Koeman bemoans finishing as Saints fail to exact revenge
HOW the Southampton faithful would have wanted — and deserved — one more against Tottenham.
There was clear and understandable resentment at the return of former manager Mauricio Pochettino, who left his old club in the lurch last summer to join Spurs.
Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Dejan Lovren and Calum Chambers all followed him out the exit door and gloom was enveloping the south coast until Ronald Koeman, with his quick wit and cheeky smile, arrived and turned the situation around.
A few unexpected signings came good, including Graziano Pelle who twice scored to put his side ahead in this match, only for strikes from Erik Lamela and Nacer Chadli, the visitors’ only two on target, to keep Tottenham one point ahead in the table.
If Southampton’s draw did not indicate they have overtaken the north London club, it at least showed that the Dutchman has taken a hugely depleted squad and turned them into equals.
There was also a certain sense of satisfaction for the home side — the point moved them on to 57 for the season, surpassing last year’s record set by Pochettino.
There were hugs and kisses from the Argentine to greet his former Southampton staff upon arrival, but the St Mary’s natives were not so forgiving.
Just two minutes in and the first boos came as he rose from his seat in the dugout for the first time. They came again, louder, on 13 minutes, when he controlled a stray ball which had gone out for a throwin.
‘I was focused on myself,’ Pochettino insisted. ‘We met a lot of people we love and who love us. We have very good memories from here, but the game of football is like this.’
In fact, in the opening 25 minutes there was more entertainment in the stands than on the pitch.
Both sets of supporters traded taunts about Pochettino and Gareth Bale — most too expletive-laden to print — but neither team could muster a clear chance, until the home side won a corner on the right-hand side.
It was cleverly worked, as James Ward-Prowse drilled in the ball to meet the late run of Morgan Schneiderlin who struck it side-footed and first time, but Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris reacted sharply to save.
There was nothing, however, Lloris could do when some calamitous defending allowed Pelle to open the scoring four minutes later.
Ryan Mason slipped on the edge of his box, played the ball back to Ben Davies who in turn attempted to let it run to his goalkeeper, only for Pelle to nudge him aside and poke the ball in from close range. There was a hint of a push in the back from the striker but the goal was allowed to stand.
Pochettino has transformed the work-rate of his Spurs squad, much like he did when he first joined Southampton. Last season, they covered the least average distance per Premier League game of any side, yet this campaign they have covered the second-most, behind Burnley. It paid off when they levelled just before half-time.
Eric Dier curled in a cross from the right and Lamela, who had come inside from the opposite flank, turned the ball on target with what looked like his arm. Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis got a weak hand to the ball and could only push it on to the post and in. It was Lamela’s first goal in five months.
Spurs were lucky to be level, both before the goal and after it. Steven Davis missed two glorious chances just after the break, first when space opened up for him on the edge of the box only for the midfielder to get his angles wrong. Then a clever passing move — Mane into Pelle who back-heeled to Davis — ended with him missing the top-right corner from only six yards out. Lloris had to be on hand again in the 56th minute as Ryan Bertrand sent in a cross from the left which was heading into the near-post top corner until it was tipped over.
But the France goalkeeper was helpless to prevent Southampton going in front again in the 65th minute. Substitute Shane Long crossed and Pelle powered a header from at least eight yards out into the left of goal.
Southampton were dominant but somehow Spurs equalised again, six minutes later. Chadli ran in behind Maya Yoshida on the right channel, on to Dier’s through ball and finished low into the far left corner.
Koeman said: ‘Spurs were not lucky to get a point. Playing at home, two times in front, you expect to win the game. We needed to shoot more on target.’
Pochettino thanked the travelling Spurs fans for their support on an emotional day, saying: ‘When they sang my name it was the first time I had heard that from them and I appreciated that so much.’