Another brilliant touch from Joao Pedro sent Mitoma clear and the Japanese forward coolly dinked the ball over Ramsdale to score Brighton’s third goal of the match and his fifth in seven games and cue a mass exodus in the home stands.
Joe Aribo was adamant that he had been fouled by Rutter in the build-up but referee Darren Bond waved away the protests and Yankuba Minteh was left with the simple task of rolling the ball across the six-yard box for Rutter to prod home his fifth league goal of the season.
The Seagulls ripped Southampton apart throughout with goals from Joao Pedro, Georginio Rutter, Kaoru Mitoma and Jack Hinshelwood taking them to within three points of the top six.
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler said his only disappointment was not winning by more after seeing his side thump Southampton 4-0 at St Mary’s to climb to eighth in the Premier League.
Ivan Juric has now seen his Southampton side concede 25 goals in nine games and was at a loss to explain why his players are so far short of being competitive in the Premier League.
