Most of the things we learned about Moussa Djenepo in the 1-0 win at Sheffield United were not a surprise.

  1. He is not much of a left wing-back
  2. He is an extremely dangerous attacking threat
  3. He has pace to burn
  4. He can be a game changer

Saints paid £14m for a player who could deliver qualities two-four. They did not buy Djenepo for number one, yet that was where he started the game at Bramall Lane.

A real selection surprise, Ralph Hasenhuttl wanted to promote an attacking threat and spring a shock on United with a change of formation too.

United targeted Djenepo fairly quickly. They attacked him with long balls in behind again and again and positionally he was often AWOL, which was hardly unexpected given it’s an unfamiliar role.

With Ryan Bertrand fit and on the bench it is a curious situation. Jake Vokins is seemingly some way from the team. Matt Targett was sold. And Bertrand is finding himself frozen out in the left sided position by the likes of Kevin Danso and now Djenepo.

Even when Hasenhuttl changed things after half an hour, it was not Bertrand being introduced but Djenepo moving forward, Cedric switching to the left and Ward-Prowse dropping to right wing-back. In fairness, Hasenhuttl can argue that is a sign of versatility and a back-up plan.

United could have taken the lead during that spell, despite the fact Saints produced chances out of the pressure.

But when they didn’t and Hasenhuttl shuffled things Saints looked a really good unit.

And Djenepo was at the forefront of that with his power, pace and quality displayed perfectly in one single goal to hand his team an impressive win on the road.

Credit is due to a number of other players, but an honourable mention to Che Adams.

He is coming into the spotlight for a lack of goals. Understandable in the sense that he is leading the line and it is now five games since he joined without hitting the net.

But his all-round game is improving rapidly, and he was excellent at United, just again without any luck.

This was an important victory for Saints in the context of the fortnight to come.

They know they have to focus on that Portsmouth game, no matter whether they wish to publicly admit it or not, because it is a huge occasion for the club.

But to do that they need to be in a situation where they are not desperate for league points. This victory helps to ease that burden ahead of facing Bournemouth and Tottenham, the Premier League fixtures that sandwich that trip to Fratton Park.