Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
OR INSPIRED
On the day Saints signed a new midfielder, Romeu showed there’s still life in the old dog yet
IT WAS a timely moment for Oriol Romeu to score his first goal in 20 months - just as Southampton were completing the £12.7million signing of a new midfielder.
But, for Saints manager Ralph Hasenhuttl, it was also proof that it is not on ly stri ker
Danny
Ings who can score goals for his team. For once th e En gland man was overshadowed at a drenched St Mary’s as Moussa Djenepo, with his first goal i n more than a year, and Romeu, not known for his penalty-area expertise, rattled in the goals that saw off winless West Brom.
Brest defensive midfielder Ibrahima Diallo signed a fouryear deal at St Mary’s yesterday as Hasenhuttl at last got in the man he wanted to replace the departed Pierre-emile Hojbjerg. There is also the chance that Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-cheek will arrive before the deadline as the Southampton manager strengthens a side that started the season shakily.
After their good finish to last season, when Saints were unbeaten in their last seven games, the start of this campaign had come as an unwelcome jolt, with three defeats in three games, including a Carabao Cup defeat at the hands of Brentford.
But this
comfortable win against a punchless Albion followed up the victory at Burnley last week – and things are looking much steadier for the Saints.
As for Albion, who created almost nothing, this was a worrying third defeat in four games. Had it not been for keeper Sam Johnstone, who pulled off a string of outstanding saves, it would have been even more damaging.
Southampton came out of the blocks fast at St Mary’s, and the over worked Johnstone made his first fine stop of the day as Ryan Bertrand burst into the area to shoot.
Kyle Walker-peters is growing by the game after his permanent move from Tottenham, and the speedy right-back gave Hasenhuttl’s side a weapon Albion couldn’t cope with.
Johnstone was forced to pull off a fine double save from Ings and Che Adams, but his onehanded stop to deny an Ings header was even better.
It could not last, though, and when an Ings cross fell into the path of Djenepo, the Malian’s Cruyff turn left two defenders on their backsides before he drilled a shot home.
Albion manager Slaven Bilic rang the changes in the second half as he tried to find some spark and, from Matheus Pereira’s free-kick, Grady Diangana’s defected low shot was kept out by Alex Mccarthy’s feet.
But a second goal always looked likely for Saints. It was just where it came from that was the surprise.
Stuart Armstrong f ound space to swing in a cross and there, arriving on the edge of the area, was Romeu, whose superb right-foot volley gave Johnstone no chance.
It was the former Chelsea man’s first goal since February 2019, only his fifth in more than five years at the club, and his first touch in the opposition box this season so far.
But it was enough to remind his manager that he’s still around.
For Albion, well at least their fixtures after the international break look winnable – home to Burnley followed by trips to Brighton and Fulham.