NEWCASTLE
loanee Takumi Minamino and James Ward-Prowse, with a brilliant free-kick, kept Saints in it.
Willock (with Bruce, below) said: “I am buzzing to get the win. We needed it and I am buzzing to score as well. I said I wanted to score and help the team. We are looking forward.
“We had to stick together, grind it out, and head every ball. All the lads were geeing each other up. I have not had that in a long time.
“It will bring us closer and we will fight for each other even more.”
P W D L F A Pts Man City 22 15 5 2 43 14 50 Man Utd 23 13 6 4 49 30 45 Leicester 23 13 4 6 39 25 43 Liverpool 23 11 7 5 44 29 40 Chelsea 23 11 6 6 38 24 39 West Ham 23 11 6 6 34 28 39 Everton 21 11 4 6 34 28 37 Tottenham 22 10 6 6 36 22 36 Aston Villa 21 11 2 8 36 24 35 Arsenal 23 9 4 10 27 23 31 Leeds 21 9 2 10 36 38 29 Southampton 22 8 5 9 29 37 29 Crystal Pal 22 8 5 9 27 37 29 Wolves 23 7 6 10 23 31 27 Brighton 23 5 10 8 25 30 25 Newcastle 23 7 4 12 25 38 25 Burnley 22 6 5 11 14 29 23 Fulham 22 2 9 11 17 31 15 West Brom 23 2 6 15 18 54 12 Sheff Utd 23 3 2 18 15 37 11
TAKUMI MINAMINO has been tipped to revive his career at Southampton after scoring a debut goal following his loan move from Liverpool.
The striker, axed from the Anfield squad by Jurgen Klopp who could not give him enough game time, looked sharp and hungry at Newcastle.
Minamino, 26, finished well on the half-hour mark, thanks to a superb first touch as he burst into the box (above right and celebrating left). He will be key to stopping Saints’ run of just one win in 10 games.
Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl said: “For Taki, it’s good. It’s always good when you immediately come in and score. It was a fantastic goal. He showed in some other movements that he can help us in the No.10 position.
“Che Adams and Danny Ings at the moment don’t score. This is a fact.
“Especially Ingsy, we are missing his goals. He’s a little bit unlucky with his finishing – either it’s offside or he hits the post, like here. Sometimes these situations happen for strikers.
“That’s the reason why I’m very happy that Taki scored. He showed immediately he can help us.
“But it would be also helpful if our strikers do it again. In the moment, they don’t find the target. Hopefully, this will change in the future.”
Darlow ............................................ 7 Manquillo ........................................ 6 Hayden ........................................... 7 Schar .............................................. 7 Lewis .............................................. 6 Hendrick ........................................ 4 Shelvey ........................................... 5 Willock ............................................ 7 Almiron .......................................... 8 Saint-Maximin ................................ 7 Wilson ............................................. 6
Krafth (Manquillo 24) ...................... 7 Dummett (Maximin 67) ................... 7 Joelinton (Wilsom 36) ................... 5