Momentum key for Southampton’s EPL survival bid, says Hughes

RELEGATION-THREATENED Southampton must maintain their positive momentum if they are to record back-toback Premier League wins for the first time this season, manager Mark Hughes said ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Everton.

Southampton, who are 18th in the table, ended an eight-game winless streak with a 2-1 home victory over Bournemouth last weekend and are within a point of safety with three games left in the campaign.

The Saints, who have won just two of their last 22 league matches, could move out of the relegation zone with a victory at Goodison Park.

“Momentum is great if you gain momentum at the right time. Clearly if you are going for trophies and you are playing well in key games then that will help you to be successful,” Hughes said yesterday.

“The same is true for teams in our situation. If we can build momentum on the back of the Bournemouth result then that is going to help us... Back-to-back results is massive at any stage of the season because invariably it shoves you up the table... If we are able to manage it at the weekend then clearly that’s a huge boost for us.”

After the trip to Everton, Southampton travel to 17th-placed Swansea City in a potential relegation decider before ending their season at home to champions Manchester City but Hughes is not thinking that far ahead.

“The key from our point of view is totally on the next game,” Hughes added. “That is the only way you can approach it... we focused all our energies last week on the Bournemouth game.

“We got that one out of the way, now clearly all our focus is on getting a positive result against Everton, which won’t be easy. Their home form is very good.”

Hughes also praised Everton counterpart Sam Allardyce for leading the Merseyside club’s rise from 18th to eighth in the league table.

“The amount of points Sam has been able to earn as Everton manager is really high,” Hughes said. “He is doing a great job there – it will be difficult. Their home form invariably is strong. It is always the strongest part of their season.”

Meanwhile, Crystal Palace striker Christian Benteke’s struggles in the current Premier League campaign are not a true reflection of his talent, manager Roy Hodgson said yesterday.

Benteke has struggled for form in the current campaign and his goal against Leicester City last weekend was just his third in the league in 29 appearances.

“It has not been a great season and he’ll tell you that. But I think he is a lot better than what we have seen this season,” Hodgson said yesterday ahead of tomorrow’s league clash at 19th-placed Stoke City.

“I would expect him to go out and prove next season that this season was not a true reflection of him.”

Palace are 11th in the table with 38 points from 36 matches and Hodgson, who took over from Frank de Boer in September with the club bottom of the table, suggested he was keen to stay on and help the club improve further.

“Unless you’re one of the top six sides in the league it tends to be a two manager job to keep a team up. I’ll be talking to the directors... so that we can prepare to push on next season,” Hodgson said. – Reuters