Adams pops up to take heat off Hasenhuttl
HE HAS survived atrocious runs of results. He has survived his backroom staff being sacked. He has survived losing 9-0 — twice. Somehow, Ralph Hasenhuttl forever seems to find a way of extending his Southampton stay. This win was right on cue, coming at a time when the Austrian’s neck was practically being placed on the guillotine. Maybe the three points will see him survive the chop for now. Southampton’s owners Sport Republic are said to be looking at potential replacements, if and when they decide to go in a different direction. This win, lifting them out of the Premier League’s bottom three, will ease their concerns after Che Adams’ first-half header settled it. Hasenhuttl is a likeable man and was in cheery mood, saying: ‘It’s good. I don’t want to pass this stadium when I’m going to the Bournemouth beaches and think, “Ah I lost there!”
‘It was important for us, for our fans, for the staff, for the players. It’s a win for the whole group and you could feel they wanted to show that they believe.’ Bournemouth had more than 50 per cent possession for the first time in a match this season and managed their most shots, but Southampton’s determined defence refused to be beaten. This inflicted a first defeat on Bournemouth caretaker Gary O’Neil, who had gone unbeaten in his six games in charge since replacing Scott Parker.
‘Fine margins,’ O’Neil said. ‘I didn’t get carried away with the six. Did we deserve to lose this one? No. We move on.’ Hasenhuttl has proven tactical nous against the bigger teams, as evidenced by Southampton not losing to the Manchester clubs and Tottenham at home or away last season. But he has a habit of losing to lesser opposition, particularly newly-promoted clubs. Despite that, Southampton led
1-0 after nine minutes. Romain Perraud’s cross found Adams, who nipped in front of Adam Smith to nod into the far corner.
In the 35th minute, a foul on Marcus Tavernier by Duje Caleta-Car won Bournemouth a free-kick from 20 yards. Lewis Cook stepped up but blazed over. Southampton had not kept a clean sheet this season but they were halfway there as the teams headed inside. Bournemouth had chances after the break — Marcos Senesi should have buried a free header from a corner but his connection was not clean and the ball flew wide.
‘Calm down’ shouted Hasenhuttl towards his players from his technical area.
It was Bournemouth’s attack against Southampton’s defence, with the visitors seizing any opportunities to kill some time. Who could blame them? This was a team that had lost 15 of their last 22 Premier League games. Naturally they were nervous. In the 74th minute, Cherries substitute Junior Stanislas’s cross was stopped by the arm of Mohammed Salisu. Cue cries for a penalty. VAR Peter Bankes studied it from Stockley Park, deciding Salisu’s arm was tucked behind his back and not in an unnatural position.
That infuriated the hosts, but Hasenhuttl got the win he and Southampton needed so badly, given the talk of what would have happened if they had lost.