Saints woes deepen as gritty Toon stand firm
Hasenhuttl raging over more defensive blunders
Newcastle 3 Willock 16, Almiron 26, 45+4
Southampton 2 Minamino 30, Ward-Prowse 48
FROGS in a box are comparatively sane compared to this bonkers contest — which left Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl hopping mad, and with good reason.
His side conceded nine goals at Manchester United on Tuesday and could not even scrape a point against nine men here.
To think they were on cloud nine after beating Newcastle 2-0 to go top of the Premier League during November’s reverse fixture. It was only a month ago they beat champions Liverpool too.
Now, after five straight defeats, the Saints are closer to bottom than top and the cause of their slide has been some unholy defending.
It is the first time in 23 years the club have slumped to such a run of losses and Hasenhuttl, it appears, is lost for answers.
He assumed it was positive news when Jan Bednarek’s red card from t he 9- 0 drubbing at Manchester United was overturned. The centre-back would have been better off serving a ban.
He was to blame for Newcastle’s first two goals and was lucky to avoid a red card late on for a cynical foul on two-goal forward Miguel Almiron.
By then Newcastle were down to nine men after Jeff Hendrick’s brainless red card early in the second half was followed by an injury to Fabian Schar, after Steve Bruce had used his substitutes.
Southampton played half an hour against 10 men and 15 minutes against nine, yet still the score stayed at 3-2 after five goals inside the opening 48 minutes.
Newcastle weathered a storm in the second half. The only storm was the wind and sleet lashing down from the leaden skies. Bruce’s side defended manfully, yes, but the visitors never really looked like rescuing a draw.
Southampton lost three on the spin after their 9-0 defeat by Leicester last season before Hasenhuttl turned it around to save his job. There is little evidence of a similar salvage act this time and the manager did not attempt to hide his fury with his players. ‘We did not deserve anything and we conceded far too easily — you cannot defend like that in the Premier League,’ he said. ‘When you do, it is impossible to win a game. We must also create more than two half chances (at 3-2).
‘We know we have to do something better than this. We must find the reset button.’
Bednarek is usually a source of reassurance in defence. He was a terrifying sight here. The Pole hopelessly misjudged Schar’s forward ball that led to Newcastle’s opener on 16 minutes. He charged to intercept, got nowhere near and allowed Allan Saint- Maximin to invade the area.
The winger — nicknamed ‘Plan A’ by some given Bruce’s reliance on him — kept his head to pick out Arsenal loanee Joe Willock and he rolled in from eight yards for a debut goal. Ten minutes l ater, Bednarek’s deflection put Newcastle two ahead from Almiron’s shot. Takumi Minamino, on loan from Liverpool, scored a fine debut goal to give Saints hope on the half hour.
Southampton were actually in the ascendancy approaching half-time, and that made the hosts’ third all the more maddening for Hasenhuttl. The manager must take some of the blame, for it is his instruction that sees the team dutifully play out from the back. But players surely have to abort such a tactic if they see fit. Alex McCarthy’s decision to pass to Ryan Bertrand, given the surface water, looked laced with danger.
And so Saints were left with a sinking feeling as Almiron stole the ball and steered into the corner.
Within three minutes of the second half, Saints were back within one goal. James Ward-Prowse found the top corner with a superb free-kick. H end rick’ s brain fade came 60 seconds later as, already on a booking, he tugged Minamino.
But Southampton’s attempts to draw level were just as witless. NEWCASTLE (4-2-3-1): Darlow 7; Manquillo 6 (Krafth 24min, 6.5), Hayden 7.5, Schar 6.5, Lewis 6.5; Hendrick 4, Shelvey 6.5; Willock 7.5, Almiron 8, Saint-Maximin 7 (Dummett 67, 7); Wilson 6.5 (Joelinton 36, 6.5). Booked: Hendrick, Krafth, Darlow. Sent off: Hendrick (50min). Subs (not used): Dubravka, Carroll, Ritchie, Gayle, Fraser, Anderson. SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): McCarthy 4.5; Stephens 5 (N’Lundulu 81), Vestergaard 4.5, Bednarek 4, Bertrand 5.5; Redmond 6, Ward-Prowse 6.5, Romeu 5.5, Minamino 6.5; Adams 6, Ings 5. Booked: Bednarek. Subs (not used): Forster, Ramsay, Salisu, Finnigan, Chauke, Watts, Tella, Djenepo. Referee: C Pawson South Yorkshire) 6.