What a season we’ve had. Southampton have gone from a “laughing stock” on social media, to Champions League contenders, and finished the season with a record points haul, highest Premier League finish and still a slightly better than 50/50 chance of competing in Europe next season.
Coming into the final round of games on Sunday, Saints knew that a win had to be the aim against a Manchester City team with little left to play for. Liverpool and Tottenham were also both away from home but against lower opposition.
Saints were straight out of the blocks and were pressing City well in the first five. A couple of corners and a few mistimed final passes prevented the visitors going ahead. Once City got into the game it became a real end-to-end affair, with Aguero having a host of chances to put the home team in front. Kelvin Davis rolled back the years and delivered a stellar performance in his 300th match in goal for Southampton, flinging himself around the goalmouth to make countless spectacular saves.
But he couldn’t do keep City at bay forever, and poor organisation in the Saints defence allowed the ball to be easily switched and played inside to Milner, who drilled a low cross into the middle for veteran Frank Lampard to skilfully deflect into the net from close range. City deserved to be up at half time but Saints had had their chances too.
The second half was much like the first, with both teams having a bagful of half chances. Southampton were playing freely and with some great interchanging of play between the forwards but when it mattered most they just couldn’t find that final killer pass. Graziano Pelle and Shane Long were struggling with the concept of offside as they were called 4 times in the space of only a few minutes.
Just when it looked like Saints might be able to pick the lock of the tight City defence, Aguero pops up to finally get one on target and confirm his status as the Golden Boot winner for the season.
All in all, a draw may have been a fairer result, but it wouldn’t have mattered in the end, as Spurs had managed to get a 1-0 away win. Liverpool did their bit to help us by being battered by Stoke, a not so fitting end to Stevie Gerrard’s Liverpool career.
If you told any Saints fan at the beginning of the season we would finish 7th and on 60 points, they would have bitten your hand off – it is an amazing achievement after the players lost and the uncertainty around the club. There is also a feeling that although it’s been a wonderful season, it could possibly have been much more. Being so close to the Champions League positions for so long during the season, it would be a shame if we missed out on Europe altogether.
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