It came as no great surprise to see Southampton’s second-half display against Bournemouth represent a marked improvement on their showing before the interval.
Ralph Hasenhuttl played Kevin Danso and Cedric Soares out of position and saw a disjointed Saints side succumb to a quite embarrassing first-half performance against the Cherries.
The defensive structure was largely disorganised, and Saints were both struggling to build play from the wide areas and also failing to convince whenever Bournemouth charged down the flanks.
Change was needed; Hasenhuttl had got it incredibly wrong. Ryan Bertrand was introduced at half time for Danso, and normal service was resumed. The 30-year-old pushed up and down the left fank, while Cedric reoccupied his natural role on the right.
Saints failed to come away with anything to show for their second-half efforts against Bournemouth, but they most certainly looked far better for the return of Bertrand.
His absence had been a perplexing conundrum that Southampton fans have attempted to solve in recent weeks, as Hasenhuttl tinkered with wingers, midfielders and centre-backs at left-back despite the England international’s availability.
Perhaps internal politics led to Bertrand’s exclusion, but it was pleasing to see him back on Friday night. He has been underwhelming for some years now, but the simple truth is that he is one of the club’s most reliable, seasoned players.
Such safety and reassurance can hardly be taken from the performance of the team’s rearguard, though. Jan Bednarek performed well until the last-minute miscommunication with Angus Gunn, which led to Bournemouth’s third, but Danso struggled even when he moved into his preferred role.
More noticeably, however, Jannik Vestergaard looked uncomfortable throughout. In truth, he hardly ever looks comfortable, as such, but he struggled to cope with Bournemouth’s pressing and seldom inspired confidence.
His inclusion in the starting line-up was unsurprising – he has been a mainstay under Hasenhuttl – but more frustrating was the decision to drop Maya Yoshida, who had again turned in an exceptional performance the week before against Sheffield United.
Southampton simply have no room for error at Fratton Park on Tuesday. They are clear favourites and should, on paper, ease to a comprehensive victory over Portsmouth.
But derby matches are of a different nature, and tensions will be high. The likes of Danso and Vestergaard may be able to cope in such environments, but calling on the experienced, and rather more significantly, reliable heads of Bertrand and Yoshida should surely be Hasenhuttl’s first ports of call.
In a game of such magnitude, Southampton will need to ensure that their quality shows in the final third, but also that they are capable of managing route one, rather more pragmatic attacking tactics from their opponents.
Vestergaard may be some inches taller than Yoshida, but we’ve hardly seen anything to suggest that he is more adept in the air. He is also visibly less comfortable in possession and exudes little confidence when he plays.
As for Bertrand, it really does go without saying that the club’s best left-back ought to be starting in his natural role in each match…
