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Southampton: Lemina’s Gabon taste victory while Davis’s Northern Ireland loses

By Chris Hughes

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Mario Lemina of Southampton takes a look around the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park on March 10, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Mario Lemina of Southampton takes a look around the pitch prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Southampton at St. James Park on March 10, 2018 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images) /
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Yesterday afternoon two of Southampton’s midfielders were among those involved in the international action, with mixed results.

Mario Lemina enjoyed a good game in the defeat to Chelsea before the international break, and that confidence has clearly stayed with him as he played 66 minutes as Gabon beat South Sudan comfortably 3-0 in their African Cup of Nation’s qualifier.

Goals from Denis Bouanga and defender Aaron Appindangoye either side of half-time helped condemn South Sudan to their third-straight defeat of the campaign, before an own goal from Hassan Martin rubbed salt into the wounds late on.

Lemina’s side had previously started their campaign poorly with a defeat to Mali before drawing to with a Burundi side that included Saido Berahino. The result yesterday therefore takes them to four points from three games, meaning they are a point behind Burundi and three behind Mali.

dark. Next. Should the Saints switch to a three-man midfield?

BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 11: Steve Davis of Northern Ireland celebrates with team mates after scoring during the international friendly football match between Northern Ireland and Israel at Windsor Park on September 11, 2018 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)
BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND – SEPTEMBER 11: Steve Davis of Northern Ireland celebrates with team mates after scoring during the international friendly football match between Northern Ireland and Israel at Windsor Park on September 11, 2018 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images) /

Steven Davis meanwhile enjoyed a less successful evening with his national side, as Northern Ireland tasted defeat at the hands of Austria.

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West Ham’s on form striker Marko Arnautovic – who of course has famously fallen out with Southampton boss Mark Hughes – scored the games only goal with a nice strike in the second half after breaking in behind the defence.

The Northern Irish have really struggled for consistent form this year, and have now lost four games on the bounce without a win in five. Southampton’s Steven Davis remains a mainstay despite failing to get regular minutes at club level, and he won his 103rd cap yesterday evening for his national side.

The midfielder’s side have now lost both of their two UEFA Nation’s League matches to start the new tournament, after tasting defeat to Bosnia last month.

They face them once again this Monday in their second match of the international break, and will want to avenge that 2-1 defeat from the fixture before. Lemina’s Gabon meanwhile next play on Tuesday, as they face South Sudan again in the first of their three reverse fixtures.

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