Hasenhuttl hits out at critics as Saints hit back

RALPH HASENHUTTL believes Southampton’s thrilling fightback at Brighton proves his players are not “on the beach” on a day he lost defender Tino Livramento to a serious knee problem.

Saints overcame the setback of Livramento’s nasty first half injury and falling two goals behind at the Amex Stadium as a fine James Ward-Prowse brace salvaged a 2-2 Premier League draw.

Danny Welbeck’s early finish and a calamitous own goal from Mohammed Salisu looked set to condemn Hasenhuttl’s men to a sixth League defeat from eight games.

But, with the visitors’ frustrations heightened by Livramento striking a post and then being carried off on a stretcher at 1-0 after twisting awkwardly, Ward-Prowse’s two strikes from distance earned a deserved point.

Saints, like hosts Albion, retain hope of a top-half finish and manager Hasenhuttl was delighted with his players’ response to adversity.

“We saw a very intense game; a very, very horrible start for us with the goal after two minutes, a chance for an equaliser that hits the post, a very, very bad injury and a second goal where we kick it in our own goal,” said the Austrian.

“There is not much more to climb than we had first half. “You said last week that the guys seem to be on the beach. I think today they showed they are not, that they want to achieve more than only 40 points.

“Today we showed a very, very good reaction and it definitely helped that we made it 2-1 before halftime with a beautiful freekick.

“The first freekick was amazing. It’s super tough for every goalkeeper in the moment, they don’t know what is coming up,” Hasenhuttl said of Ward-Prowse, who is four behind David Beckham’s Premier League record of 18 goals from direct freekicks.

“And the second was fantastic play around the box.”