Hasenhuttl is building it up nicely
STUART Armstrong has revealed how new manager Ralph Hasenhuttl has Southampton smiling again.
The Saints have started marching up the table following two wins from three games since Hasenhuttl took charge and are now three points clear of the drop zone after this convincing and deserved victory over Huddersfield.
Nathan Redmond’s 15th-minute opener was followed by Danny Ings’ penalty and, after Philip Billing had pulled one back, Irishman Michael Obafemi, 18, secured the points.
The improvement Hasenhuttl has immediately brought to Southampton is a damning indictment of how shambolic things had become under previous manager Mark Hughes.
And Armstrong is convinced the future is bright under his side’s new leader following their first back-to-back wins since 2017.
“It’s good to put that stat to bed and turn around our bad run of form and get two good wins,” said the Saints midfielder. “We’re very happy. The past few months have not been easy for us because there’s been a lot of disappointment.
“I feel that we’re not only getting points but we’re getting the performances as well.
“We’re building something very good here. The new manager has brought a bit of structure to the team, and how we set up in an attacking and defensive way. There’s high energy and a lot of running, and we’re getting our rewards.
“We just feel more organised. We feel more together as a team. We’re all working in the same direction. We all know what each other’s doing. It’s certainly working.”
For Huddersfield, on the other hand, their
HUDDERSFIELD SOUTHAMPTON
By time in the top flight might be coming to an end, unless they sign a striker in next month’s transfer window.
David Wagner’s 19th-placed side have scored just 11 goals this season and have failed to notch two in a single game at home throughout the campaign. And Wagner might need old friend Jurgen Klopp to do him a favour and loan him Liverpool outcast Dominic Solanke.
After a fifth defeat in a row, goalkeeper Jonas Lossl admitted his side had hit rock bottom. He said: “It’s definitely the worst point we’ve had in the 18 months that I have been here. So judging by that, yes, it’s the lowest I’ve felt. But we have to show what we’re made of.
“We have to stand together as a team and as a club as well. These guys in the stands are loyal as always and we really do need them. We need them to believe as much as us.
“I do really think that we can turn this around, because we have performed very well this season, and we have the quality in the team. We will work our backsides off in every training session, every day. Most of all, we have to keep believing.”
HUDDERSFIELD (4-2-3-1): Booked: Goal: Referee: NEXT UP: Booked: Goals:
NEXT UP:
Lossl
6; Hadergjonaj 6, Zanka 6, Schindler 5, Kongolo 6; Bacuna 6 (Kachunga 65, 6), Billing 8; Mbenza 7 (Quaner 81), Pritchard 7, Lowe 6 (Durm 46, 6); Mounie 6. Jorgensen, Lowe.
Billing 58.
Man Utd (a), Boxing Day PL.
SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-3):
McCarthy 7; Bednarek 7, Yoshida 7, Vestergaard 8; Valery 7 (Stephens 78), Hojbjerg 8, Romeu 8, Targett 7; Armstrong 6 (Lemina 69, 7), Redmond 9, Ings 7 (Obafemi 65, 7). Valery, Stephens, Hojberg. Redmond 15, Ings 42 pen, Obafemi 71. West Ham (h), Thur PL.
S Attwell (Warwicks).