Terriers need to find bite... and quickly
from the south coast) the home support rallied for Town in the second half, when Wagner swapped Erik Durm for Lowe and looked to make an early impact.
Town’s best player, Billing, almost put Durm through in the box on 55 minutes, then the big Dane launched a long throw which resulted in a Zanka header being deflected narrowly wide by keeper Alex McCarthy’s reaction block.
Town didn’t have to wait long, however, to be suddenly back in it.
There appeared little danger as Mbenza rolled the ball square to Billing with 58 minutes on the clock, but the talented midfielder had the ball on his left foot and sent a stinging, swerv- ing, 30-yard drive past the wrong-footed McCarthy.
In the next attack, Mbenza had a stinging near-post drive beaten away for a corner by McCarthy and, in an instant, Southampton were on the back foot.
After Zanka was booked for a pull on Stuart Armstrong’s right arm, Ings was replaced by Obafemi and Town sent on Elias Kachunga - to a massive roar - for Bacuna.
Town stepped it up, with Alex Pritchard testing the keeper and Kachunga finding some nice touches on the right.
Southampton replaced Armstrong with Mario Lemina to try and break up the play, and they were rewarded with a 71st-minute third from Obafemi, after a slip by Schindler had allowed Redmond to easily set him up. There was no way back.
Jack Stephens went on for the visitors for the final 12 minutes, replacing Yan Valery, and Redmond continued to cause problems on the break.
The introduction of Quaner for Mbenza was Town’s last throw of the dice and, with four minutes left, they were grateful to Lossl for an excellent save to deny Obafemi as the speedy striker broke clear.
When Billing’s stoppage-time ball across the box went untouched, it just about summed up Town’s fortunes.
Generally, a 90 minutes to forget for Town and a match which will only cement their odds among the relegation favourites. HUDDERSFIELD Town are in need of a massive lift as they head to Manchester United on Boxing Day.
The 3-1 home defeat to fellow strugglers Southampton has left David Wagner’s side joint bottom of the Premier League and reeling from five successive defeats.
It wasn’t pretty viewing for the majority in a crowd of 23,284 and supporters are extremely worried about Town’s prospects of mounting a revival to stay up. Ahead of the January transfer window, here are FIVE things we learned from the disappointing events at the John Smith’s Stadium: from 18 games. It’s not that long ago since hopes were high following four home points against Fulham and West Ham were followed by an impressive victory down at Wolves. Losing successive home matches to fellow strugglers Newcastle United and Southampton, however, has removed a great deal of that optimism. In 2004-05, West Brom were bottom on Christmas Day and managed to stay up. Sunderland in 2013-14 and Leicester in 2014-15 also achieved the feat, even before final day, so it can be done. It’s just going to be a long old haul, and Town need to waste no time in making inroads.