AFTER an eight-match unbeaten run, Saints succumbed to a tidal wave of pressure from along the south coast.

A weekend that had seen storms batter the country’s coastline ended with Saints’ defences unable to cope with wave upon wave of pressure from a Brighton side that was revitalised for Gus Poyet’s first game in charge.

Alan Pardew’s team has gelled to good effect in recent weeks but the back four came unstuck for what was arguably their biggest game of the season so far.

The game was won in the opening 22 minutes by two goals from Glenn Murray, who punished a Saints defence that looked like it was still digesting its Sunday lunch.

Nicky Forster gave Saints an early warning of what was to come when his left-footed strike from an acute angle was deflected behind in the opening ten minutes.

Neal Trotman had a torrid time in his first start since October 31 – the on loan defender having been ruled out of the FA Cup win at Bristol Rovers by parent club Preston and Pardew preferring Wayne Thomas for the Johnstone’s Paint triumph against Charlton, though Trotman came on at half-time against the Addicks.

Forster followed his early shot across Saints’ bows by firing a 20 yarder at Davis after dispossessing the loanee, who resembled flotsam on Brighton’s early tide of pressure.

Brighton number ten Andrew Crofts would seal Brighton’s win late on and was a strong influence throughout, but particularly the opening 20 minutes.

He orchestrated the exquisite opening goal.

After finding Dean Cox out wide, an excellent cross was turned in by the clinical Murray from six yards.

Murray appeared to be brought down by the hapless Trotman within two minutes of the opener, but fortunately referee Keith Friend, who was well positioned in the Saints penalty area, waved away the appeals for a spot kick.

Moments later, however, Murray doubled the visitors’ lead with his fifth goal in three league and FA Cup games.

Saints’ sleepy back four were slow to react to a throw in, which Murray flicked on before accepting Forster’s return pass.

He tested Kelvin Davis with a low strike that the Saints keeper tipped on to the post.

Murray was first to react to the rebound, which he tapped in in front of the disbelieving Chapel Stand.

It was a goal that sent Brighton’s ebullient support – nearly 3,000 of them made the journey along the coast – into a frenzy.

That was not the end of the visitors’ early dominance.

Forster screwed a left footer across the face of goal and fired another effort straight at Davis.

The threat posed by the Brighton strikeforce was hardly unknown to Saints.

Forster was a terrific servant for Pardew at Reading and he and Murray were both signed by former Brighton manager Dean Wilkins – who is now the Saints manager’s assistant.

But Saints were carved open time and again by the duo, who must rival Rickie Lambert and David Connolly as the best strike partnership in League One.

Not until the 34th minute did Saints test Brighton goalkeeper Michel Kuipers.

But soon after Adam Lallana’s long-range strike, Dean Hammond was brought down on the edge of the box and Kuipers dived to his left to tip behind Lambert’s first effort of the game.

Saints have shown resilience this season so a 2-0 deficit was by no means insurmountable as half time approached.

They had previously come from two goals down to draw with Torquay in the JPT, winning on penalties, and again at Orient on Hallowe’en.

Lambert, the hero of the recent comeback at Orient, saw his volley bounce back off Kuipers’ chest.

On another day it would have fallen to a red and white shirt, but he gave Saints hope with a 43rd minute penalty after Andrew Whing’s foul on Lallana.

Confidently disapatched into the bottom corner, it renewed Saints’ confidence.

Former Brighton captain Hammond put an effort over the bar from a great position after Antonio’s throw caused panic and Connolly put two efforts just wide as Saints rallied, no doubt stung by Pardew’s half-time team talk.

But Brighton nearly restored their two-goal advantage in the 63rd minute, captain Crofts denied by Davis’s terrific one-handed save in front of the away following.

Brighton’s defence is not known for its solidity.

They have kept just three league clean sheets all season and arrived at St Mary’s having shipped four at Wycombe in a 4-4 FA Cup draw, which came on the back of a 3-3 home draw with Hartlepool.

But no doubt keen to impress new boss Poyet, it repelled Saints time and again.

Then Crofts struck in the 85th minute.

The game was over when he drilled low and hard into the bottom corner from 20 yards.

Saints sub Papa Waigo had a shot beaten away by Kuipers and another effort deflected behind in the dying stages of normal time.

And a bad afternoon for Saints was complete when Lambert sent an injury-time header nearer the corner flag than the Brighton goal.

Returning to a 3pm kick off against Norwich on Saturday afternoon will hopefully help Saints rediscover their winning form – though not even three points against the Canaries will take them out of the drop zone.