Blackburn Home Won 3 – 0, We are 4th
Southampton’s managers this season inherited a squad that was really too big for them to work with, but Herr Eckert is now benefitting as his rotations don’t weaken the team as much as they might at other Championship clubs. Having said that, there were raised eyebrows at the inclusion of Archer to face Blackburn, and at his being given the wide left role while Matsuki filled in for injured Azaz in midfield. Archer’s job was made easier as two of Rovers’ right flank were cautioned for fouls on Charles in the opening minutes, nevertheless he gets plenty of credit for the run and low cross that presented Larin with the easiest of goals on 25 minutes – a mention also for Matsuki for sending the winger away. It wasn’t great defending by the visitors who weren’t doing much very well anyway, but you always want a second to give assurance. And a second did come shortly before the break when Charles, this time, supplied the low left wing cross that was only cleared to Manning who did well to react and shoot, the ball actually going in off a defender. Somehow a buzzing atmosphere went quiet for the second half, with the players’ performance also not helped by Bree going off, Harwood-Bellis moving to right back and also Blackburn choosing to do without the recently acquired Nathan Redmond. Matsuki should have put the game to bed when Larin’s good work unselfishly laid the ball on a plate for him, but a heavy touch after a slip led to a dreadful finish. Blackburn’s Japanese players suffered bad luck as well when Ōhashi forced a decent save from the underworked Peretz and Morishita struck the bar from the rebound. By now Scienza had come off the bench and when he found himself in the box on the right, he was able to set up Archer whose shot hit the bullseye. 3-0 when we only played well for 45 minutes is a good return.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
9. Cyle Larin. A goal and what should have been an assist (but for Matsuki’s miss) clearly gets him in the frame.
19. Cameron Archer. A goal and a genuine assist for him!
24. Shea Charles. Very good first half and he was one whose performance didn’t fall away in the second.
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