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Saints stun Villa at St Mary's (From Daily Echo)
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Saints stun Villa at St Mary's
5:52pm Saturday 22nd September 2012 in Sport
Rickie Lambert-inspired Southampton produced a superb comeback to collect their first victory back in the top flight against Aston Villa today.
Saints came into the match rooted to the bottom of the standings after four successive defeats but secured three points on the south coast as their 30-year-old talisman netted twice and set up another.
Their miserable start to life back in the Premier League had looked set to continue after sloppy defending allowed Darren Bent to break the deadlock in the first half.
It was the 15th goal conceded by Nigel Adkins' side in just five top-flight matches but, for once, their inability to defend did not cost them.
Lambert drew the hosts level in the second half after firing home under pressure and the match turned on its head five minutes later.
Nathaniel Clyne slotted home from close range after latching on to a superb through-ball from new boy Gaston Ramirez, before Jason Puncheon saw a shot deflected in by Villa defender Ciaran Clark to make it 3-1. Lambert netted his second of the day from the spot in stoppage-time.
The big talk pre-match was about Nigel Adkins' gutsy decision to drop club captain Kelvin Davis in favour of Premier League debutant Paulo Gazzaniga.
The 20-year-old Argentinian goalkeeper joined the south coast club from Gillingham in the summer and was one of three changes made after the 6-1 hiding at Arsenal last weekend.
Recent acquisitions Maya Yoshida and Ramirez were handed their first starts for the hosts, who were quickest to settle at St Mary's.
Puncheon saw a neat one-two that was just too strong for Ramirez, who then played through Lambert on the left flank only for the striker to blaze over unbalanced.
For all of Southampton's early pressure they were being reduced to long-range efforts, with former Villa midfielder Steven Davis and Ramirez both screwing wide from distance.
The visitors had not created the same opportunities but were looking dangerous whenever they attacked the hosts' new-look backline, with a late lunging tackle by Jose Fonte preventing Bent.
Going forward Adam Lallana was proving Southampton's most dangerous outlet and attempted an over-head kick during a penalty box melee on the half-hour mark.
That was caught comfortably by Brad Guzan, and when Villa broke, Stephen Ireland's deep cross was volleyed wide by Barry Bannan.
It was a warning shot that Saints failed to heed as Bent handed Villa a 36th-minute lead.
Saints failed to clear their lines as Ireland's mis-hit shot fell to the England international, who reacted quickly to ghost in between Yoshida and Danny Fox to tap home.
It was just reward for Villa as their tactics of frustrating the hosts and waiting for a mistake by their leaky defence paid dividends.
Ron Vlaar was booked as half-time approached for a trip before the break, where both sides made changes.
Ashley Westwood replaced Ireland for Villa, while Saints hauled off Fox and brought on right-back Frazer Richardson.
Clyne switched to the left as a result for Saints, who saw Puncheon test Guzan from an acute angle seconds after the restart.
Villa, though, were playing confidently with Bent forcing Gazzaniga into action at his near post after latching on to a nice through ball by Benteke.
The Belgium international was impressing on his first start and should have extended Villa's advantage in the 50th minute, meeting a Bannan corner with a powerful header that flew just over.
Eric Lichaj was booked for a late challenge on Morgan Schneiderlin as Southampton pushed for an equaliser, with referee Jon Moss waving away penalty appeals from Lambert at the resulting-free-kick, denying him a chance at levelling from the spot.
However, the 30-year-old would not be stopped for long as he expertly controlled a driven Lallana cross from the right and lashed home under pressure from four Villa defenders.
The 58th-minute leveller seemed to lift a weight off the Southampton players' shoulders as Lallana soon flashed a 25-yard effort just over, before Clyne then snuck in to put Saints ahead.
Having started the move, the defender burst into the box and collected an exquisite Ramirez ball to slot home from close range in the 63rd minute.
Clyne was booked in the aftermath as Villa introduced Gabby Agbonlahor and Joe Bennett in a bid to stem the flow, with the latter's first action seeing Puncheon cut past him and curl just wide.
It was 3-1 in the 72nd minute when Puncheon picked up the ball from Lambert and showed good control before rifling home a shot from the edge of the six-yard box which was defended in by Villa defender Ciaran Clark.
Puncheon received a standing ovation from the majority of the 30,713 inside St Mary's when he was substituted, with replacement Emmanuel Mayuka curling inches wide in the 78th minute.
Mayuka saw a shot saved at the near post as the clock wound down before he was brought down in the box by Guzan in stoppage time.
The American received a booking for the challenge and Lambert slotted home the spot-kick to give Saints their first Premier League victory since defeating Norwich 4-3 in April 2005.
Comments(33)
saintforever
says...
6:05pm Sat 22 Sep 12
well done to everyone today, fans included.
Velleity
says...
6:12pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Spirit of 58
says...
6:13pm Sat 22 Sep 12
I fear the fishy trolls will be absent tonight.
COYR
Spirit of 58
says...
6:13pm Sat 22 Sep 12
I fear the fishy trolls will be absent tonight.
COYR
Spudsaint
says...
6:18pm Sat 22 Sep 12
insane saint
says...
6:28pm Sat 22 Sep 12
get in there saints more to come bring on everton.
loved it when the whole of the saints faithful was singing theirs only one Nigel Adkins.. then we got the pen...
insane saint
says...
