SAINTS ALIVE!
Hasenhuttl has the last laugh after rescue act
IT WAS not an impossible job when Ralph Hasenhuttl took over at Southampton, but it was certainly an unenviable one. With nine points from 16 games they were loitering in the relegation zone, 14 points behind Bournemouth.
After this pulsating endto-end draw that gap is now four, but far more importantly, Southampton secured Premier League survival.
With 29 points f rom 21 games, the job Hasenhuttl has done is r e markable. The club did not add players in January and top scorer Danny Ings has not found the net since December.
The Austrian admitted taking the job was risk, saying: ‘I’m a manager who wanted to have this situation. The easy way is not my way. If you look at my history, I always go to clubs who are struggling a lot. I know this situation. If you make it you can enjoy much more.
‘If you see the game today, it was everything that we have learnt so far was in it. Changing the shape, pressing early, attacking early, then sitting a little bit back. It was everything. It was a complete summary of all the stuff we have learnt so far.’
What a breathless game this was. Southampton started like a train and should have been two up before Shane Long fired his fourth in five games after 12 minutes.
Bournemouth had barely got out of their half, but did so at pace, catching Southampton on the break with a 60-yard dart from Josh King. He found Callum Wilson on the left and with one swift touch inside, the ball was at the feet of Dan Gosling, who slotted past Angus Gunn.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe did not want to use Ryan Fraser due to his hamstring injury, but took Chris Mepham off for the Scottish playmaker. It was the first of several tactical changes and Howe admitted he enjoyed the mental battle with Hasenhuttl.
‘I don’t think it’s going to be one for the defensive coaches as both teams tried to go for it,’ he reflected. ‘There were a lot of tactical reshuffles from both managers. That was an interesting part of the game. Respect to their manager as he’s done a great job. I think they’ll be a lot stronger team next year,’ Howe added.
After Long conjured one of the worst misses of the season, hitting the post with the goal at his mercy, Bournemouth were ahead before the break. Fraser’s cross was half cleared and David Brooks’s shot was saved by Gunn. The rebound fell to Wilson, who made no mistake from six yards.
Hasenhuttl i nt r oduced Matt Targett for the booked Oriol Romeu, prompting a switch to three at the back and a change of impetus. Ward-Prowse became increasingly influential under the gaze of England manager Gareth Southgate.
His corners wreaked havoc but no t angible reward but after Gosling was f orced of f with injury, Southampton took advantage as Bournemouth adapted to the change.
In central midfield, the busy Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg found Ward-Prowse. He headed away from goal, but without any form of a sensible challenge he headed toward goal and shot from 25 yards, beating Artur Boruc at his left-hand post.
On a bright and breezy day, it breathed life into St Mary’s and minutes later Southampton were ahead.
Ings refused to give up on a loose ball in the box with Ward-Prowse feeding Yan Valery on the right. He hung a deep cross to the far post and Targett nodded home. Hasenhuttl went bananas.
With time ticking away, Southampton looked comfortable, but substitute Stuart Armstrong dithered in possession in central midfield.
Bournemouth broke swiftly with Fraser crossing for Wilson, who beat a throng of players to stab home from close range. It was left to Gunn to save Southampton late on as the keeper darted out to deny Wilson a hat-trick.
At the final whistle, Hasenhuttl gathered his players in the centre circle. He would reveal they have something else to look forward to. ‘ They are off until Wednesday. They don’t have to listen to me until then. That’s the best gift I can give them,’ he laughed.