After the rearrangement of their fixture against Preston North End, Southampton face a truly congested schedule of 11 games in the next 34 days, averaging out at a fixture every 3.1 days (source: SaintsStatistics). Having players across the board step up will be essential, from regular starters to impact subs, every individual performance matters.
After some shaky and uncharacteristically static performances from the saints, they have slowly begun to rebuild momentum. From clenching a 3-4 win against Birmingham in the dying minutes of the game to a 4-2 win at home to Sunderland, they are re-finding form, however neither match was without tension, the opposition bringing the game back to level from behind late in the second halves of both games.
Southampton have now gained 10 points in extra time this season, and 14 after the 80th minute which tells its own narrative. Whilst this speaks volumes of the squad’s mentality which should be praised, it also shows how frequently we have allowed sides to put themselves back in the game when the threat should have been shut down much sooner.
A lack of clinicality in the final third has been an prolonged issue that is synonymous with the club, and despite some positive runs of form from players like Adam Armstrong, scoring goals has been an issue.
When playing a style of football that revolves around holding the ball it is essential that when infront of goal you capitalise. If you maintain high possession but create little, only to come undone on the counter attack, then you may as well have gifted them a full 90 with the ball at their feet. This is something Southampton have been guilty of, and something that has given many clubs the key to getting ahead.
In recent games it has become evident that many have clicked our way of playing and how to undo it, and the well oiled machine that is Russell Martin’s Saints have had to rely on some moments of genius from subs in the tail ends of games to resolve this.
We are at our strongest when we can utilise our wide players, and when these channels are cut off and we are pressed centrally, we crumble. Players are easily bullied off the ball, and the back line is particularly vulnerable down the right hand side.These weak areas need to be protected, but we need to improve the overall consistency of our quality across the pitch. While there have been some standout performers this season, with a fixture list this packed, everybody is a needed performer, and there is a great amount of pressure on everybody being able to step up to this.
As the season develops into it’s final phase all players will need to maintain energy and strength both on and off the ball with it being vital that they are able to hold their own, games becoming of greater and greater importance. With the top 4 separated by only 9 points, any degree of mess up will be beyond costly for the hopes of automatic promotion, and with a game in hand over those above us (but also a packed schedule) the cards are largely in our hands. The fans want this, the staff want this, now it is up to the squad to prove they want it just as much – it is their’s for the taking.
The error rate in recent games has been far too high, and this is something that must be altered if we are to keep ourselves in the running. There are far too many points we have wasted with complacency or moments of poor communication, and now we cannot afford to keep doing so. The safety margin for mistakes has been reached, and anything that pushes us now over will be what draws the line in our opportunity of getting automatics. Whilst we would still have play-offs, this is a much less comfortable route back up to the Premier League, and one that will put a lot of strain on players and staff alike.
Support and backing of the club has never been more essential, with a loud crowd often being the factor that spurs a team into digging deeper and finding that little bit more. With Martin at the wheel we must stay hopeful and trust his plan, and maybe just maybe we can end this season on a high.
Poppy Deabill