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Premier League: Team of the Week XVII feat. Manchester United and Spurs stars
Coach: Claude Puel (Southampton)
Formation: 3-4-3
It’s never an easy day for a manager, taking your team into a local derby, despite it being an occasion to relish. On this occasion it was the perfect one for Southampton as they came from behind to secure victory at local rivals Bournemouth, but even when they fell a goal behind, Puel never let his side drop their standards.
A lack of goals had been a growing concern for Southampton, with the side registering just three in their previous seven Premier League matches, with the frustrating 0-0 draw against ten-man Stoke last time out just one example of their lack of cutting edge.
In the absence of the injured Charlie Austin, the Frenchman persisted with previously injury-stricken striker Jay Rodriguez, who repaid his manager’s faith with his first Premier League goals since August in only his third league start of the campaign. He was one of six changes made to the starting line-up as Puel sought goals, and every decision he made was the right call.
Both sides scored with their first efforts on target, with Nathan Ake’s acrobatic header putting the Cherries in front after six minutes, before Puel’s side mounted an instant response through Ryan Bertrand’s superb solo run and finish.
With the game deadlocked at half-time, Puel made his masterstroke in throwing Steve Davis into the fray, and the substitute made an immediate impact, laying the ball on a plate for Rodriguez to turn the match on its head after being fed by Sofiane Boufal’s sumptuous back-heel flick.
And bar that one moment of magic, Davis added an extra stability and calming presence to the Saints midfield after a disjointed first-half performance.
It was Rodriguez again though who rounded off the good work done by Puel’s side, spinning toward the ball bouncing on the edge of the Bournemouth box and unleashing a superb 20-yard strike late-on, to seal victory.
Puel’s resurgent Southampton moved up to seventh with the victory, and Puel’s set-up and game management were simply spot on for the big occasion.
