MX23RW : Thursday, November 28 21:17:31| >> :60:2509:2509:
[monks data]
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 challenges Southampton to turn "strange" home form around

Ralph Hasenhuttl challenges Southampton to turn
© Reuters
St Mary's has not proven a happy hunting ground this season.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl hopes a united home front can help keep the club in the Premier League.

The Saints host rock-bottom Watford looking to build on last weekend's 2-2 draw at Arsenal – which could have been more but for Alexandre Lacazette's stoppage-time equaliser.

St Mary's Stadium, though, has not proven a happy hunting ground this season, with no wins and five defeats – including a 9-0 thrashing by Leicester.

Hasenhuttl feels if the team can get off to a positive start and give the crowd something to cheer about, then everyone can start to move forwards.

"The crazy thing at the moment is that in the away games we score very soon always and at home we have the opposite experience. It is really strange, but we have to turn the table now," the Southampton boss said.

"At home, it was very often that we were (a goal) down immediately and that creates an atmosphere in the stadium that isn't helpful for anybody – the fans or for us.

"This is what we have to change now, having a better start at home. We speak a lot about this, but it's more important to do it at the weekend."

Hasenhuttl added at a press conference: "If you create the first two or three chances, the crowd is there and they will help you.

"If we lose the ball in our own half and the opponent has two chances and scores once, then it is not a surprise that the atmosphere turns.

"It is about us to put a positive atmosphere back in our stadium and this is the message we must give to the fans.

"We need their help in some moments and to be positive with us even if we make a mistake. When both things happen, we have a bigger chance to have a better atmosphere."

Watford found themselves back bottom of the table following a 3-0 home defeat by Burnley on Saturday, which was their seventh league loss this season.

The Hornets, though, would move off the bottom and be replaced by Southampton if they pull off another away win to add to the victory at fellow strugglers Norwich before the international break.

"They are still a fantastic team with a few good players," Hasenhuttl said. "They changed their shape a little bit and (Troy) Deeney comes back in which gives them another option. He is someone they have been missing.

"I think this is still a team that is not easy to beat, but we play at home now and we must focus on our game. If we do that, then it is not so interesting who is on the other side."

ID:381050: cacheID:381050:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:3935:No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Son Heung-min celebrates Tottenham Hotspur scoring against West Ham United in the Premier League on November 23, 2019.
Read Next:
PL Team of the Week - Lacazette, Son, Fernandinho
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool1210112481631
2Manchester CityMan City127232217523
3Chelsea126422314922
4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
9Fulham125341717018
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle125341313018
11Brentford125252222017
12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
13Bournemouth124351617-115
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham124351519-415
15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!