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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: Matt Targett of Southampton in action 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: Matt Targett of Southampton in action 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) /

Matt Targett

Matt Targett was busy from the onset with the ball being forced down the Southampton left side.  Crystal Palace set up to give the Saints’ centre-backs possession while denying Nathan Redmond and Danny Ings touches on the ball.  This gave a lot of opportunities for the wing backs, but most of it came to Targett, maybe because Zaha was on the opposite side of the field.

Targett did not have the best of games, but delivered when it mattered the most.  His interplay with Redmond and Armstrong in the left corner led to a good cross which found Ward-Prowse’s foot for the equalising goal.  He also stepped up with two big tackles, one on Andres Townsend who was just about to fire from 18 yards out, and the other on James McArthur hunting for a rebound late on.

Ryan Bertrand is apparently still unfit for match day, but once he comes back the job is likely his to lose.  However, that still means Targett is in line for massive games against Burnley and Cardiff in which we can only hope he puts together a few moments like he did on Wednesday night.