Sofiane in right place but wants right time
SOUTHAMPTON
SOFIANE BOUFAL ran to the dugout rather than the fans after scoring a goal-of-the-season contender.
The Moroccan seemed to be making a point to Mauricio Pellegrino about his lack of playing time – only one Premier League start since the manager took over from Claude Puel in summer.
Southampton’s treatment of a man who was their record signing at £16million when joining from Lille in 2016 seems perverse.
He has made more appearances from the bench than starts and was a substitute again against West Brom, albeit one who did more in nine minutes on the field than most players did in 90.
But Saints defender Maya Yoshida thought Pellegrino got it spot on. “That was the plan of the manager,” he said.
“We play attacking football and dominate, and we put Redders [Nathan Redmond] and Sofiane on to make the difference. In the second half it became open and if that kind of player has space, they can do what they want. That’s what the manager wanted and Sofiane showed his quality.”
Boufal has scored only three goals for Saints, all spectacular winners in 1-0 victories – and that still represents a better minutesper-goal return than Shane Long, who has now gone 26 matches for his club and the Republic of Ireland without scoring.
West Brom missed their chance to end a run of seven games without a win when former Saint Jay Rodriguez put a good chance wide.
They face Manchester City, Tottenham and Chelsea in three of their next four games, perhaps without Jonny Evans, who injured a groin and Craig Dawson, whose knee locked.
“Sometimes you get something where you’re not expecting it,” said boss Tony Pulis. “I’ve been at this club and gone to Manchester United and won there, so we’ll take every game as it comes.”
SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): NEXT UP: WEST BROM (4-5-1): Booked: Referee: NEXT UP: Goal:
TO GO down fighting as Everton did against Lyon is one thing, but to slump to the canvas with barely a whimper and in front of their home fans is something else entirely.
Boards and fans can take the odd reverse if they believe their club is still heading in the right direction. But Everton’s performance yesterday on a painful afternoon and against a side in Arsenal who have barely laced up a glove away from home this season, let alone swung it in anger, could yet prove a hammer blow for Ronald Koeman’s reign.
Sections of the home support appeared to have made up their mind, either leaving early or staying only to add to the chorus of boos. And while the players appear to still be battling for the under-pressure Dutchman, Everton seem devoid of confidence.
Getting things back on track is something Koeman AT GOODISON PARK