Premier League Match Report (28/06/20): Watford 1-3 Southampton

The Premier League's ninety-two remaining games, spread across nine rounds of games are set to play out beginning June 17th 2020, with Project Restart's health and safety conditions meaning the remaining games of the season will be played out behind closed doors. We will be providing match reports from these behind closed doors competitive encounters as the league campaign nears its end-game. All aboard.

Match Report (GW32): Watford 1-3 Southampton

Watford are fighting for their right to be a Premier League team next year, and after a drab performance in their loss against Burnley the Hornets are running out of games to get away from the relegation zone. Southampton are looking to bounce back after their loss against Arsenal and have a great opportunity to push for a midtable position.

The opening minutes of the match were tightly contested with both teams looking to find space, and the team to find it was Southampton. Smallbone ran into space and found Danny Ings, who had five static defenders not challenge the Englishman, and the striker passed it into the left hand corner of the goal to give Saints the lead. The rest of the half was more of the same, a half that was defined by one bit of quality by Danny Ings.

The second half started much the same, and in the 70th minute Ben Foster had a short throw that was intercepted by Ings who drove at the Watford box, and Ings’ shot deflected under Craig Dawson’s legs to guide it into the back of the net. Watford will be rueing themselves for such a soft goal to give away. Substitutes for Watford game them a lifeline as Jose Holebas whipped in a cross which Jan Bednarek got a toe onto to divert into his own net.

Just as quickly as Watford got one back, Southampton added another goal, this time from their captain, James Ward-Prowse. Che Adams is fouled on the border of the Watford penalty area, and Ward-Prowse dispatched an amazing freekick into the top right of the goal to restore Southampton’s two goal lead. Che Adams also went through on goal in the 89th minute but it was well blocked to prevent a fourth goal, and seconds later Nathan Redmond hit the bar. Watford had been pinned in and Watford couldn’t get a foothold in the game.

The game ended with Watford under even more pressure, and their next game is Chelsea away which is horrible timing for the form they are in. Southampton end the day on forty points and look up the table for how far they can go.

This match wasn’t exactly entertaining, it was like many games since the restart…slow and groggy. Shane Long occupied a lot of the space for Ings to play a freer role in this game, and he produced the best moments of the game with his two goals. His first struck was a joy to watch, his confidence in front of goal, and the fact he was being surrounded by a horde of players, didn’t phase the former Liverpool striker at all. This is the form that made the Reds interested in Ings under Brendan Rodgers. The forward has come on leaps and bounds on the South Coast and is the only player on the pitch worthy of walking away with the man of the match.

Man of the Match: Danny Ings (SOU)

WAT 1-3 SOU - Insight and Analysis:

by @HypeTrainSam

This fixture draws up big memories for me, with Southampton playing Watford, and remembering the outrage as Nathan Redmond had a perfectly good goal ruled out incorrectly for offside. The first half was terrible, save for Ings’ lovely goal, and once again the subs make a huge difference. Goals were raining when the field had a shakeup. Ward-Prowse looks like a player who could be playing for a top six team, the same for Ings too.

Watford’s form has been atrocious, and the only saving grace for them is that Aston Villa, West Ham, and Bournemouth have been just as bad. The Hornets may survive out of sheer luck, but if any of them can pick up a few points I would be a worried Nigel Pearson. Worrying times for Watford. Southampton are everything Watford want to be right now.

Matchday Line-ups:

Venue: Vicarage Road

Watford:

Manager: Nigel Pearson

GK: B. Foster

DEF: K. Femenía (Pussetto 79')

DEF: C. Dawson

DEF: C. Cathcart

DEF: A. Masina (Holebas 74')

MID: W. Hughes (Welbeck 74')

MID: E. Capoue

MID: I. Sarr

MID: A. Doucouré

MID: R. Pereyra (João Pedro 74')

FOR: T. Deeney

Substitutes:

Gomes, Mariappa, Cleverley, Welbeck, Peñaranda, João Pedro, Holebas, Kabasele, Pussetto

Southampton:

Manager: Ralph Hasenhüttl

DEF: A. McCarthy

DEF: K. Walker-Peters

DEF: J. Bednarek

DEF: J. Vestergaard

DEF: R. Bertrand

MID: W. Smallbone (Armstrong 65')

MID: J. Ward-Prowse

MID: O. Romeu

MID: N. Redmond

FOR: S. Long (Adams 75')

FOR: D. Ings

Substitutes:

Adams, Armstrong, Obafemi, Gunn, Vokins, Danso, Valery, Tella, Jankewitz

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