Southampton were humiliated at fellow Championship strugglers Hull City on Saturday afternoon, going down 3-1 in their worst performance of the season. Manager, Will Still, took responsibility for the performance, but only after throwing one of his star players under the bus.
In his post match interview with the Daily Echo, Saints manager Will Still couldn't hide his frustration with some of his key players.
Damion Downs was on the receiving end of Still's passive aggression after the out of favour USA international blew an easy chance to equalise in the first half. After being put through by Finn Azaz, Downs pulled his left footed shot awkwardly past the far post when he should have scored. His shot was totally lacking in conviction.
Instead of describing Downs' effort as unlucky or giving a Hull defender credit for closing him down, Still pushed all responsibility onto the young striker's shoulders. “He's played through and not quite made it work,“ still explained.
Downs should be forgiven for poor form
Downs can be forgiven. He's not had a decent run in the side since his move to the St Mary's. The American has only started once prior to Saturday and that was in a Carabao Cup match at Northampton where he didn't have the best of games. The manager shouldn't be picking Downs.
Still has found it difficult to settle on a striker to lead his line this season but what Downs has done to deserve getting the nod ahead of Adam Armstrong or Ross Stewart is beyond comprehension.
Armstrong showed what he can do after he was brought on as a late substitute, scoring a well executed consolation goal and looking a class above anything else Saints had to offer.
A player's reputation must be a difficult thing to leave to one side when a manager is selecting a starting eleven. It can only be for this reason that Taylor Harwood-Bellis (and Jack Stephens for that matter) are anywhere near the teamsheet. Most Saints fans would have been happy for Harwood-Bellis to have moved on in the summer. It would have been a fresh start for him and for the club.
Harwood-Bellis is being selected by reputation
Harwood-Bellis is clearly being selected by Still based on reputation. His performances after returning from injury have been very poor. Alongside Jack Stephens all the negativity and caution that got the Saints into so much trouble under Martin last season have resurfaced. Both look like rabbits caught in headlights, paralysed by fear.
Both are good players. At this level, they are outstanding. Both are sadly out of form and lacking visibly in confidence.
Harwood-Bellis has been rushed back when there was really no need to. In Ronnie Edwards, Still has one of the most promising defenders in the Championship. And, in Joshua Quarshie, Saints have a man mountain of a defender with the pace to win any defensive foot race. Bringing back Harwood-Bellis too soon has backfired.
Harwood-Bellis is not lacking in commitment and quality
It's important to stress that Harwood-Bellis is not lacking in both commitment and quality. But playing in a perpetually losing team must have taken its toll on the capped England international.
Whilst Still took responsibility, he didn't shy away from calling out his defender's mistakes. “He's doing what I'm telling him to and he's making mistakes and that happens to everyone,“ he told the Daily Echo.
Had the club listened to fans and sold Harwood-Bellis in the summer, Still wouldn't be in the position that he is in. He must give up on selecting players based on their reputation or seniority in the squad. Above all though, Still must take responsibility or call the players out. Doing both is cowardly.