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Southampton 2017/18 monthly season review – August

By Daniel Hargraves

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Dusan Tadic of Southampton celebrates scoring his sides second goal with his Southampton team mates during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham United at St Mary's Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 19: Dusan Tadic of Southampton celebrates scoring his sides second goal with his Southampton team mates during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham United at St Mary's Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images) /
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Despite finishing the first month of the new competitive season unbeaten in the league, fans have mixed opinions over Southampton’s start despite it being their best start to a Premier League season since promotion in 2012.

However, this is in terms of the Premier League as in all of those previous seasons the club have progressed in the League Cup which hasn’t been achieved this season.

I am personally pleased with the start to our league campaign, however I am bitterly disappointed that we didn’t progress in the cup, especially after playing a lower-division side at home. Here are my thoughts on each game so far and my overall opinion and reflection on each and also what they mean going forward after the international break.

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 26: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton and Nathan Redmond of Southampton embrace after the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Southampton at John Smith’s Stadium on August 26, 2017 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND – AUGUST 26: Mauricio Pellegrino, Manager of Southampton and Nathan Redmond of Southampton embrace after the Premier League match between Huddersfield Town and Southampton at John Smith’s Stadium on August 26, 2017 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by Nigel Roddis/Getty Images) /

Southampton 0-0 Swansea – Premier League match-day 1

On paper this was a very kind game to play to kick off the season with. Swansea were missing some key players and had had a rather difficult summer.

Saints on the other hand were under new management once again and were looking to get off to a flyer under Mauricio Pellegrino with winning the first game of the season.

However, plenty of missed chances from Saints and a stubborn defence from Swansea meant that the game ended scoreless and, despite it meaning that Saints started unbeaten, the game may be looked back on as a chance to record three points instead of one.

Southampton 3-2 West Ham – Premier League match-day 2

A much better result from the previous game as Pellegrino’s men managed to earn the first three points of the season, despite throwing away a two-goal advantage.

A six-game home goal drought was ended after Gabbiadini scored his and Saints’ first goal of the season followed by a Dusan Tadic penalty. West Ham also saw Marco Arnautovic sent off which added to their woes.

However two goals from Javier Hernandez either side of half-time gave West Ham hope but another penalty for Saints, this time scored by substitute Charlie Austin, gave Saints a well-earned three points, stretching their points tally to four from two games.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Joe Hart of West Ham United dives but is beaten by Dusan Tadic of Southampton (not pictured) for Southampton’s second goal of the game during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham United at St Mary’s Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 19: Joe Hart of West Ham United dives but is beaten by Dusan Tadic of Southampton (not pictured) for Southampton’s second goal of the game during the Premier League match between Southampton and West Ham United at St Mary’s Stadium on August 19, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Jordan Mansfield/Getty Images) /

Southampton 0-2 Wolves – League Cup round 2

After starting their Premier League campaign very well, Saints had a very disappointing evening as they were instantly knocked out of the League Cup, after reaching the final last season, with a home loss at home to Wolves.

Despite plenty of first-team players starting, a new formation was experimented with, involving three at the back, which hopefully will act as a lesson for Pellegrino as the experiment failed miserably.

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Huddersfield Town 0-0 Southampton – Premier League match-day 3

A second 0-0 draw of the season may have left some fans unimpressed but I saw it as a good result as Huddersfield had won their two previous games in the league plus advancing in the League Cup.

Both sides had chances to score and Saints could’ve won it at the end but a draw was  probably the fairest result.

Now we have the international break to take a chance to reflect on our start to the season and at the point of return, Saints have overall a rather kind fixture list with home games against Watford, Manchester United and two away trips to Crystal Palace and Stoke. Obviously United will be the toughest test by a mile and we’re unlikely to get anything from that, however from the other games nine points is possible, maybe five to seven is more realistic.

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