[ad_1]
Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong and Nathan Redmond sent Southampton third in the Premier League with a 3-0 win over Sheffield United without a win.
Adams beat John Egan to shoot from a James Ward-Prowse free kick 11 minutes before halftime in an opening period dominated by the hosts, and where the Blades attempted the fewest passes of any Premier League team in any first half in almost 14 years. .
Despite a brief resurgence from the visitors after halftime, Southampton soon regained their strength in the game and had a cushion to go with when Armstrong’s 20-yard effort veered off Phil Jagielka and passed Aaron Ramsdale.
With eight minutes to go, they put the victory beyond question when Redmond, as a substitute just moments before, played a beautiful one-two with Oriol Romeu before moving past Ramsdale.
The victory brought Southampton to third place in the table, at least until Leicester visits Brighton later on Sunday, their highest position at this stage in a season in six years. Sheffield United continues to endure the worst start to any Premier League season, with one point from 12 games.
Saints do light blades work to march into the top four
The only positive for Chris Wilder was that victory at St Mary’s could put three safety points by his side.
However, even from the beginning, it never seemed to come. Southampton controlled the game from the first minute and 15 minutes should have led, when Adams walked away from Chris Basham and fed Danny Ings, who was rejected by a clever save from Ramsdale.
Provider would become scorer just after half an hour courtesy of a symbolic defense of a Ward-Prowse free throw, which after hitting Jan Bednarek on the shoulder fell on Adams, who overcame John Egan’s symbolic jump to shoot. inside the far pole from a narrow angle.
There was an improvement from Sheffield United after halftime, with Egan heading over the corner of John Fleck’s near post when he should have tested Alex McCarthy, but it was only fleeting.
Southampton’s Stuart Armstrong scored his second goal of the season
Soon Southampton was back in the driver’s seat and celebrated a second goal of the afternoon at 17 minutes of the second period, when Ings’ firing by Armstrong caused Ramsdale to slip after Jagielka’s blocking attempt.
Ward-Prowse was not far from adding a third of a trademark 25-yard free throw that just went over the crossbar, but it would follow in the closing minutes as Redmond kept alive a wayward delivery from the Saints captain, he played an excellent one. -two with Romeu and grooving home.
Three was the magic number for the hosts, who rose to third place in the Premier League, while Sheffield United’s winless start to their Premier League campaign was extended for the 12th time, leaving them within five points of safety.
What the managers said …
Southampton Chief Ralph Hasenhuttl: “We didn’t have a single shot from the opponent in our goal, we were in very good shape, we had an answer to every problem, we made very good decisions with the ball, we were good on the ground and we were very calm in possession.
2:46
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl says it was wonderful to win in front of the fans when they beat Sheffield United 3-0.
“It’s wonderful, it’s wonderful that our fans are coming back, and the guys really enjoyed it. He had some tears in his eyes because it’s a different moment, winning against them, even if it’s only a few thousand.
“It’s incredible, the atmosphere, you could feel how much they enjoyed seeing us. We wanted to give everything they wanted to see from us, everything we have learned and improved, and that was a perfect Sunday really. It was fantastic.”
Sheffield United Manager Chris Wilder: “We’re on a losing streak, individual players aren’t playing anywhere near where they can play, we’re scratching to pick the right team and system, and it happens when you’re on that streak, but I have to say they were really good as well.
4:47
Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder responds to his team’s loss to Southampton at St. Mary’s
“With the numbers we have and the games we have played, of course it is going to affect their confidence. It is an absolute fact, a natural situation to be in. The players doubt themselves, individually and as a team, and that is natural and normal.
“We have to get out of this sooner rather than later, we have talked about teams that are on undefeated streaks, but the examples we talked about, they came out with a great performance and result. We are looking for that and we have to look at Thursday night and then next Sunday, and then the next to improve the faith and confidence of the team. “
Man of the match – Jannik Vestergaard
Vestergaard completed just two fewer passes in half the opposition than playmaker James Ward-Prowse, summing up his contribution to the game.
Away from his normal defensive duties, Vestergaard was predominantly employed at the other end of the field.
Sky Sports co-commentator Efan Ekoku said: “He hasn’t had to do much defensively, but what he has done has been polished and he has been a threat in the Sheffield United area.”
Opt for facts
- Sheffield United is only the fourth team at all levels in the English Football League to not have more than one point in its first 12 league games in a season, after Manchester United in 1930-31 (0 in the top flight) , New Brighton in 1931-32 (1 in the North Third Division) and Newport County in 1970-71 (1 in the fourth level).
- Southampton have won 23 points in the Premier League this season (seven wins, two losses, three losses); Only in 2014-15 have they had more after their first 12 games in a competitive campaign (26).
- Sheffield United are the seventh team to lose each of their first six away games in a Premier League season, and the first since Crystal Palace in 2017-18.
- Sheffield United attempted just 74 passes in the first half against Southampton; the fewest by a team in the first 45 minutes of a Premier League game since February 2007, which was also by Sheffield United (67 vs. Blackburn).
- Southampton have won four of their six league games at St. Mary’s this season (L2); It took them until their fourteenth home league game last season to earn their fourth such win, while they were winless from their first six at home in 2019-20 (D1 L5). In fact, this was the Saints’ biggest home league win since November 2017, when they beat Everton 4-1 with Mauricio Pellegrino.
Whats Next?
Southampton travel to Arsenal in the midweek round of Premier League matches on Wednesday; start at 6 pm.
Sheffield United host Manchester United at Bramall Lane a day later; start at 8:00 p.m.
[ad_2]