West Ham Home Lost 0 – 1
Ivan Jurić’s first team, to face West Ham, contained quite a few selections of note: Sugawara, Wood, Ugochukwu and Onuachu all starting in an XI captained by Bednarek despite Armstrong being in the side. The manager’s initial press conference included the ominous observation about his squad that “they might not know much about me, but I know all about them” and one thing he would have known was that they can be very sloppy at the back; that was confirmed in the first minute as Soler crashed a shot against the bar and Sugawara did well to block the follow up. The other important matter, revealed by the season’s stats, is that goals-for are scarce, and a string of missed headed chances in the first half bore that out as well. The first, and probably the best one, came when Walker-Peters rescued an over-hit cross only for Onuachu to fail to find the target. The other three, falling to Fernandes and Tall Paul again, produced saves, one very well done by Fabianski, the others too close to the keeper. This was a long first half, after Wood clattered into Fabianski resulting in an understandably long delay for a concussion injury. Overall, we ended up with 18 shots at goal, five of which were on target – so that must include those headers, a source we hardly ever investigated from open play under the old regime. On 51 minutes it looked like Saints would be presented with a chance to kick on and win the game when Rodriguez was shown a red card for a bad challenge on Walker-Peters, but this was reduced to yellow by VAR – rightly so, and what VAR is supposed to do, but don’t these things always seem to go against us? That incident apart, Southampton’s second half wasn’t as promising as the first, maybe because we suffered a serious setback. This came after Sugawara conceded an unnecessary corner that twice defenders failed to clear properly and at the third time of asking, Souček headed back into the danger area, Fülkrug’s crucial touch allowing Bowen to touch the ball home. Thanks to a concussion sub, both sides were allowed six changes, all of which they took. This enabled Dibling to come on and he had the best chance of an equaliser but a left foot shot went high and wide. Ivan said he saw a lot that he liked “but not happy with the result.” You can say that again… indeed he probably will.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
2. Kyle Walker-Peters. Again behind a lot that was good going forward.
6. Taylor Harwood-Bellis. Also ‘again’ he was our best defender, and now with licence to go on and press down opponents when the situation allowed it.
26. Leslie Ugochukwu. Ivan was obviously impressed by his cameo at Fulham and gave him the responsibility of the more defensive midfield role, with Downes further forward.
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