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Attendance: 26,929
Southampton logo
Premier League | Gameweek 14
Nov 30, 2019 at 5.30pm UK
 
Watford logo

2-1

Ings (78'), Ward-Prowse (83')
FT(HT: 0-1)
Sarr (24')

Ralph Hasenhuttl: 'Southampton must earn backing from fans'

Saints picked up a first home win since April by beating Watford.

Ralph Hasenhuttl insists Southampton's players cannot expect unconditional support from the club's success-starved home fans.

Saints left the field to cheers of relief on Saturday after coming from behind to beat fellow strugglers Watford 2-1 and pick up a first victory at St Mary's since April.

Hasenhuttl's relegation-threatened side had been booed off at the break following a flat first-half display, which for much of the match was matched by the mood in the stands.

Jeers from the terraces have been a regular feature for the south-coast club this term following a series of dismal displays and disappointing results.

Saints boss Hassenhuttl, who saw Danny Ings and James Ward-Prowse strike in the final 12 minutes to defeat the Hornets and ease mounting pressure, believes it is the responsibility of his team to spark a positive atmosphere.

"We need chances to lift them. When we had a small one they were immediately there. We have to create them," said Hasenhuttl.

"You cannot demand them supporting you if you don't show them anything.

"You have to show and then you get something and in the second half we showed and they were immediately there and this is what lifts everybody.

"At first we must look at us – what we can do better – and then the rest comes."

Southampton's overdue victory ended an eight-match winless run on home soil and was a first success in nine top-flight fixtures.

Saints supporters have witnessed just 10 home wins from 45 league matches dating back to the start of the 2017-18 campaign, including the tenures of Mauricio Pellegrino and Mark Hughes.

After falling behind to Ismaila Sarr's maiden Premier League goal, the hosts were much-improved in the second period and their sustained pressure eventually paid off.

Hasenhuttl hopes his 18th-placed side can replicate their second-half performance on Wednesday when they host second-bottom Norwich in another crunch clash.

"We have chances to take points every weekend and we must be more brave," he said.

"And when we are that then we have our quality to score and our quality to win games.

"Now we have a big home game against Norwich where we must do it again."

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Freddie Ljungberg pictured on November 27, 2019
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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
CLeicester CityLeicester463141189414897
3Leeds UnitedLeeds462791081433890
4Southampton462691187632487
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4621121370472375
6Norwich CityNorwich4621101579641573
7Hull City461913146860870
8Middlesbrough46209177162969
9Coventry CityCoventry4617131670591164
10Preston North EndPreston46189195667-1163
11Bristol City461711185351262
12Cardiff CityCardiff46195225370-1762
13Millwall461611194555-1059
14Swansea CitySwansea461512195965-657
15Watford461317166161056
16Sunderland46168225254-256
17Stoke CityStoke461511204960-1156
18Queens Park RangersQPR461511204758-1156
19Blackburn RoversBlackburn461411216074-1453
20Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds46158234468-2453
21Plymouth ArgylePlymouth461312215970-1151
RBirmingham CityBirmingham461311225065-1550
RHuddersfield TownHuddersfield46918194877-2945
RRotherham UnitedRotherham46512293789-5227


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