SAINTS midfielder Joe Rothwell admitted he has never scored a goal as good as his first against Huddersfield on Saturday and added: "This game could be massive for us."

Rothwell fired a first-time volley into the top corner to kickstart Southampton's comeback after Jon Worthington's side shot to a 2-0 lead.

The 29 year old's effort had Kyle Walker-Peters and Jan Bednarek dumbfounded as it rifled past Lee Nicholls. 

“I don’t think so," Rothwell replied when asked by the Daily Echo if he has ever scored a better goal than his maiden Saints strike. 

"As soon as it left my boot I knew it had a really good chance of going in. Thankfully it did go in and we have come out on the positive side of the result."

Just 65 seconds later, Rothwell fired Saints back to level terms when he crashed in after a brilliant pass from fellow Cherries loanee David Brooks, which sliced through Huddersfield's defence.

“I made the run, but because I know Dave, and he is really greedy, I thought he would come inside and take the shot on himself," Rothwell smiled.

"But he managed to play a good pass and it found me. I just kept my head down and struck through the ball. I felt like it had a good chance of going in, thankfully that one did as well.

“It was a real kick in the teeth when they got that deflected goal. We had to show big character as a group again.

"Thankfully we did that and we managed to kick on. That time we got our noses in front and saw the game out.

"We have been saying throughout this run that there hasn’t been too much adversity in terms of games were we have gone in behind and had to show character to come back.

Daily Echo: Joe Rothwell celebrates his second goal of the game against HuddersfieldJoe Rothwell celebrates his second goal of the game against Huddersfield (Image: Stuart Martin)

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"I think by the end of the season that if we go up by three points then this is a game where we’ll say it is massive for us."

Rothwell was introduced midway through the first half for the injured Flynn Downes, with the score still at 0-0.

Within three minutes of Rothwell entering Saints fell 1-0 down before Huddersfield struck a second goal just before the break.

“It is gut-wrenching. You feel like you have played a massive part in that," he added.

"We had to regroup at half time and adjust a few things. As long as we got that first goal we knew it would be massive for us.

"We just weren’t ourselves (in the first half). We were a yard short of everyone and weren’t running for each other.

"Credit to Huddersfield because they came here and made it really difficult and deserved their lead at half time.

Daily Echo: Jan Bednarek celebrates with Joe Rothwell after he scores for SouthamptonJan Bednarek celebrates with Joe Rothwell after he scores for Southampton (Image: PA)

"It was a few adjustments at half time, to get closer to people and move for each other. In the second half we were miles better."

All of Southampton's goals against the Terriers were scored and assisted by a player who had come on from the bench.

Their impact came after Russell Martin highlighted how important the bench will be between now and the end of the season.

“The gaffer is always harping on about how massive the subs are for this team," Rothwell concluded.

"We have a massive few weeks where it is Saturday then midweek so the whole squad is going to be needed. We know we have good strength in depth when it comes to it."