EPL – What We Learned – Watford 0 Southampton 0

EPL – What We Learned – Watford 0 Southampton 0

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Southampton’s shaky start to the season continued with another lacklustre performance against a newly promoted Watford team that secured its third consecutive draw in the Premier League.

With just one point from their opening three matches Southampton’s management must be looking for the team to kick into gear and get their Premier League campaign back on track.

With chances scarce in this match, it seemed that a scoreless draw best summed up the two team’s performances, neither deserving the win. Flashes of incisive play from Watford led to a couple of chances, with Etienne Capoue heading over the crossbar from close range and Odion Ighalo just unable to sort his feet to tap in a delightful ball from Ikechi Anya.

The Saints on the other hand mostly tried their luck from distance, with Shane Long the only one seemingly able to work his way with the ball into dangerous areas.

First clean sheet

One positive that the South Coast club can take from the performance at Vicarage Road was the far tighter defensive play that has been missing in the opening few games. Having conceded five goals in their first two games manager Ronald Koeman will be happy to see his side keep a much-needed clean sheet.

On the balance of play, Watford could be said to have had the better of the chances and probably should’ve hit the back of the net on a couple of occasions. Despite this, solace can be held in the return to form of captain José Fonte, who was pivotal at the heart of defence and mopped up a few threatening looking passages of play after mistakes from his teammates.

Watford proving hard to beat

After a blistering start to the campaign that saw the Hornets leave from Goodison Park with a point in a 2-2 draw, the men from Vicarage Road have not scored or conceded a goal. Scoreless draws with both West Brom and now Southampton were both tipped slightly in the favour of the Watford side and this defensive resilience should help their cause to stay in the top flight.

Many a newly promoted side have struggled to score goals and seen it cost them but many more have struggled to keep clean sheets and seen their stays in the Premier League be very brief. Flores will surely encourage his side to continue performing as they have. Chances on goal have been afforded the side, now all that remains is to finish them whilst maintaining their defensive record.

Southampton bereft of ideas?

With just three Premier League games under their belt in the 2015-16 campaign the road ahead is long for a Southampton side that have far from made the League sit up and take notice. However, Koeman will be looking for more creative spark from his side to see more chances created and goals scored.

Relying on the height, strength and finishing ability of Graziano Pellè has robbed the Saints of incisive passing moves in the final third. With Sadio Mané going off early in the game due to injury, no one in the side offered the creativity needed to unlock an opposition defence, a worrying sign for a side with such lofty goals set for 2015-16.

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