Patient Saints rewarded with brilliant Boufal breakthrough
A DAY of excitement in the Premier League looked like it would end with a result that was rather expected between two sides struggling to score.
Then, substitute Sofiane Boufal showed up. The 24-year-old embarked on a run that started well inside his own half and ended with him scoring an 85th-minute winner for Southampton.
Boufal got the better of five West Bromwich Albion players, leaving two comically clattering into one another.
The opening 10 minutes told the story of two cagey sides. The Saints had won just one of their last six league fixtures while Albion were without a win in six.
A clumsy foul from Jake Livermore in the 16th minute handed Southampton a chance to test Ben Foster. They didn’t, but they did smack the woodwork. England left-footer Ryan Bertrand saw his curling shot clip the top of Jonny Evans’ head to take it on to the post.
Saints should have scored eight minutes later when a corner landed in the six-yard box, where Oriol Romeu was waiting. The 26-year-old was turning as he shot — and sent it wide from two yards.
Soon after, a wonderful break saw the home side go from their own box to the other as Manolo Gabbiadini sprinted down the left wing and set up Shane Long, who stabbed it wide.
Then came a blow to Albion, as Evans was forced off injured following a heavy fall.
Southampton’s sixth and seventh corners of the first half found Maya Yoshida. First his header was well saved by Foster, then an acrobatic overhead kick went wide.
The second half started the same as the first — all Southampton, very little West Brom. Yet out of nowhere, the visitors should have taken the lead. Jay Rodriguez got the better of the offside trap and only had Fraser Forster to beat, but he spooned his shot wide.
Dusan Tadic had a penalty appeal waved away with 19 minutes to play, but Southampton got what they deserved thanks to Boufal. SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Forster 6; Cedric 6, Van Dijk 6, Yoshida 6.5, Bertrand 6; Davis 6, Lemina 6, Romeu 6 (Redmond 69min, 6), Tadic 7 (Austin 81); Long 6.5 (Boufal 81), Gabbiadini 6.5. Subs (not used): McCarthy, Hoedt, WardProwse, McQueen. WEST BROMWICH ALBION (4-3-3): Foster 6; Dawson 6, Hegazy 6, Evans 6 (Nyom 32, 5), Gibbs 5.5; Livermore 6, Krychowiak 6, Barry 5.5 (McAuley 53, 6); Rodriguez 5, Rondon 5.5, Chadli 5.5 (Phillips 77). Subs (not used): Myhill, Yacob, Brunt, McClean. Booked: Chadli. Referee: G Scott 6.