Sadio Mane proved the benefit of freedom on a football pitch as Saints cruised to a convincing 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.

The £10m man has generally been played as an out and winger so far this season, but was thrust through the middle with licence to drop deep as well as to work off of Graziano Pelle for the game against Crystal Palace.

It worked a treat as he had produced his best display since joining the club, scoring one goal and creating another.

Saints boss Ronald Koeman said: “Maybe for Sadio it was good because a little more freedom to play than to play on the side when it’s too much out of one position.

“The reason I put him in the team was I was expecting space, physical strong defenders, not the fast defenders, but it was a great pass of Prowsey at that right moment and I think he played very comfortable.”

Koeman decided to stick with playing three at the back and it certainly paid off as Saints secured their second win a row in comfortable fashion to climb back to fourth in the table.

“I am very pleased,” admitted Koeman. “I think we had a good start in the game, they played a little bit different than we expected with a 4-4-2 system but our way of playing with three centre backs was very comfortable.

“It was like that in the beginning, a good goal, a great pass from Prowsey, a good run and good finishing of Sadio.

“Maybe we lost a little bit of control for ten or 15 minutes before half time. A lot of corner kicks, free kicks, but defending well and that was important.

“We had a very good start in the second half and the team showed to go for the second goal and not defend the 1-0 and that was the key for the three points because it was disappointing them for the two fast goals and 3-0 down.

“It was a compliment to them they tried until the last second and deserved at least one goal.

“It was a good performance, a very good three points that means confidence for the players and we are back it looks like on a good run with two winning games now in a row.”

With Jose Fonte missing through suspension, it was down to Toby Alderweireld to lead the defence and he did so manfully, also bagging his first goal for the club with a fine header from a James Ward-Prowse corner.

“I think with Prowsey in the team we have a player with fantastic deliveries and I’m not surprised that again we scored again like that, from set pieces, because great balls and if we have the good movements we are a dangerous team in set pieces.

“This and the own goal against Everton like this gives confidence.”