Southampton forward Shane Long has explained why he believes his partnership with Danny Ings is thriving at the moment.
Long says that his hold-up play and movement off the ball allows Ings to be in the right places to score, which is shown by his 15 Premier League goals so far this season.
Speaking to Southampton’s website, Long said:
I have a bit of experience, so I think he understands what I’m going to do, and he’s a talented footballer as well.
I don’t mind throwing myself about, upsetting defenders and holding the ball up, and that allows him to get time in the box where he’s lethal. He’s a brilliant finisher.
Don’t get me wrong, he’s good with his build-up play as well, but any chance we can get for me to do the work and get him into the box, it’s always good for the team – as you can see, 15 goals in the Prem this season and a lot more to come.
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Long may not be the most prolific of goalscorers, with one league goal this season, but he is an excellent facilitator. As he says above, his work outside of the penalty area allows others to be productive at the top end of the pitch.
The Irish international is superb at moving defenders out of position to create space for Ings to make central runs. This means that Ings is able to find space in the box through the middle, rather than having to go out wide or drop deep to find the ball.
In games over the last two seasons where Ings has played up front on his own, he has sometimes looked isolated due to having to run into non-threatening areas of the pitch just so that he can have a touch of the ball.
However, with Long upfront, it allows Ings to keep his positions between the width of the 18-yard box, whilst the former works the channels and opens up room in the final third.
This is why, as Long explains, the partnership works so well because they complement each other and fit as a pair upfront.
Ings’ 18 goals in all competitions is proof that it is working, with Long also on two goals and two assists.
