Southampton looked to be on course for their first Premier League win since November and a much-needed three points when they led Watford 2-0 at half-time at Vicarage Road last Saturday, but like on so many other occasions in recent weeks and months, they failed to hold on to their advantage and ended up dropping two points.
The under pressure Mauricio Pellegrino would probably have been the most annoyed and frustrated person that his side couldn’t hold on, and he is coming under increased scrutiny from the fans and the board with the club lying just one spot and one point above the top flight relegation zone with 15 matches left to play.
While the Argentine’s team selections, tactics and substitutions often leave a lot to be desired and the 46-year-old has deservedly received stick because of them, the Saints players have to take their fair share of the blame too.
Having come through the first 13 minutes of the second-half against the Hornets unscathed, club captain Steven Davis picked up the ball around 30 yards from his own goal and had plenty of time to make a pass forward or even to the side.
However, the experienced Northern Ireland international instead turned backwards and dawdled on the ball before it was stolen off of him, and Andre Gray ended up putting the ball into the back of the net.
Having only tasted victory on four occasions in the Premier League this season – with two of those coming in the first month of the campaign – the players were clearly nervous and throughout the last half-an-hour they gradually retreated further and further towards their own goal as the introduction of Troy Deeney and Stefano Okaka saw Watford go more direct.
Although the equaliser came in controversial circumstances as Abdoulaye Doucoure put the ball into the net with his hand, it came and it counted after had been left free in the penalty area to convert.
It was another experienced Saints player in Ryan Bertrand that lost his concentration to allow the Frenchman into the penalty area unchallenged, and the south coast outfit were forced to settle for a point that looked for so long to be three.
It isn’t the first time a mistake or lapse of concentration has cost Southampton this season, either.
In the 2-1 defeat against Crystal Palace at St Mary’s earlier this month Saints were leading in the 68th minute, but they left James McArthur all alone at the far post to score the equaliser before Luka Milivojevic netted the winner from outside the box.
Previously, Maya Yoshida had failed to mark Huddersfield Town striker Laurent Depoitre in the 1-1 draw against the Terriers before Christmas as the Belgian was allowed to head home, while Olivier Giroud was allowed to also score with a free header after Dusan Tadic failed to prevent a cross from Alexis Sanchez as Southampton surrendered another two points against Arsenal earlier in December.
Yes, Southampton’s tactics haven’t helped in any of these cases as they have chosen to sit back rather than try and find another goal, but the players certainly need to be held accountable as well as the manager for some of the errors they are currently making.
Senior players like Davis, Bertrand, Yoshida and Oriol Romeu – who was so good last season but hasn’t reached the same level this time around – need to step up, while Sofiane Boufal and Mario Lemina need to show their talents more than they currently are when they are on the pitch.
Southampton desperately need to start picking up wins in their quest to move away from the bottom three, starting when they welcome in-form Tottenham Hotspur to St Mary’s on Sunday.
Pellegrino’s men were disappointing in the 5-2 defeat against Spurs at Wembley on Boxing Day, and if they play like that again this weekend they will be in for another comprehensive loss.
It certainly won’t be an easy game when the Saints players come up against Harry Kane, Son Heung-Min, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen, and they can’t afford to make errors or lack awareness given how good the movement of the aforementioned quartet is.
If Saints do suffer a heavy defeat and put in a poor showing the manager will likely be on his way, and while that may please some fans they must realise that the players have let themselves and the supporters down too, and they need to be held accountable for their part in what has been such a disastrous season.
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