Saints Marching
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Three takeaways from yesterday’s draw between Southampton and Manchester United

By Chris Hughes

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium on May 17, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 17: Jose Mourinho, Manager of Manchester United reacts during the Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary's Stadium on May 17, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MAY 17: Manolo Gabbiadini of Southampton misses a penalty during the Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary’s Stadium on May 17, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – MAY 17: Manolo Gabbiadini of Southampton misses a penalty during the Premier League match between Southampton and Manchester United at St Mary’s Stadium on May 17, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /

Penalties are becoming our voodoo

Back during our rise to the Premier League and our first couple of seasons back in it, penalties were fun. We knew that when Rickie Lambert stepped up we would get a goal.

Since he left however it’s been a case of switching takers regularly. Dusan Tadic has had the most with eight, but has only converted five of those, a poor ratio.

Last night Manolo Gabbiadini stepped up as the Saints’ third taker in as many spot kicks, but his tame, low shot was saved by the outstretched glove of Sergio Romero.

It means Southampton haven’t scored their last three from 12 yards, and in the summer one of their recruits really needs to be able to score from the spot.

Penalties might seem an easy skill but someone who can confidently dispatch them would give the Saints a lot more points than they have now. Assuming that United wouldn’t score after Gabbiadini’s last night the Saints would be four points better off had they converted the ones in the last few games alone.