Hasenhuttl now a saint but Wagner becoming a sinner
Huddersfld 1
Billing 58
Southmptn 3
Redmond 15, Ings 42 (pen), Obafemi 71
THEY know all about Germans coming in and making an instant impact in this part of the world.
This, however, was all about the revival powers of the Austrian in the away dugout.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has lifted struggling Southampton off the canvas since replacing Mark Hughes.
Last weekend’s thrilling defeat of Arsenal was followed by an encouraging victory over previously miracle-working David Wagner’s seemingly doomed Huddersfield.
It lifted Hasenhuttl’s new employers out of the relegation zone and heaped further misery on their hosts. Goals from a rejuvenated Nathan Redmond, Danny Ings and substitute Michael Obafemi, with Philip Billing’s longrange effort the only response, were enough for a second straight win under the new man. The Saints go marching on. ‘I’m not surprised, surprised is the wrong word,’ Hasenhuttl said.
‘I saw the intention from the first day to bring onto the pitch what we are trying to teach them. It is amazing — in two games we shoot six goals. It shows me we have had quality build-up in the two weeks.’
They are learning quickly. It took the visitors just 15 minutes to take
the lead and write the next chapter of their new era when Redmond finished a flowing move to score his first of this season and equal last year’s tally.
It quickly got worse for the home side. Southampton were good enough as it was, without Huddersfield helping them on their way. And yet that is exactly what happened when Zanka lazily dallied on the ball in his own area, Ings nicked it and then fell over the defender’s outstretched leg.
The former Liverpool man picked himself up and sent Jonas Lossl the wrong way from the resulting spot-kick.
At the whistle for the break there were boos. The novelty of being in the Premier League has worn off. This is a grim struggle and you may well have forgiven some of the locals for nipping into the nearby town centre to do some Christmas shopping and salvage something from the afternoon.
Huddersfield did come back into it when Saints keeper Alex McCarthy, admittedly unsighted, allowed Billing’s 25-yarder to enter the middle of his goal.
It was only the 10th time the toothless Terriers had netted on this soil in the league in 2018. It was also as good as it got, with more self-inflicted Yorkshire misery killing the contest.
For reasons known only to himself, defender Christopher Schindler took an age on the ball under pressure from the impressive Redmond, who needed no invitation to steal the ball and set up substitute Obafemi to tap in a daft third.
With it, the 18-year-old became the youngest Republic of Ireland man to score in the Premier League. ‘He’s a cool guy,’ said Hasenhuttl. ‘His speed gives us more opportunities.’
The goal sparked a minor kerfuffle close to the away dugout, where home fans reacted furiously to some goading from some of the Saints benchwarmers.
Elsewhere in the main stand, an angry Huddersfield fan took off his shirt and marched to the exit, beating his exposed chest.
It ensured a merry Christmas for the travelling Saints fans, who twirled their Santa hats aloft in celebration but not for Wagner, who is yet to see one of his strikers score this season.
Next up? Manchester United away. ‘We have to make sure we do everything to score,’ he said.
Many more performances like this from Wagner’s team and they will not be staying up for much longer than the Christmas decorations.