CHE’S MEAL STEAL
THAT dinner Claudio Ranieri promised his Watford players if they keep a clean sheet is looking a long way off.
Che Adams settled this contest in the first half to give improving Southampton a first away win of the campaign.
But any half-decent attack would have made a meal out of the struggling Hornets defence – and hit them for four or five.
Watford were booed off at the break and then at full-time as frustrated fans vented their fury.
Life under Ranieri has been inconsistent to say the least, with a 5-0 home defeat by Liverpool followed by a 5-2 win at Everton last week.
But there was only one team in it for much of this match and the Italian knows he has big problems to sort out a side that have not kept a league clean sheet all season.
A clearly frustrated Ranieri said: “Do I need a new incentive other than a meal? No, no. no.
“We must work more, more, more.
“There were some mistakes. On Monday I will show them on TV how they have to move and close the space better.
“We have to improve our defensive way together. We were too passive in the first half. They were more intelligent. We must be patient and our fans need to be patient too.”
With their next five games against Arsenal, Manchester United, Leicester, Chelsea and Manchester City, Ranieri – a title winner with Leicester – may now need to work more miracles.
Craig Cathcart summed up the dodgy defending inside the opening seconds when he nearly put into this own net from Nathan Redmond’s cross.
Mohamed Elyounoussi saw a deflected effort go into the side-netting while Adam Armstrong missed the first of several gilt-edged chances with a header from Kyle Walker-Peters’ cross.
Southampton were deservedly ahead on 20 minutes as Adams found the corner with a lovely effort with the outside of his foot from the edge of the area.
It was his first goal in the Premier League since May. And it meant another Watford week without that promised food from their new manager. The hosts did respond immediately as Ben Foster’s long kick found Josh King who crossed for Ismaila Sarr.
The Watford livewire’s shot was close to going in as Walker-Peters cleared off the line.
Then came a flurry of Southampton chances, all wasted, as they continued to struggle in front of goal – Adams’ effort was ony their ninth in the league this season.
Adams missed a sitter with his head then Armstrong missed two golden chances before the break and another after half-time.
Watford, who had turned on the style late at Everton, did not look like finding a way back in.
However Saints were indebted to keeper Alex McCarthy who foiled sub Ashley Fletcher with a wonderful late stop.
It is now three games unbeaten in the league for Southampton, who have moved above Watford in the table. Boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “We are absolutely happy with a deserved win. The only criticism is we did not score more. It should have been 3-0 or 4-0.
“The good thing is when you have clean sheets it is easier.
“Che could have had more today. But we don’t have just one striker who can score goals.”