It was a game of firsts in Southampton’s triumph over Hull City overnight, with James Ward-Prowse scoring his first ever Premier League goal and Graziano Pellé contributing with his first of 2015.
The contest between two sides at opposite ends of the table ended much as expected, with Robert Koeman’s men notching a comfortable victory. Steve Bruce was left ruing his team’s missed opportunities, Sone Aluko missing a pair of early chances and James Chester seeing his header cleared off the line.
Ward-Prowse opens his account
Having replaced Victor Wanyama at half-time Ward-Prowse finished confidently from twelve yards after Hull centre-back, and son of manager Steve Bruce, Alex Bruce clumsily fouled Shane Long inside the area.
He almost did not get his chance from the spot after teammate Sadio Mané grabbed the ball of the youngster, before Koeman relayed through captain José Fonte that it was the Englishman’s to take.
The goal is sure to act as a further boost for the 20-year-old midfielder after England manager Roy Hodgson’s comments last week hinting at a call up to the national senior squad.
Pellé ends his drought
The relief on the face of Graziano Pellé was clearly evident after finally grabbing his first goal of the 2015. Yet to score since the 20th of December last year, the pressure had built on the 29-year-old to break the hoodoo and return to the form he showed at the start of the season.
The Italian came close inside the first half hour’s play seeing a powerful drive from seven yards saved by veteran goalkeeper Steve Harper. A clever cutback from Morgan Schneiderlin in the final ten minutes of regulation saw the striker put away his ninth of the season and end his goalless run.
Some were not happy that Pellé was still on the pitch to add a second goal after a foul in the first half that left Alex Bruce with a broken nose. The Hull manager claimed that upon review that the hit with the forearm was deliberate and therefore Pellé should have been sent from the pitch.
Clyne on the move?
Rumours continue to fly around the future of right back Nathaniel Clyne after he was left out of the squad amidst speculation of his reluctance to sign a new contract at the club. Koeman elected to play Dutchman Toby Alderweireld at the right-fullback position stating that Clyne was left out of the squad due to fatigue.
Clyne has allegedly delayed contract talks until the summer and is being heavily linked with a move to Manchester United with reports that the Premier League giants are targeting the 23-year-old Englishman.
Looking towards season’s end
The win sees the Saints sitting on 56 points and in fifth place, two points ahead of Liverpool who are yet to play, and the Tigers hover two points above the drop zone with a meagre 28 points this term.
Despite receding chances of his side finishing in a Champions League spot, Koeman has made it clear that a Europa League qualification would still be an exciting outcome. An appearance in either competition would be the first return to the continent for Southampton since the 2003-04 season.
Stark contrast are the problems facing Bruce who must now figure out how to spark a response from his team after a mere two points in their past five games. A worrying string of fixtures to finish the season, that sees visits from Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester United as well as a trip to Tottenham, makes the task of staying in the top flight seem a struggle for the men from St Mary’s.
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