After a poor start to the season, Southampton have secured their 21st game in the Premier League without a win. With 5 draws and 16 losses, they have achieved the longest win-less streak in their top flight history. From 21 undefeated to 21 without a win, it’s a truly testing time for the club, made all the more painful by the nature of Saturday’s fixture against a side who the Saints have struggled against for a long time, Leicester City.
It is always a challenge to look at this tie and not bring up that 9-0 defeat, however as Anthony Taylor blew his whistle for half time, the narrative was looking like a much brighter one for Southampton. Starting out strong, the Saints were dominant on the ball from the get go, passing with a pace and intent that was overwhelming the Leicester midfield. Joe Aribo and Mateus Fernandes were two that stood out, working cohesively and creatively with reliable Flynn Downes just behind them to recover any blunders. There was a new energy on the pitch, and the remnants of the Southampton side we all grew to love last season were there for all too see, the boys playing with the fluidity and ethics that manager Russell Martin worked so tirelessly to instil. 4 minutes in Joe Aribo looked set to open the scoring, getting his head on a Ryan Manning corner and hitting the crossbar, but the disappointment of this was short lived as Walker-Peters breezed through Leicester’s left hand side just 4 minutes later.
After playing Manning in on the left wing, a deflected cross found Cameron Archer whose penalty woes against Manchester United appear to be a thing of the past. Despite just a few appearances for the club so far, Archer seems a summer signing to be excited by, with his development from minute one to now proving promising. He opened the scoring for the Saints, making the most of his opportunity to celebrate with the fans.
Another summer incoming, Fernandes, also impressed. Now more settled in the squad and appearing to have a clearer understanding of his role, he looks to be becoming a key player for the Saints, with a bravery and work rate that any manager would appreciate having in his armoury.
Largely but not solely thanks to this, Southampton didn’t show any signs of slowing down, working the ball positively. Once again Kyle Walker Peters brilliant build up play overloaded Leicester, and breaking past his man he played the ball into the box, finding Aribo and with only 28 minutes played Southampton were sat comfortably at 2-0.
Then came half time, and alongside it, disaster from the Saints.
With a large amount of controversy surrounding this half of football, there has been a bombardment of questions upon both the officials and the management; A red card that perhaps should have been given, one that many thought shouldn’t, a penalty given and a penalty not given, killer subs and suicide subs… it was a packed 45 minutes (+7).
Southampton initially started out strongly again, however things quickly turned, as 5 minutes in Vardy put in what could easily be deemed a reckless and out of control challenge on Japanese full-back Sugawara. With many outraged and looking for a red card, Anthony Taylor pulled out his yellow, and that was that. With the challenge highly similar to that which saw club-captain Jack Stephens sent off against United, tempers began to rise and patience began crumbling both on and off the pitch. Sugawara was replaced by Ryan Fraser, and Leicester took the opportunity to swap out Kristiansen for Fatawu – these two subs would ultimately alter everything. At 64 minutes, Fatawu proved exactly why he had come on, getting past Fraser and finding Buonanotte who made it 2-1.
Russell Martin had to make a change, with tired legs, players harbouring injuries on the pitch and a growin mountain of yellow cards, off came Fernandes and Archer for Smallbone and Onuachu. Whilst these substitutions were sensible at the time, changing to a slightly more defensive shape whilst still having pace from Fraser, and “tall Paul” as target man. In hindsight however, these were the wrong calls.
Minutes later, Southampton were faced with Fraser being sent off the pitch and a penalty awarded to Leicester after a shirt pull in the box on Vardy. Naturally, Vardy (who many still feel shouldn’t have been on the pitch) converted it and levelled the scoring. Southampton’s heads dropped, and from then the third Leicester goal almost felt inevitable, especially after a challenge identical to the one that had won Leicester a penalty was ignored for the Saints. Leicester scored in the 97th minute to make it 3-2 and ending all hopes Saints fans had of a much needed point.
Whilst questions will be asked about Russell Martin’s decisions, it would be irrational to deal him the blame. Despite growing pressure on him and his role at the club, this game proved why the board has stuck with him and his system, with the first half showcasing the very best of this squad. The substitutions may well have been poor, however they’re ones that only feel so in hindsight, and ones that in the moment made a degree of sense. Contextuality in football is an importamt factor when reflecting on games such as these. The biggest underlying issue that this Southampton side has is a lack of Premier League quality, and that is something no manager can resolve – yes, Sport Republic could move on from Martin and find him a successor, however would they be able to get more from this group? I don’t see any eveidence to indicate they would.
The bigger discussion that this result should be prompting is about the epidemic of poor officiating the Premier League is suffering from, across all games. Inconsistency, but inconsistent mistakes are the two defining factors of what we are all witnessing, most match weeks. From on the pitch decisions to VAR, for “the best league in the world”, it isn’t good enough, and somewhere along the line something is going to have to give.
It’s been a turbulent start for Southampton, but their are glimpses of light in the dark, and hopefully ones that can be built on as the season progresses, however pressure is mounting for all associated with the club, with a change being needed in one way or another.
But ultimately, We March On.
Poppy Deabill