Southampton bounce back with 2-1 win over Middlesbrough
By Chris Hughes
After three games without a goal, Southampton returned to form with a 2-1 win over an already-relegated Boro.
Victory is something Southampton fans haven’t tasted for over a month, after three losses and two draws had led to speculation that Claude Puel could lose his job with a defeat.
However a change of formation and players resulted in a turn of form, as goals from Jay Rodriguez and Nathan Redmond returned the Saints to winning ways.
Patrick Bamford got on the score-sheet for the home side to set up a nail-biting end to the game for Southampton, but they saw it thanks to some heroics from Fraser Forster.
The win takes the Saints up to ninth with a game in hand on Bournemouth beneath them. After West Brom’s loss to Champions Chelsea last night Puel’s men are now level on points with the eighth-placed side with two games to play.
Much like every Saints game of late, it started as a drab affair, with little to no goal-mouth action from either side.
Southampton then took the lead in the 42nd minute, with the side’s two-out-form strikers combining as Shane Long’s cross found Jay Rodriguez in the box who scored with a right-footed effort.
The latter then turned provider for substitute Nathan Redmond 12 minutes into the second half, as the winger scored a well-placed finish. Rodriguez’s pass found the 23-year-old in acres in space, and he jinxed into the box before firing home.
But the game would not end easily for the away side, as Shane Long missed a penalty for the Saints after winning the spot-kick off Brad Guzan. His attempt cannoned off the crossbar and out.
To make matters worse Patrick Bamford headed home a Viktor Fischer cross in the 72nd to narrow the Saints’ lead to just one. With just minutes left to play however Charlie Austin made his return after five months out, replacing Irishman Long.
Next up for Southampton is Manchester United this Wednesday.