Palace are left Dan and dusted
THIS could have been the typical end-of-season dead rubber between teams safe from relegation with little to play for.
Instead it fizzed with life at St Mary’s because there were so many players with plenty to play for.
Southampton’ Danny Ings knows time is running out if he is to make England’s Euro 2020 finals squad after an injury-hit season, so his two goals were a timely reminder to Gareth Southgate.
Che Adams wants to make his mark on the Scotland squad, so his eighth goal of the season (right) was important for him. And Christian Benteke, who gave Crystal Palace an early lead, is a man playing for a new contract.
In the end, Ings helped Saints to only their third win in their last 18 league games. Manager Ralph Hasenhuttl had said before the game he missed being able to give his family hugs during the lockdown. He should perhaps give a cuddle to goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who saved a penalty and produced several other great stops.
Burnley’s win at Fulham on Monday sent the Cottagers down and made Saints safe but Hasenhuttl had demanded points from his men. They started the night just one place above the drop zone, after being top of the table in November.
Having Ings back in his side after a hamstring injury was then a massive pre game lift.
But it was Benteke, one of a dozen out of contract at the end of this campaign, who made the first impact. After only two minutes Luka Milivojevic swung in a free-kick, Scott Dann nodded down and the Belgian striker’s first volley was mis-hit but he reacted first and drilled his shot low past Forster.
Then Ings took a hand. There as little on when Nathan Redmond fired in a low cross, but the striker controlled, turned Cheikhou Kouyate and shot neatly into the corner for his 100th senior goal.
Redmond had a shot tipped round a post by Vicente Guaita, who superbly turned away Adams’ effort.
Palace should have regained their lead just before half-time.
Wilfried Zaha was tripped by Redmond but Forster superbly saved from Milovojevic’s spot-kick. Saints almost capitalised, but James WardProwse curled a free-kick just wide.
But three minutes after the break WardProwse’s low corner was fired goalwards by Stuart Armstrong and Adams squeezed home.
Forster then brilliantly stopped Benteke’s powerful header and Ings had the last word for Saints, running onto Adams’ pass and skilfully slipping the ball past Guaita.
Were you watching Gareth?
SOUTHAMPTON: Forster 7, Walker-Peters 7, Bednarek 6 (Salisu 46, 6), Vestergaard 6, Stephens 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Armstrong 7, Minamino 6, Redmond 6, MOTM Ings 8 (Obafemi 76, 6), Adams 7. CRYSTAL PALACE: Guaita 7, Ward 6, Kouyate 6, Dann 7, Mitchell 6, Riedewald 7, Milivojevic 6 (Schlupp 64, 6), Eze 7, Zaha 7, Benteke 7 (Mateta 78), Aye 6 (Batshuayi 71, 6).