Southampton’s recent run extends a season-long pattern.
Looking at Saints’ results this season, what emerges is a striking ebb-and-flow of form, four clear stanzas of bad, good, bad, and now good patches. Ronald Koeman’s side won one of their first six matches; they then went unbeaten in six; then, a period of one win in eight matches; and now, this victory extends an unbeaten run of five games. Such form, predictably hot-and-cold, explains their league position, which didn’t change following this result over their direct positional rivals, though they cut the deficit to two points.
For Koeman, now, with his first choice goalkeeper back and playing superbly, as well as a healthy pantry of fit players from which to pick, these last 13 games hold a tantalising bounty of unknown potential. If they can extend this good run, and refrain from slipping back into the doldrums, then a top five spot beckons.
