Southampton 1-2 Crystal Palace: Match recap
By Chris Hughes
Southampton’s problems worsened tonight after Crystal Palace produced a second-half comeback to win 2-1 at St. Mary’s Stadium.
Spirits were high after the first 45 after Shane Long ended his 11-month wait for a goal – an emphatic finish off a smart pass from Jeremy Pied.
Palace fought back into the game in the second half however with James McArthur and Luka Milivojević both striking from midfield to help Palace leapfrog the Saints.
Southampton are now just one place above the relegation zone with nine of their remaining 16 games away from home. Only West Bromwich Albion have less wins than the Saints since season, with Pellegrino still only boasting four victories to his name.
Southampton fans are growing ever-more concerned with the team’s poor run of form – relegation is a very realistic possibility and the supporters are now calling for Mauricio Pellegrino’s sacking more than ever.
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The Saints started the evening affair as the better of the two sides, with a quick flurry of opportunities leading to Long giving the home side the lead in the 17th minute.
The Irishman hasn’t scored since his goal against Sunderland last season – it was clear how much it meant to the forward after an emphatic finish.
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Roy Hodgson reshuffled by bringing on Patrick van Aanholt at the start of the second half for an injured Yohan Cabaye. The former-England manager also brought on Bakary Sako who had a positive impact on the game.
Pellegrino meanwhile – who has faced stinging criticism for his substitutions this season – replaced Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg with Gabbiadini not long after conceding to James McArthur, leaving the Saints exposed defensively for the last 20 minutes.
Five minutes later Milivojević scored a sublime shot from the edge of the box in the 80th minute with the Saints fragile at the back. The Saints failed to offer much in the dying seconds and Palace won their 11th point from losing positions so far this season.
Roy Hodgson’s side were given little chance of survival back when the Saints beat them earlier this season, but now it appears to be Pellegrino’s side who are serious trouble.