SPORTS
Intemperate, knee-jerk reactions have become irritatingly commonplace in football. Southampton manager Nigel Adkins's position being questioned, before this game, was unjust and illogical.
Intemperate, knee-jerk reactions have become irritatingly commonplace in football. Southampton manager Nigel Adkins's position being questioned, before this game, was unjust and illogical.
When the St Mary's crowd, loudly and unitedly, sang "There's only one Nigel Adkins" in the final minutes of this victory, and he celebrated with them, justice had been administered. It had been disrespectful for other managers to have been linked with his job and his team gave their response during a rousing second-half fight back against an Aston Villa team who could only roll over in the face of an onslaught.
Southampton had suffered four league defeats in a row before this match and had been trailing 1-0 at half-time, so it was a display of character and confidence to turn this contest around so emphatically. When Villa had gone into the interval with the lead from Darren Bent's first league goal since February, despite Southampton having had more possession and chances, the home team could have been overawed by the tension and pressure, but they showed mental strength and technical assuredness with some typically fluent passing.
Maybe, now, Adkins will be allowed to carry on without unfair distractions over his own job security. Losses to Manchester City, Manchester United and Arsenal were no disgrace for Southampton earlier this season. The only blemish was their home defeat to Wigan, which they were unfortunate to lose.
It certainly did not merit the touting of Rafa Benitez and Harry Redknapp to usurp a man who has turned around a club that had reached a painfully low ebb in League One when he took charge - before propelling the club upwards with consecutive promotions.
Southampton's fans though were patient, refusing to boo at the break, and they were rewarded with three strikes in the space of 14 thrilling minutes. Rickie Lambert, Nathaniel Clyne and Jason Puncheon all scored before the Liverpudlian striker added a fourth in the closing stages. Lambert, another man whose Premier League credentials had been doubted, has now scored four in this division.
It was a brave effort, just like Adkins's team selection. He had made the bold decision of dropping captain Kelvin Davis for this match and promoting Paulo Gazzaniga, a 20-year-old summer signing from Gillingham. The goalkeeper hardly had a shot to save, other than a second half effort from Bent, as Villa were kept worryingly quiet.
"There's a lot of belief here at Southampton," said Adkins. "The ovation demonstrates we're together as one. We all share the same goal. We know it's going to be a challenge and we're all working hard for each other."
Southampton quickly worked hard here and played the better football, while Villa mainly relied on hit-and-hope tactics aimed at Bent. The Saints' early chances fell to Lambert and lively Gaston Ramirez, who both shot wide, then Adam Lallana struck a weak overhead kick at Brad Guzan.
The danger for Southampton was that Villa, looking organised at the time, could pick their pocket and that is what happened. Clyne failed to clear, allowing Barry Bannan to swirl over a cross that Bent headed across the area for Stephen Ireland. The midfielder's shot was a miskick but, as Southampton's defence switched off, Bent snuck forward to tap in from six yards.
Villa's renaissance was emphatically ended 13 minutes into the second half when Lallana worked wonders on the right before sending over a cross that Lambert controlled, despite the attentions of Villa's defence, and finished from 20 yards.
Lallana was impressing again, with Stuart Pearce watching in the crowd, and soon sent a dipping shot over from 20 yards. Southampton had rediscovered their earlier vigour and scored again through Clyne. The right back started the move on the right as he found Lambert, who crossed for Ramirez. The Uruguayan then flicked the ball forward for Clyne to steer in from 10 yards.
A brilliantly worked goal made it 3-1. Lambert confused Ron Vlaar on the left flank with a deft pass which picked out Puncheon, who turned neatly then sent an angled shot into the far corner.
Southampton added a fourth when substitute Emmanuel Mayuka was tripped by Guzan, leading to the penalty that Lambert scored from. His namesake, the Villa manager, was understandably unimpressed. "The last half an hour or 40 minutes, I don't defend that," he said. "I won't blame anyone. We win together. We lose together." That is clearly a motto that has served Southampton well.
The St Mary's faithful had kept the faith before this game - and during it - and they were re-paid.
