Southampton boss Mark Hughes says the last minute hotel cancellation in Swansea worked in his side’s favour, as they secured their Premier League status on Tuesday night.
The Saints beat Swansea 1-0, thanks to a Manolo Gabbiadini goal, and the win confirmed the relegation of West Brom from the top-flight and also dropped the Swans into big relegation trouble.
But it was the drama before the game that angered Hughes. In a television interview, the Saints boss felt that there were attempts to disrupt his team focus and mind-set ahead of the game.
He said:
Maybe it was over-zealous Swansea fans in positions to affect our hotel booking but those things you can use to your own benefit as a motivating factor. We got held up a little bit outside as well because we were first here on the coach and apparently we were meant to wait for Swansea. But we weren’t going to do that. We were too focused, we got off the bus and walked the 100 yards into the ground. We weren’t going to be denied and messed about.
Hughes’ side were forced to stay at the Vale of Glamorgan after their block booking in Swansea city centre was cancelled because of a supposed virus at the Marriot Hotel.
Southampton’s win lifted them into 16th, three points ahead of the Swans. The Saints however, have a superior goal difference and it would require a 10-goal swing of the final day of the season to condemn them to relegation.
