James Ward-Prowse equalised at the Racecourse Ground on 50 minutes. His first effort was blocked on the line. He reached the loose ball before anybody else had moved.
Southampton have built something around him in six weeks. The ratings only confirm what the eye has already worked out.
The job Ward-Prowse does now
He sits deepest alongside Flynn Downes and works straight across the middle of the pitch, which is how he finished Saturday with 67 completed passes from 70 attempts in a game that was falling apart for the Saints.
Saints Marching clocked the mileage as well, with Ward-Prowse covering 11.1km per 90, level with Downes at the top of the squad. Across the whole of last season he started 18 Premier League games. That engine had to be found again from somewhere.
Player | Lincoln (A) | Swansea (H) | Bristol City (H) | Wrexham (A) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
James Ward-Prowse | 8.6 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 8.1 |
Cyle Larin | 6.6 | 8.0 | 8.7 | 6.7 |
Finn Azaz | 6.5 | 8.1 | 9.1 | 6.8 |
Flynn Downes | 7.1 | 8.0 | 6.7 | 7.2 |
FotMob match ratings, as of September 20.
His two strongest afternoons this month came at Lincoln City and at Wrexham. Both were away days where Southampton took nothing home and badly needed somebody to keep the thing upright.
He nearly had a second in Wales too, a free-kick just before the hour that Anthony Patterson had to stretch to turn away. Eckert has watched all of this twice in a fortnight.
James Ward-Prowse on #SaintsFC's defeat to Wrexham:
— SaintsExtra (@SaintsExtra) September 19, 2026
"It's frustrating, I think it's a game that we looked at today to try and take maximum points from.
"It was a good feeling going into the game and we got off to a good start in terms of how we were playing, I think we created… pic.twitter.com/wHaNGVpwHz
What Larin's seven goals need
Cyle Larin leads the Championship scoring charts and has been the headline act all season. Watch the Bristol City win back and he is unplayable, two goals and an 8.7 nobody could argue with.
Wrexham asked him a harder question in North Wales. Five shots, one on target, two clear openings wasted; the best of them just past the half hour when he lifted his finish onto the roof of the net when a more clinical striker would surely have scored. Saints Marching gave him five out of ten, and that was generous.
#SaintsFC first-team players going away on international duty and their last match before returning (UK KO time):
— SaintsExtra (@SaintsExtra) September 17, 2026
🇨🇦 Cyle Larin - 01:00 Wed 7 October
🇯🇵 Kuryu Matsuki - 10:30 Mon 5 October
🇮🇪 Ryan Manning - 19:45 Sun 4 October
🇮🇪 Finn Azaz - 19:45 Sun 4 October
🇮🇱 Daniel Peretz… pic.twitter.com/d3ovVXIDkT
Finn Azaz has been the definition of inconsistent this season so far. At times frustrating, Azaz is a genius at his best and sloppy at his worst. Saints fans usually see both sides of him in every match.
When Azaz failed to score from close range, after Kuryu Matsuki had slid him in, it looked like it would be one of the more frustrating days for the Irish international. That proved to be the case again.
Canada keep hold of Larin until the 7th of October, and Japan have Kuryu Matsuki through the Kirin Cup. Ryan Manning and Finn Azaz will join the Republic of Ireland squad for a clutch of Nations League matches.
Ward-Prowse stays at Staplewood, gets a fortnight of proper rest, and walks into the Portsmouth game fresher than he has been since August. In the meantime, four key players will return fatigued and jet-lagged from international duty.
Tom Fellows, Lewis Dobbin, Welington, and Divin Mubama will all need to step up soon.
Verdict: James Ward-Prowse is the player to build the derby side around.
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