Sunil Mittal's Airtel joins hands with Indian Army, becomes only private company to...
Shah Rukh Khan's Mannat to Amitabh Bachchan's Jalsa: 5 most expensive celebrity homes in India
IPL 2025 auction: 42-year-old England legend registers for first time, his base price is...
Stranger Things season 5 teaser reveals episode titles, release date confirmed as...
Singer Rahul Vaidya buys 3110 sq ft luxury apartment worth Rs 90000000, it is located in...
Nimrat Kaur asks Abhishek Bachchan ‘would you distract Aaradhya’, he praises Aishwarya Rai in reply
JEE Advanced 2025: Candidates now allowed to give 3 attempts, check details inside
Watch: MS Dhoni's video of playing golf with Donald Trump goes viral after US Polls
Viral: Italy's Lake Como's 'fresh air' can being sold for Rs 907, details inside
Ranji Trophy: Jalaj Saxena scripts history, becomes first cricketer to achieve massive feat
Gautam Adani congratulates Donald Trump on winning US elections, says, 'If there is one person...'
Meet Usha Chilukuri, who is set to become first Indian-origin second lady of US, she is wife of...
Delhi NCR: Traffic advisory issued in Ghaziabad ahead of Chhath Puja 2024, check routes to avoid
ICC Test Rankings: Rishabh Pant breaks into top 10; Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma suffer massive loss
NASA's Sunita Williams witnesses 16 sunrises, sunsets daily in space, here’s how
'India will…': Ricky Ponting makes BOLD prediction for Border-Gavaskar Trophy
From DU to Tesla: Meet man who works for Elon Musk, manages his company's...
Essence of Leadership: Insights from Ankur Saini
Who is Thomas Draca? First Italian player to register for IPL 2025 mega auction
IPL 2025 mega auction: Full list of players with Rs 2 crore base price
Meet man who quit Paytm after Rs 2048 crore deal with Deepinder Goyal's Zomato, he is...
Anushka Sharma can't stop laughing seeing Virat Kohli's funny move in unseen viral video - Watch
SA vs IND: Arshdeep Singh aims to surpass Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s all-time T20I record
Donald Trump reclaims US presidency, netizens win hearts with meme-fest
'Everyone will come to know...': LoP Rahul Gandhi's BIG statement on caste census in Nagpur
Thama: Ayushmann Khurrana reveals all about 'bloody love story', says it is....
'History’s greatest comeback': Israel PM Netanyahu congratulates Donald Trump on US Election victory
US Election Results LIVE: Donald Trump's victory speech; WATCH HERE
Arjun Kapoor hits back at haters post Singham Again success: 'To everyone who...'
'Let's work for global peace': PM Modi congratulates 'friend' Donald Trump on winning US election
Swiggy's next BIG step, set to challenge Mukesh Ambani ahead of IPO, collects Rs...
Amid divorce rumours, Abhishek Bachchan and Aishwarya Rai set to reunite for...
J-K Assembly passes resolution seeking restoration of special status of erstwhile state
CAT Admit Card 2024 RELEASED: Step-by-step guide to download from iimcat.ac.in
Kiki Hakansson, the first ever Miss World, passes away at 95
This company surpasses Apple as world's biggest company, it's market cap is Rs...
IPL 2025: Mitchell Starc breaks his silence on not being retained by KKR, says, 'I still have not…'
J-K: Encounter breaks out between security forces, terrorists in Kupwara
‘Our relationship with US…’: EAM S Jaishankar on US Presidential Election 2024 Results
Delhi-NCR AQI: No relief from pollution, Delhi air quality remains 'very poor'
Dev Diwali 2024: Dates, significance, how to celebrate, everything you need to know
Israel PM Netanyahu fires Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over 'lack of trust'
Swiggy IPO opens today, aims to garner Rs 11327 crore: Check price band, lot size and more
Raftaar breaks silence on his feud with Honey Singh: 'Aapas mein toh kuch bhi ho sakta hai but...'
DNA TV Show: How US Presidential election results may impact the world