Shane Long Gets on the Score Sheet
Do not adjust your electronic device, you are reading that correctly. Southampton’s Shane Long scored his second goal of the season and it was gorgeous.
The Irishman’s finish was sublime, but the goal was made by sharp build-up play. After approaching the box, Ryan Bertrand chips a neat ball onto the oncoming Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. The Dane takes control of possession, flicking it over a helpless defender and into the path of Long.
The goal came into being because the three men involved showed good footballing IQ and with good positional awareness to match.
As well as finding the net, the front man also proved to be his side’s main threat, and a good pressure release. The Striker put himself in good positions and would have deserved more on his tally.
In many ways it was a typical performance from the international. Plenty of endeavour, lacking that much needed slice of luck and more importantly quality to do the job.
The number seven was unable to take advantage of a couple of opportunities, including a free header via an excellent cross from Højbjerg and a delicious ball fired across the box from Bertrand. The first saw Long head meekly into the arms of the keeper, while the second went begging as he failed to control.
At the Premier League level it’s not always as easy as it looks, but to be a striker in the top-flight you have to be able to convert difficult chances, or you won’t last long.