Southampton 1 - 0 SwanseaCharlie Austin goal against Swansea gives Southampton first league win
Home team scorersCharlie Austin 64
Claude Puel’s wait for his first Premier League win as Southampton manager is over. “It’s a good thing,” he said, with a look of considerable relief. Charlie Austin’s second league goal for the club was enough to condemn Swansea City to defeat and shake off any unwelcome records, namely the thought of the Frenchman failing to win any of his opening five league matches. Saints ditched another unwanted statistic too, securing their first clean sheet in 17 top-flight matches, largely thanks to Fraser Forster’s giant right hand denying Gylfi Sigurdsson a late equaliser.
Puel, who replaced Ronald Koeman in the summer, may just have learned his lesson. His Southampton side were supposed to be invigorated by their Europa League win over Sparta Prague – their first of the season – in midweek but they took an age to get out of first gear here. Puel made six changes to Thursday night’s winning formula but defended his decision to keep Austin on the bench.
“He played two days ago and it’s not possible for a player to play all these games,” said Puel, despite Steven Davis and Virgil van Dijk, among others, retaining their places in his starting lineup. “It’s important when he starts and when he enters the game with a good spirit. Strikers can score at the beginning but also later in the game. I think it was a good decision.”
Southampton started slowly, as the Swansea winger Mo Barrow began to stretch his legs, drawing fouls from Davis and Shane Long. But slowly Saints awoke, eventually gaining control of a drab affair, Van Dijk forcing a smart save from Lukasz Fabianski, after his header from Davis’s corner, while Long’s frustrations were compounded when he was booked for diving by Mike Jones, after fishing for a foul from Federico Fernández inside the box.
Nathan Redmond, compared to Thierry Henry by Puel on the eve of the season, spurned Southampton’s best chances as Austin, who scored twice against Sparta, looked on from the sidelines. Given another audition to impress as a false nine, the winger-cum-striker Redmond fluffed his lines. Dusan Tadic – again one of Saints’ better performers – knocked the ball past the left-back Stephen Kingsley, before sliding the ball across to Redmond, who checked inside before driving his effort high over the bar. It was not exactly Row Z but frustrated home supporters began to sing the name of Austin.
“It’s a good thing because he [Redmond] had all these chances,” said Puel. “He had a few difficulties to score but next time he will be able to score two or three goals in the same game. He’s a very good player with many possibilities, now it’s just a question of time and experience. It’s not a problem, it’s important he stays with a good attitude.”
Kingsley was replaced by Angel Rangel at half-time with Kyle Naughton switching flanks, something of a testament to Tadic’s display. It was Naughton’s interception that proved vital three minutes into the second half, when the defender cleared Long’s effort off the line. The striker was out of luck again less than 60 seconds later, tapping home from close range after the offside flag was raised.
Austin was then called upon – replacing Long – and the script was already written. Jordi Amat, the Swansea defender, failed to properly deal with Tadic’s cross, slicing the ball into the path of Austin, who ensured the net rippled emphatically. Francesco Guidolin introduced Swansea’s £15.5m record signing, Borja Bastón, and Sigurdsson’s low shot tested Forster late on but the visitors still lacked a cutting edge.
For Swansea, the task does not get any easier, with two matches against a seemingly untouchable Manchester City on the horizon. “I am worried because if we play in this way in the Premier League, it’s difficult to win any game,” said Guidolin. “I am thinking to change something. We have to think game-by-game but we have to improve. The opponents are important but our attitude has to change.”
Ki Sung-yueng shrugged his shoulders and walked past his Italian manager after being substituted, a week after Neil Taylor, left out of Swansea’s 18-man squad at St Mary’s, showed his frustration at being taken off during the first half against Chelsea. “It’s not a good attitude. I have to speak with him because I respect all people, all of my players because the relationship is important,” said Guidolin of Ki’s actions. Taylor, meanwhile, is expected to feature in the EFL Cup on Wednesday. “I have found good, good guys in this squad. My relationship with the players is no problem.” Regardless of Guidolin’s words, it does not look too promising for Swansea.
Guardian
