient, in which he issued three yellow cards.
While this is his first time overseeing a Brighton match this season, he has officiated two Southampton games—a penalty shootout win against Everton in the Carabao Cup and a narrow 1-0 league defeat to Aston Villa in December. Across all competitions this season, Bond has handed out **72 yellow cards, three red cards, and awarded four penalties**.
His history with Brighton dates back to their Championship days, having refereed them on eight previous occasions. The Seagulls have a solid record under his officiating, suffering just one defeat—a 4-1 loss to Cardiff City in February 2016. His most recent Brighton match was a 2-0 win over Bournemouth in April 2023.
### **Team News & Injury Updates**
**Brighton:**
– **Igor Julio** (hamstring) is out for the season.
– **Ferdi Kadioglu** (toe surgery) remains a few weeks away from returning.
– **James Milner** (hamstring) is still unavailable.
– **Jason Steele** (shoulder surgery) remains sidelined for several weeks.
– **Pervis Estupiñán & Solly March** are doubtful due to muscular issues.
– **Lewis Dunk** missed the Chelsea game with a rib injury but has been seen training in the gym.
– **Adam Lallana**, a former Southampton player, has a hamstring issue and is questionable.
**Southampton:**
– **Jack Stephens & Taylor Harwood-Bellis** are doubtful.
– **Flynn Downes, Ryan Fraser, & Ross Stewart** are unlikely to be available.
With both teams dealing with injuries and Southampton fighting to stay afloat in the league, this fixture could have significant implications for both ends of the table. Brighton will be looking to continue their strong form, while the Saints are desperate for points to avoid an unwanted place in Premier League history.
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