Dan brings us his opinion on the win at Aston Villa, the first of four wins demanded by Saints managed Ronald Koeman if we are to qualify for Europe.
Earlier in the week Ronald Koeman said that if Saints are to have a top six finish they have to win their four remaining games. With one ticked off yesterday only three games remain this season.
Just like the game against Everton, Southampton were by far the better team and should’ve scored more goals than were scored. Luckily we still managed to net four, sealing three points.
Jay Rodriguez got his first league start since October which was a delight for Saints fans to see. A goal would’ve been great but it wasn’t meant to be.
Shane Long almost opened the scoring in the second minute but his effort rattled against the cross-bar. The Irish striker did score 10 minutes later with a header from a fantastic Ryan Bertrand cross making it 1-0 to the away side.
Saints continued to control the game with Virgil van Dijk also hitting the woodwork before Dusan Tadic scored into an empty net after Long went round the keeper and the Serbian finished it off.
Playing against Aston Villa everyone would think that your team should be able to see the game out quickly and not have to worry about holding on a lead, but that’s what happened just before half-time. Ashley Westwood scored in added time just before half-time to give the hosts hope in a game that should’ve already been finished.
In the second half Saints continued to dominate and good chances weren’t converting into goals, a problem Southampton have had all season. But Tadic got his second and Saints’ third with a great finish into the bottom right corner.
Even though everyone knew that Villa wouldn’t get anything from the game, they made the visitors nervous again after Westwood got his and his teams second of the game, a goal that when he was in fantastic form, Fraser Forster would’ve saved.
Southampton restored a two-goal lead for a third time in the game when substitute Sadio Mane scored a header deep in injury time leaving the final score 2-4.
If Saints are to do well next weekend against City the defence has to be better because conceding two goals against a relegated team means your likely to concede more against a team who are scoring and fighting for a top four finish. But lots of goals can be expected with both teams scoring four in their games this weekend.