itsbeautifuloutside

Southampton 0

Match Report

This was a dreadful game. It was a strange atmosphere with little to get excited about, until the last few minutes when Saints threw everything at Sunderland in a desperate attempt to save the game.

Nigel Adkins had a problem to address before the match in deciding firstly who would take Lallana's place on the left wing, who was still out with the injury he sustained against Reading. His second problem was to do with what formation to use. When I saw the team sheet I was happy to see that Ramírez was back in the starting line-up and Mayuka was making an overdue appearance as a starter.

My optimism was dashed as the players lined up prior to the kick off, when I saw that Ramírez was standing on the left wing and Mayuka was alongside Lambert in the middle. It was going to be 442.

For most of the first half Saints looked assured and were pulling the strings in midfield with Fonte and Yoshida dealing with Fletcher. Though for all Saints skillfull approach play, Mignolet in the Sunderland goal was hardly troubled.

Then, almost completely against the run of play, Sunderland drove down their left wing and a mis-hit shot somehow landed at the feet of a completely unmarked Fletcher to the right of the penalty area. He was not going to miss a chance like this and in a flash it was 0-1.

Shortly after Mayuka had a reasonable shout for a penalty turned down, but Saints were clearly deflated after the goal, as were the Saints fans.

t wasn't until the introduction of Steve De Ridder (on for Mayuka) early in the second half that things started to pick up, but as is usual with Shteeeve, he flattered to deceive.

Possession

• Southampton 48%
• Sunderland 52%

Shots

• Southampton 13
• Sunderland 10

On target

• Southampton 7
• Sunderland 6

Corners

• Southampton 8
• Sunderland 5

Fouls

• Southampton 11
• Sunderland 15