Stuart hails new boss
STUART ARMSTRONG has revealed how new boss Ralph Hasenhuttl has got Southampton smiling again.
The Saints have started marching up the table following two wins from three games since the Austrian took charge.
Hasenhuttl’s men have climbed out of the relegation zone thanks to this convincing and deserved win over Huddersfield. The impressive Nathan Redmond gave the visitors the lead before Danny Ings doubled the advantage before the break from the penalty spot after Mathias Jorgensen tripped the striker. The Terriers pulled a goal back on 58 minutes when Philip Billing’s swerving effort deceived a flat-footed Alex McCarthy. But the visitors refused to panic and sealed the win when teenage sub Michael Obafemi took advantage of Christopher Schindler’s horrendous mistake on 71 minutes. The Terriers were giving away cough sweets to fans before kick off, but blindfolds would have been more appropriate on this evidence. David Wagner’s men have scored just 11 goals all season and have failed to notch two in a single game at home. The improvement Hasenhuttl has instilled in the Saints, meanwhile, is a damning indictment of how shambolic things had become under Mark Hughes. Armstrong is convinced the future is bright under their new leader following the team’s 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 Armstrong. “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. “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 HUDDERSFIELD (4-2-3-1):
Lossl 6; Hadergjonaj 6, Jorgense
6, Schindler 5, Kongolo 6; Bacuna
6 (Kachunga 65, 6), BILLING 8;
7 Mbenza (Quaner 81), Pritchard 7, Lowe 6 (Durm 46, 6); Mounie 6. Subs: Hamer, Diakhaby, Depoitre, Stankovic.
UP NEXT: Manchester United
(a), Premier League, Wednesday. SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-3):
McCarthy 7; Bednarek 7, Yoshida Vestergaard 8; Valery 7 (Stephens
78) Hojbjerg 8, Romeu 8, Targett 7; Armstrong 6 (Lemina 69, 7), REDMON
9, Ings 7 (Obafemi 65, 7). Subs: Long, Gunn, Austin, Ramsay.
UP NEXT: West Ham (h), Premier League, Thursday.
Referee: Stuart Attwell 8.
YOUR TURN: In which year was the Terriers’ last top-flight victory agains the Saints – 1991, 1981 or 1971?