The Saints took on Watford on Tuesday night as they looked to all but secure their status in the top flight next season with a massive three points.
Watford went into this match challenging for the final Europa league spot in 7th place and a win would have put them back there.
The Saints started with Ward Prowse in RB and Stephens as the 3rd of a back three, both replacing Valery and Vestergaard (Thigh injury) respectively. Hojberg and Romeu made up the midfield. Long and Armstrong came in for Ings and Sims in attack as Southampton played with a 5-2-3, Bertrand and Ward Prowse effectively playing as wing backs. Lemina, who scored against Newcastle, remained on the bench for this match.
Watford brought in Kabasele for Mariappa at centre back and janmaat for Femenia at right back as they looked to freshen up the squad that won 2-1 at Huddersfield. Pereyra came in for Sema in their only other change. Watford played their usual 4-2-2-2 formation with key man Deulefeu up top alongside Andre Gray, the former scoring both his sides’ goals against the Terriers.
Straight from Watford’s kick off, Shane Long charged down the ball and Cathcart’s clearance deflected off him and into his path. He took a touch and chipped the ball over oncoming keeper Ben Foster to give the Saints a 1-0 lead after a Premier league record breaking time of 7.69 seconds.
Just a minute later however, Watford got their kick off right and played the ball quickly out wide. The ball found Deulofeu in the box, 10 yards from goal, however he put his effort too central in the goal and Gunn made the save. Deulofeu looked Watford’s most dangerous player in the first half and just 10 minutes later, he curled another right footed shot just wide of the far post from the edge of the box.
In the 25th minute, Redmond caught the Watford defence out, driving through the heart of them, however he put his strike just wide of the far post. Then, just over 10 minutes later the Saints found themselves with another glorious opportunity missed. Long played Redmond through in the penalty area, helped by a Kabasele error and he took the ball round Foster and poked towards goal. It looked certain to head in, however Foster managed to get back brilliantly at his near post to prevent his side going two goals down.
At the start of the second half, Femenia came on for Cathcart as Gracia and his side looked to grab an equaliser.
The start of the second half was actually quite an uneventful affair with both sides scrapping to try and win the midfield battle. However, there was an injury scare for Gerard Deulofeu, a player that you would imagine that Watford really need to stay fit if they want to get into the Europa league. He didn’t go off and looked fine after some treatment. Armstrong and Romeu went off for Sims and Lemina.
Shortly after, in the 75th minute, Long broke through out wide, getting clear of the Watford defence. He made a darting run to try and get into the box however was brought down right on the edge and Mike Dean gave the free kick and booked Kabasele. Ward Prowse took the free kick and looked to bend the ball in at Ben Foster’s near post however he read the situation well and got across to make the save. Gracia brought on Success for Hughes trying to get back into the game, and Valery was brought on for Long as the Saints tried to see out their lead.
Towards the end of the game, Watford passed the ball around on the edge of the box however they didn’t appear to be too threatening towards the Saints goal. In the 88th minute though, they sparked into life. Deulofeu played the ball to Pereyra and he powered a strike from inside the box and Gunn reacted brilliantly to make the save. Just after, the ball was crossed into Doucoure who managed to out jump his man however he wasted the chance and headed straight at Gunn.
The warning signs were there for the Saints who continued to sit back and defend for their lives. However, in the 91st minute a lot of their hard work was undone as the ball fell to Andre Gray in the box just a few yards out. He smashed a shot towards goal at the near post and despite Gunn getting fingertips to it, the ball ended up in the roof of the net and Watford had saved a point. It also meant that Saints had now dropped a league high 25 points from winning positions this season.
The result leaves the Saints six points clear of the relegation zone with just three games left to play and in 16th place in the league so they should now fancy their chances of staying in the league. Watford now sit in 7th, the final Europa league spot, however Wolves can overtake them if they beat Arsenal on Wednesday night. Saints face Bournemouth at home on Saturday and Watford have a crucial game in the Europa league race at home to Wolves, also on Saturday.
