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Southampton: Saints have tough run in to the new year

By Christian Bird

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Virgil van Dijk of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton at Amex Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 29: Virgil van Dijk of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton at Amex Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /
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Southampton have the sixth-lowest goal scoring record in the league, however, they also have the sixth best record for goals conceded.

No surprise then that the Saints lie dead in the middle of the table in tenth spot. Their win to lose ratio is equal, whereas they have drawn more games than either.

It has been a tale of two halves for the team in red and white, shown on Sunday, when they dominated first half play, but then struggled in the second half to be worthy of only a 1-1 draw. Goalscorer Steven Davis alluded to this on the Daily Echo website. They were to their credit missing a very important player in Mario Lemina.

Southampton have had to dig deep to rescue themselves from drawing even more games, scoring an injury time winner against West Ham during the opening day’s fixture, and also with a late goal by Sofiane Boufal in the 85th minute, enough to see off visitor’s West Brom.

A second half display against Newcastle United salvaged a 2-2 draw for Saints, having gone in at the break down by a goal to nil.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 29: Referee Neil Swarbrick in discussion with Dusan Tadic of Southampton during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton at Amex Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 29: Referee Neil Swarbrick in discussion with Dusan Tadic of Southampton during the Premier League match between Brighton and Hove Albion and Southampton at Amex Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images) /

However, Saints have been less than convincing for the majority of games, despite positive aspects of play. With player’s such as James Ward-Prowse and Manolo Gabbiadini in form, it’s disappointing that they haven’t won more games.

Southampton Football Club has been calm since the arrival of Mauricio Pellegrino, receiving their wishes when Claude Puel left the club, now the manager of rival Premier League outfit Leicester City. Nevertheless, with the winter now here, the storm is fast approaching St. Mary’s where they have only managed two wins all season, having lost two and drawn two.

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Away from home, they have been very much the same, winning once and losing once, whilst drawing twice. Something needs to change at home if the Saints are to make any significant challenge for finishing above mid-table this season, as even the likes of Leicester City who have been sat in the bottom three are going for broke now.

Christmas could be crucial to their campaign, as if they haven’t started to win games by then, including another derby fixture with Eddie Howe’s AFC Bournemouth, they could start the new year very low down the table.

Next: Nathan Redmond ten-game analysis

Southampton face Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in succession in the space of four days over Christmas. Southampton are still to play Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City in 2017, with everyone of them except Arsenal being away fixtures.

To reiterate, Southampton will need to pick up them home form towards the back end of the year if they are to meet their targets this season. Games against Burnley, Everton, Leicester, and Huddersfield Town are all winnable, meaning if they can cement at least fifteen or so points, there may be no reason to be so glum this Christmas against the Champion’s and Runners-Up after all.