PREMIER LEAGUE 2015

  

Sadio Mané the main man as Southampton squeeze past Crystal Palace

This was just the tonic Southampton needed to halt a steady decline. With 10 minutes remaining their malaise of late looked set to continue but Sadio Mané’s determination and deft touch secured a first win at home since New Year’s Day for Ronald Koeman’s side, whose top-four ambitions appear renewed.

Crystal Palace had won five successive away matches under Alan Pardew before this defeat and will count themselves unlucky to not have at least earned a point. Wilfried Zaha hit a post and Fraser Forster was twice called on during a second half that could have easily have swung their way, with unease beginning to creep in at St Mary’s as Southampton struggled to create any telling opportunities.

Saints had not scored at home in the league for 387 minutes before Mané’s strike, a fine run and calm finish to end a game that had been drifting away. Ultimately, however, Koeman will care little about the manner of this win, providing as it did three crucial points to keep them in touch with the Premier League’s top four before a squad break in Switzerland.

“Finally we scored and we win at home,” said Koeman. “I can’t say that we deserved the win today. Maybe after the first half yes, but after the second half Crystal Palace did well. Some good chances, a shot on the post. Football is strange. It’s all about the confidence.

“I think it can be very important. This win maybe is one of the key moments of the season. We like to fight for a high position in the table but if you don’t win [for] three games in a row at home. It’s not important how you score, if you score. We have to be a little bit more ruthless in the box.”

That is a lesson that Southampton’s players must heed if they are going to remain a threat to the establishment at the summit of the league. In large spells here they dominated in possession terms, but for all their control of the ball they were blighted by insipid attacking play.

Julián Speroni had only one save to make during a forgettable first half. It has become a pattern of Saints’ play in recent weeks, with Graziano Pellè out of form and the goals in short supply; a lack of composure and a growing frustration has crept in at St Mary’s.

Speroni was called into action five minutes before half-time. A Southampton corner was whipped into the six-yard box but Yannick Bolasie’s headed clearance only found Eljero Elia, whose smart shot on the turn was palmed away by Speroni. Pellè pounced on the rebound but prodded wide.

Things swiftly turned after half-time as Palace grew into the game. Bolasie, Jason Puncheon and Wilfried Zaha were suddenly combining potently in attack, as Southampton’s defence suffered.

Puncheon was first to test Fraser Forster in the 48th minute. Bolasie jinked inside from the left and slipped the ball inside where Puncheon appeared tightly marked. However, in the blink of an eye the in-form midfielder made room for a shot and fizzed an effort straight at Forster.

The goalkeeper was soon called on again. This time it was Bolasie with the shot, fed into the area by Zaha down the right and attempting a low effort across goal. Forster was equal to it once more, but Southampton failed to clear and the ball fell to Zaha who was denied by the post.

It was Mané, though, who struck the decisive late blow. The Senegalese midfielder was the driving force behind a move that started from nothing on the right flank. However, Mané found the substitute James Ward-Prowse and space opened up for a shot. He fired in a low shot that Speroni could only parry into the path of Mané, who dinked the loose ball deftly over the goalkeeper and in.

Pardew thought the referee Martin Atkinson – officiating his first game since the controversial Nemanja Matic red card against Burnley – should have awarded Palace a penalty in the 70th minute after José Fonte collided with Bolasie, but admitted his side missed a physical threat in attack.

“It was obviously a big game for them in terms of the Champions League,” said Pardew. “But they played very well in the first half and we missed a physical presence at the top of the pitch. In the second half we were much better. Southampton were running out of ideas and we should have scored. I think we should have had a penalty as well.”

Tim Sherwood: Aston Villa boss revels in first win at club

Aston Villa boss Tim Sherwood says his side are "still alive" after Christian Benteke's late penalty secured a2-1 win over West Brom, lifting them out of the relegation zone.

It was Sherwood's first win since he took charge of the club in February.

Sherwood said: "When I left home my wife said she'd done the Euro lottery with a £54m jackpot but I said I'd take three points all the way."

Gabriel Agbonlahor scored Villa's first before Saido Berahino replied.

Villa's first league win since 7 December lifted them two places up the table, out of the bottom three to 17th spot, with 10 games remaining.

They are three points ahead of 18th-placed QPR, who entertain Arsenal on Wednesday.

Agbonlahor gave Villa a first-half lead but Berahino's equaliser looked to have extended their winless sequence until West Brom keeper Ben Foster fumbled a clearance then brought down Matt Lowton.

Sherwood, who lost his first two games at home to Stoke City and at Newcastle United, added: "We have improved every game and that was our best performance.

"It was a magnificent feeling. It was a sickener when we lost in the last minute against Stoke and it's a much nicer feeling to be on the other side."

The former Tottenham manager also revealed that match-winner Benteke had told him what he planned to do if Villa got a penalty.

"He told me 'I will wait for the keeper to sit down and I will roll it in the other side'. He did give me a little bit of confidence but I was still peeping through my fingers.

"I'm confident that what I'm telling the players is the correct thing to do but there is nothing like a win to cement that. It is huge for us.

"We have got a group that is not really suited for a relegation battle. The old-fashioned way is to battle but we have to play as if we are not in a relegation battle and pass the ball and move.

"If we go down we go down fighting."

He insisted there was "no chance" he would pick a weakened side when they meet Albion again in the FA Cup quarter-final at Villa Park on Saturday.

The stats behind Villa's victory

• Gabby Agbonlahor ended a run of 14 Premier League games without scoring for Villa.
• Tim Sherwood's Aston Villa are the last side throughout the top four English divisions to earn a league win in 2015.
• Villa became the 20th and final team to be awarded a penalty. It was their first spot kick since January 2014.
• Aston Villa had more shots on target today (8) than any Premier League game since May 2014.

Pat Nevin analysis

"The Aston Villa bench looked like they have won a cup tie. Even the fans, that is not just league win. They are back fighting in this league.

"Aston Villa need everybody on board. You need every single fan behind you. I don't expect them to go on a fantastic run and cruise relegation, they are not that kind of team. It doesn't matter how it is won, Tim Sherwood wants to stay in this league to build for next season."

Phil McNulty analysis

Aston Villa manager Tim Sherwood provided moments of pure theatre as he prowled the touchline in the dramatic victory against West Bromwich Albion.

He admitted his impromptu clenched-fist sprint along the touchline when Gabriel Agbonlahor gave Villa the lead was "ridiculous" then pointedly checked his pulse at the final whistle - claiming it was to confirm he was alive as well as his new team's survival hopes.

But Villa Park bought into the vibrant body language of this effervescent character, responding with a roar when he demanded a wave and Sherwood replied by waving his arms in a request for more noise from the Holte End.

If positivity and a determination to tackle this challenge head on counts for anything, Sherwood has created a good first impression with Villa's following with every word and deed.

Sherwood celebrated with them at the final whistle. The brash approach that has won over plenty of Villa supporters may be an acquired taste to some, but it is already clear life will not be dull under this confident, quotable, heart-on-the-sleeve personality.