What a difference a week makes eh?
Following United’s dispatching of West Brom in the Cup, we turned over Southampton on their patch in the League, in a game that was – admittedly – closer than it should have been.
St Mary’s isn’t the happiest hunting ground for those of a black and white persuasion, and so True Faith’s now-traditional pre-match stop of the Rock Stone pub excited many of us more than the prospect of a repeat (or worse) of last season’s dire 0-0 draw, complete with zero shots on target.
That said, we were bouyed by the starting line-up which saw Almiron deployed behind Gayle as a number 10, and a central defensive pairing of Federico Fernandez and Jamal Lascelles.
The first half had everything besides a goal: an away break-through disallowed, a sending off for the home side and a missed penalty for Matt Ritchie.
It was, of course, the second of these that changed the dynamic of the game; with the impressive Moussa Djenepo given his marching orders before a third of the game had elapsed. It was an opportunity gifted: not only were Southampton deprived of one of the opening phase’s most potent attacking threats, but it forced a reshuffle on their part.
Following Ritchie’s poor saved penalty, United poured forwards in search of an opening. Surely if Leicester could put nine past a ten-man Saints side, we could rack up a few?
Dwight Gayle led the line well, but that the first half ended goalless was testament to”Ralph Hasenh’ttl’s tactical nous, and an imperious performance in goal by Southampton keeper McCarthy.
The tension ratcheted up after the break, with Matt Ritchie receiving pelters from the home support due to his rival affiliations in a previous footballing life. Perennially on the point of boiling over, it was a positive that he was brought off on 61 minutes; the only downside being his replacement. Once again, Joelinton lumbered around, off the pace as ever and lacking the presence that his imposing frame promises.
If the introduction of Joelinton was frustrating, Lazaro’s was worrying: as good going forward as ‘Tino’ is, he’s a liability in defence. He’s far more effective further forward on the right of a front four.
On 79 minutes, the deadlock was finally broken: Allan Saint Maximin’s pressure forcing a Saints defender into an error. ASM slotted home from an oblique angle to send the away end wild.
From then it was never really in doubt. United held on for a huge three points. Surely we’re only a few points from safety now?
– Chris Shipman
