ADAMS IS THE FANCY DAN FOR SAINTS
Hasenhuttl could have a real good thing going with Che and electric Ings
DANNY INGS came up one goal short in his personal pursuit of the Premier League Golden Boot – but he still helped Southampton bow out on a high.
Electric Ings scored his 22nd goal of the season from the penalty spot as he came agonisingly close to catching top scorer Jamie Vardy.
Strike partner Che Adams also bagged a brace to continue his purple patch at the end of the stop-start campaign.
Adams, who had failed to find the net in his first 29 appearances for Saints, signed off with four in six games after the double to see off his former club.
Chris Wilder’s Blades started promisingly and took the lead midway through the first half through John Lundstram’s strike.
But Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team were full value for the win after overwhelming the visitors in the second half and handing United a third successive defeat. Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg was left out of Hasenhuttl’s squad with the wantaway midfielder the subject of bids from both Everton and Tottenham.
Kyle Walker-Peters again featured at right-back and Hasenhuttl (below) will no doubt wish to make his arrival from Spurs permanent this summer after another decent showing.
United went close early on when Billy Sharp skipped clear of Jannik Vestergaard and was denied by a fine save by Alex McCarthy at the near post.
But McCarthy could do nothing to stop Lundstram giving United the lead on 26 minutes when he pounced on Enda Stevens’ cross at the far post after more unconvincing defending from Vestergaard.
A misplaced pass from Walker-Peters soon let in Lundstram again.
And this time McCarthy saved magnificently from his fierce shot to prevent Saints falling further behind.
Southampton had not hit the heights of their brilliant recent form but Adams’ goal five minutes into the second half got them back in it.
The ball reached Adams via Sander Berge and the former Bramall Lane striker showed impressive strength to hold off Chris Basham and bury the ball past Dean Henderson at the near post.
Saints were in the ascendancy but McCarthy’s terrible pass soon fell straight to Sharp and he hesitated a fraction too long, allowing Jack Stephens back in to make the crucial block.
Jack Robinson then prevented Adams getting in at the other end as he took the ball off his toe with the Saints man poised to shoot after Ings cleverly dummied the ball in front of him.
But Adams would not be denied for long and again finished ruthlessly as Basham’s clearance fell to him on the edge of the area – and he located the opposite corner of Henderson’s net.
Not to be upstaged, Ings was soon in on the act and converted a late penalty after being tripped by Oliver Norwood.
There was plenty for Hasenhuttl (above) to be smiling about at the end. His post-Hojbjerg captain James Ward-Prowse finished the season having played every moment of Premier League action.
In Adams and Ings they look to have the beginning of an exciting partnership forming.
Despite fading since lockdown, there is no denying what a brilliant return to the top flight it has been for the Blades.
An FA Cup quarter-final and a top-half finish for a team fancied by many to drop straight back to the Championship is an admirable achievement for Wilder and his dedicated staff to build on.