We have to be more clinical, says Koeman
RONALD KOEMAN will wake up this morning with his nerves frayed. This night should have been far more comfortable for the Southampton manager. It started well enough, his side going ahead inside 17 minutes courtesy of Shane Long at a rain-swept St Mary’s. But as chance after chance went begging, the more agitated Koeman became. Eventually, Dusan Tadic put the game beyond doubt just two minutes after coming on. Nevertheless, Koeman will surely plan extra finishing practice for his team ahead of the clash against West Brom on Saturday. All in all, though, this was a positive night for the Saints, particularly given they had won just one of their previous 10. To add to Koeman’s delight, goalkeeper Fraser Forster made his first appearance in 10 months following a serious knee injury and striker Graziano Pelle returned after four weeks out. ‘From the start we controlled the game, we should have scored more,’ said Koeman. ‘We needed to be more clinical, but we were at a high level today.’ Watford’s form is worrying. Four consecutive league wins have been followed by four defeats. They need 11 more points to reach 40, usually the benchmark for survival, but Quique Sanchez Flores can’t see where his side’s next one will come from, particularly after this abject display. ‘I’m not angry, but disappointed. We didn’t play in the right way, made mistakes, we made it easy for Southampton,’ he said. ‘But this is the first time I’ve felt we are not competitive; so I will not be angry with my players, I will support my players.’ After a bland opening, the game sprang to life when Matt Targett fired in a peach of a cross that Shane Long glanced home. Flores will bemoan his side’s defending — particularly from Miguel Britos who allowed Long to nip in front of him. Southampton wasted a glut of chances due to a combination of wastefulness and some vintage goalkeeping by Heurelho Gomes. Not that it mattered as Odion Ighalo and Troy Deeney were unusually quiet for the visitors. Steven Davis thought he doubled Southampton’s advantage, but his excellent strike was ruled out for offside in the 65th minute. Mane then missed two glorious chances before being replaced by Dusan Tadic. It took Tadic just two minutes to succeed where Mane had failed, the Serbian midfielder slotting a firm shot past the overworked Gomes.
SUPER STAT: Craig Cathcart’s tame shot in the 85th minute was Watford’s first on target against Southampton in both league games this season.
SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): Forster 6; Van Dijk 6.5, Fonte 6.5, Bertrand 6.5; Soares 6.5 (Yoshida 82min), Romeu 7, Clasie 7, Targett 7.5; Davis 6.5 (Pelle 81), Mane (Tadic 71, 7); Long 7.
Subs not used: Davis, Martina, Ward-Prowse, Juanmi. Booked: Soares. Scorers: Long 17, Tadic 73. Manager: Ronald Koeman 7. WATFORD (4-4-2): Gomes 7.5; Nyom 6 (Ibarbo 68, 6), Prodl 6, Britos 6 (Cathcart 73, 6), Holebas 6; Jurado 5.5, Capoue 6.5, Watson 6.5, Abdi 5.5 (Anya 61, 6); Ighalo 6, Deeney 6. Subs not used: Arlauskis, Guedioura, Paredes, Behrami. Booked: Prodl, Deeney. Manager: Quique Sanchez Flores 6.
Man of the match: Heurelho Gomes. Referee: Craig Pawson 6.5.
Attendance: 28,399.