SOU vs WAT
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Report: Saints secure vital first home win

Southampton staged a dramatic turnaround at St Mary’s as two late goals secured a first home victory of the season at Watford’s expense. Our report. 

FULL-TIME: Saints 2-1 Watford

PHEW 😅 All three points are ours at St Mary's! It was hard-fought, but goals from Danny Ings and James Ward-Prowse seal it.

McCarthy saves

Sarr's cross-cum-shot is a tricky one for the stopper to deal with. But he tips over the bar nonetheless and Saints look to be over the line...

McCarthy with it...

Trying to slow things down here. He kicks long, but the referee blows for an infringement. Ball is delivered in the opposite direction by Forster. All Saints behind the ball. 

😍

That was one to savour. Now to ride this out. Come on Saints!!

Winding the clock down

Boufal takes the ball into the corner, attempting to run the clock down. But the fourth official has just indicated six minutes of added time.

HUGE 5️⃣ minutes

Saints have turned things around here. Credit must be given to the substitutes, who have all made an impact. But that Ward-Prowse free-kick was a thing of beauty! 😍

JAMES WARD-PROWSE!!!

Sensational free-kick from the midfielder!! Saints lead for the first time at St Mary's.

GOALSCORER 9 Danny Ings

WE'RE LEVEL!

And deservedly so. The pace of the game has lifted since introducing Long and Boufal, but the maker of the goal was Djenepo. He beat a man inside the box, worked the ball to Danny Ings who smashed it beyond Foster.

Off the line!

Saints getting closer, but still unable to make a breakthrough. Ings does fantastically to keep the move alive, flicking the ball back across goal towards Long who gets a touch on it. But isn't able to turn it over the line.

Southampton substitution: Yan Valery replaces Cédric

Final throw of the dice.

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Making an impact

Both Boufal and Long have had positive influences on the game since coming on. Saints look more dangerous going forward - and are attacking with more pace.

Best chance yet

Crafted by Sofiane Boufal. The Moroccan dances his way into the box and pulls the ball back to Long centrally, who scoops his effort onto the crossbar. Encouraging from Saints.

Ings bought down

Foster hesitated on the ball, and attempted to take it around the onrushing striker. He rather fumbled it, and both fell in a heap on the floor. Difficult to tell who was at fault, but the goalkeeper gets the benefit of the doubt.

Djenepo cross met by Longy

Good play from the wideman, creating a chance from nothing. Long throws himself at the delivery but the header is blocked en route to goal. Resulting corner caught by Foster.

Prowsey free-kick...

Won by the trickery of Djenepo, but the midfielder strikes the wall from the dead ball. 

Southampton substitution: Sofiane Boufal replaces Nathan Redmond

Second change.

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Southampton substitution: Shane Long replaces Michael Obafemi

First change.

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Ings wins a corner

Fantastic work rate from the front man. He retains possession well, and then forces a corner. Swung in by Prowsey and met by substitute Shane Long - his first touch of the ball. 

Bright start

Redmond gets to the byline, pulls the ball back but it's blocked. Already more intent to Southampton's forward play. 

We're off...

A huge half of football coming up between the Premier League's two bottom sides.

First-half images 📸

A big second half, coming right up...

HALF-TIME: Saints 0-1 Watford

The home side grew into the half, but are behind at the break. Ismaila Sarr with the goal for Watford, and Saints have it all to do in the second period.

Prowsey flicks agonisingly wide

Cédric fizzed the ball in from wide right, and the midfielder connects well. His deft flick is inches wide of the post. Patient build up play from Saints.

Switch to Bertrand

Lovely cross-field ball from Cédric to Bertrand down the left. He tries to cut inside but is crowded out. Second phase of play again involves Bertrand, who was well found by Redmond but the cross is turned behind. 

Ings header saved

Routine for Foster. Good build up play from the hosts. Began with Redmond down the left, switching to Djenepo on the right. Højbjerg delivered the cross, which was slightly too high for Ings, who didn't get enough pace on the effort.

Loose pass from Prowsey

The midfielder was looking for Bertrand on the left wing, but the pass was wayward. Saints starting to get a foothold in the tie - certainly dominating possession. Watford playing on the break as it stands.

He's back! 🙌

Good to see Moussa Djenepo back in the starting XI today...

Long ball searching for Ings

Jack Stephens plays a testing ball between the two Watford centre-backs, searching for the run of Ings. He's blocked, before Foster claims. Good period of possession for the hosts.

Adam Masina heavy tackle on Obafemi

The striker does well to hold the ball up, and find Moussa Djenepo on the wing, before being taken out, He gets to his feet rapidly - doesn't come to much. But Redmond is in on the action, shoots, and tests Foster, who saves.

Prowsey gets us under way...

It's showtime here at St Mary's! The first pass is met by the roar of the crowd and we're off...

Players are pitchside...

Both teams have made their way out of the tunnel, and formalities are over. We're very nearly ready for kick-off here at a packed St Mary's! 👊

Getting warm! 🔥

It's a bitterly cold evening at St Mary's! Here's the players getting warm ahead of tonight's late kick-off...

Let us firstly look at this game, and then the next few.

ralph hasenhüttl

fully focussed on today's watford clash

One change! 🇲🇱

Stuart Armstrong drops out, after suffering a hamstring injury away to Arsenal last weekend, with Moussa Djenepo his replacement. Ché Adams returns on the bench for Saints.

Saints XI confirmed 😇

Starting XI: McCarthy (GK), Cédric, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Højbjerg (c), Djenepo, Redmond, Ings, Obafemi.

Young Saints victorious! 🙌

Watch the highlights from Southampton Under-18s' league victory over Brighton and Hove Albion earlier today!

Who makes your XI?

A sneak peak inside the Southampton dressing room! We'll bring you all the breaking team news as it comes in from 4:30pm onwards...

Get clued up! 🤓

Southampton are back at St Mary’s for the first instalment of a home double-header, with Watford the visitors for a vital Premier League clash in an evening kick-off live on Sky Sports. Check out our Match Pack in association with eToro for all the key information…

The scenery! 😍 

St Mary's is ready to welcome you, Saints fans! 

we showed our fans a very ambitious and emotional performance [against arsenal] and this is exactly what we have to do now.

ralph hasenhüttl

southampton manager

In the house! 👋

Checking in! Southampton's players arrive at St Mary's Stadium ahead of meeting Watford in the Premier League.

The manager talks business 🗣

Ralph Hasenhüttl previews today's crucial clash with Watford at St Mary's...

 🔙 at St Mary's! 🏠