6:28pm Sat 22 Sep 12
get in there saints more to come bring on everton.
loved it when the whole of the saints faithful was singing theirs only one Nigel Adkins.. then we got the pen...
insane saint
says...
6:28pm Sat 22 Sep 12
get in there saints more to come bring on everton.
loved it when the whole of the saints faithful was singing theirs only one Nigel Adkins.. then we got the pen...
warrens 76
says...
6:47pm Sat 22 Sep 12
The best thing about NA is how his decent, honourable approach is making US fans better people, tolerance, support, decency, all seem to be rubbing off.....not only are we on the way to a superb football team but I think he is making our people and therefore our city an even better place.
CharlieGeorgesMissingFinger
says...
6:53pm Sat 22 Sep 12
SFCOLDBOY
says...
7:05pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Great to see our full backs getting forward, Mayuka was a real handfull when he came on.Rickie,Yoshida and Ramires had great games.
On wards and upwards Saints.
COYR.
SFCOLDBOY
says...
7:09pm Sat 22 Sep 12
CharlieGeorgesMissinProbally not.His first half was a bit iffy but second half he bit the bullet and had a good go.The quality around him now can only make him better.
gFinger wrote:
Is there a better player than Lallana in this league!
insane saint
says...
7:10pm Sat 22 Sep 12
insane saint wrote:just looked at this again and the bl00dy server sent the quote three times dam computers
don't want to knock anyone today except to say lala looked more confident and lively with a confident fall back behind him.
get in there saints more to come bring on everton.
loved it when the whole of the saints faithful was singing theirs only one Nigel Adkins.. then we got the pen...
s@int Matt
says...
7:26pm Sat 22 Sep 12
the third hardest man in sholing
says...
7:29pm Sat 22 Sep 12
p.i. staker
says...
7:46pm Sat 22 Sep 12
and unless we act now and get redknapp in and spend at least another 50 mill we aint got a prayer.
mike saint
says...
8:21pm Sat 22 Sep 12
OSPREYSAINT
says...
8:25pm Sat 22 Sep 12
insane saint wrote:..and spelt full back wrong on each occasion lol.
insane saint wrote:just looked at this again and the bl00dy server sent the quote three times dam computers
don't want to knock anyone today except to say lala looked more confident and lively with a confident fall back behind him.
get in there saints more to come bring on everton.
loved it when the whole of the saints faithful was singing theirs only one Nigel Adkins.. then we got the pen...
OSPREYSAINT
says...
8:26pm Sat 22 Sep 12
mike saint wrote:How good is Borat?
At long last weve got another goalkeeper although we done well today without davis.”
OSPREYSAINT
says...
8:27pm Sat 22 Sep 12
seventh-junction
says...
8:28pm Sat 22 Sep 12
COYR
Farmer Matt
says...
9:30pm Sat 22 Sep 12
DisplacedFan
says...
11:07pm Sat 22 Sep 12
DisplacedFan
says...
11:08pm Sat 22 Sep 12
Walter K
says...
11:37pm Sat 22 Sep 12
costa gaz
says...
6:25am Sun 23 Sep 12
Must have been one hell of a half time team talk because it was like watching two different sides.
Ramirez is looking like the real deal.
Seedhouse the Unrepentant
says...
7:34am Sun 23 Sep 12
Walter K wrote:Miserable old git.
Great result great 3 points. Some decent performances esp. Lambert but won't be getting too carried away as I don't believe that too many worse teams than that Villa side will be coming to St.Marys this season - they were terrible!
Strasbourg Saint
says...
11:57am Sun 23 Sep 12
Walter K wrote:That's it, Walter, don't get too carried away, save getting carried away for when things don't go as well, then you can really let rip with your 'ADKINS OUT!' tirade.
Great result great 3 points. Some decent performances esp. Lambert but won't be getting too carried away as I don't believe that too many worse teams than that Villa side will be coming to St.Marys this season - they were terrible!
Strasbourg Saint
says...
11:58am Sun 23 Sep 12
p.i. staker wrote::) Wonderful irony!
well I bame adkins for this win,he really is out of his depth.snatching a win from the jaws of defeat he needs to learn and learn quickly.we could quite easily have won this game two one but old useless nigel had to tinker and bring on the subs, and look at what happened.I think cortese will sack him now only scoring four at home he aint got a clue what he's doing.and as for the new signings, well what a waste of money. ramireze was nowhwere and the japanese guy made at least one mistake.and as for fonte he won everything that came his way.sorry but he just aint good enough for the prem.sorry to sound pessimistic but I don't think we can live in this league
and unless we act now and get redknapp in and spend at least another 50 mill we aint got a prayer.
spratt
says...
5:20pm Sun 23 Sep 12
Tirau Dan
says...
8:10pm Sun 23 Sep 12
SFCOLDBOY wrote:It was a real team game that showed we can learn and perform better. I think a word of praise or two should also go in for Frazer Richardson who got up quickly and got his first cross in beautifully. I'd like to see more of this combination with Nathan at Left Back.
Jose Fonte was a tower of strength today.I think it has been his best game since he got injured last season.
Great to see our full backs getting forward, Mayuka was a real handfull when he came on.Rickie,Yoshida and Ramires had great games.
On wards and upwards Saints.
COYR.
CB FRY LIVES
says...
3:09pm Mon 24 Sep 12
simon101 says...
5:59pm Sat 22 Sep 12