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Southampton 1-1 Crystal Palace: Premier League – Three Key Players

By Erik Franzo

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace battles for possession with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Yan Valery of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Crystal Palace at St Mary's Stadium on January 30, 2019 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 30: Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace battles for possession with Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Yan Valery of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Crystal Palace at St Mary's Stadium on January 30, 2019 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /
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LEICESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: James Ward-Prowse of Southampton celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Southampton FC at The King Power Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
LEICESTER, ENGLAND – JANUARY 12: James Ward-Prowse of Southampton celebrates after scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Leicester City and Southampton FC at The King Power Stadium on January 12, 2019 in Leicester, United Kingdom. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images) /

James Ward-Prowse

It was another impressive performance from Ward-Prowse who has experienced a resurgence under manager Ralph Hasenhuttl.  He scored his third goal in three games and legitimately out-classed Wilfried Zaha into a red card dismissal.  The latter being one of the more memorable moments of the 2018-19 campaign.

Ward-Prowse also displayed his positional flexibility, moving to right wing-back as the Saints pushed for an equaliser and finishing as a right back in a traditional back four.  It was in this tactical change where he found the back of the net, connecting with his counterpart Matt Targett.  All the while having to remind himself he was in charge of defending Zaha for the remainder of his time on the pitch.

It is hard not to root for the Southampton Academy product who is arguably in the form of his career.  With another good game under his belt he may be preferred ahead of Stuart Armstrong for the foreseeable future, and it would be a huge surprise to not see him in the team for Saturday at Burnley.