Southampton’s new homeowners watched from the stands because the membership registered their largest Premier League win of the season by thrashing Brentford 4-1.
Targets from Jan Bednarek Armando Broja and Che Adams plus an own-goal from Bees goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez, secured a powerful victory in Saints’ first top-flight outing since final week’s takeover.
Brentford midfielder Vitaly Janelt briefly levelled proceedings with a fantastic first-half volley however the night belonged to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s rampant hosts.
Victory for Southampton – secured in entrance of lead investor Dragan Solak – moved them to eleventh within the desk, a degree and two locations above their opponents.
The emphatic end result was the primary time Saints had managed greater than three league objectives in a sport beneath Hasenhuttl.
A brand new period for the south-coast membership began in moderately subdued trend with Saturday’s gruelling extra-time FA Cup win at Swansea, which was performed behind closed doorways as a result of coronavirus restrictions in Wales.
This was their first outing on residence soil since funding agency Sport Republic acquired an 80 per cent stake and proved to be a much more becoming event.
Southampton, who opted for an unfamiliar 3-5-2 wing-back system within the absence of a recognised right-back, made an ideal begin inside 5 minutes.
Captain James Ward-Prowse delivered an inviting, inswinging nook from the left and in-form defender Bednarek discovered area to look residence his third aim in 5 Premier League video games.
Brentford have struggled for outcomes on the street in latest months and arrived in Hampshire with simply two factors from the final 15 accessible away from residence.
Thomas Frank’s males seemed set for a troublesome night following their gradual begin however wanted simply 18 minutes to revive parity as Bryan Mbeumo and Janelt – two of 4 gamers recalled following the 2-1 win over Aston Villa on January 2 – mixed to devastating impact.
Buoyed by his hat-trick in Saturday’s 4-1 FA Cup win at League Two Port Vale, Mbeumo crossed from the proper, permitting unmarked German Janelt to stylishly volley into the underside left nook from 10 yards.
That was to be the excessive level for the west London membership they usually fell behind for a second time within the thirty seventh minute, this time in barely unlucky trend.
After a Ward-Prowse nook was solely partially cleared, midfielder Ibrahima Diallo hit a fizzing shot from the sting of the field which struck the left publish earlier than rebounding into the web off the diving Fernandez.
Spaniard Fernandez then partially redeemed himself by clawing out Broja’s goal-bound header however was unable to disclaim the identical participant simply 4 minutes after the restart as Saints broke away to stretch their benefit.
After Brentford carelessly conceded possession deep in Saints territory, Chelsea loanee Broja raced clear from midway following Oriol Romeu’s through-ball earlier than calmly slotting into the underside proper nook.
Substitute Adams – again in motion following coronavirus – added additional gloss to the scoreline by lifting the ball past Fernandez 20 minutes from time following Diallo’s hopeful punt ahead.
Brentford pushed onerous to make the scoreline extra respectable however they have been stored out by some dogged defending as Saints’ jubilant supporters celebrated a memorable night by lighting up the stadium with their telephones.
Kaynak: briturkish.com
