How Guardiola’s favourite Southampton player matched Le Tissier to dent Spurs’ top four hopes

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As we enter the final phase of this season there’s going to be a real scrap to stay up in the Premier League with Southampton firmly involved but they’ve given themselves a real chance of survival following an incredible 2-1 win over high-flying Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary’s.

Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men were staring down the barrel after Harry Kane, linking up superbly with the returning Dele Alli, gave the visitors a 26th minute lead. From that moment the floodgates threatened to open, but as much as Spurs huffed and puffed they couldn’t breach Angus Gunn’s goal again.

Instead, we got a comeback for the ages, given where both clubs are – Spurs this week reached the Champions League quarterfinals at Borussia Dortmund’s expense and The Saints languishing above the relegation zone – no one could have expected this. But that is the beauty of football. Expect the unexpected.

Yan Valery, who opened his Southampton account in stunning fashion at Old Trafford last weekend, drew the score level before James Ward-Prowse stepped up. Heading into this fixture all eyes were on ‘JWP’ who in recent matches has symbolised Southampton’s fightback under their Austrian boss.

Similarly to Valery he stunned Manchester United, with a spectacular free-kick, and the 24-year-old English midfielder did so again to another Champions League quarter-finalist. With nine minutes remaining Southampton were awarded a free-kick after Kyle Walker-Peters cynically brought Nathan Redmond down – he was fortunate to receive only a yellow card.

Given this newfound reputation when it comes to set-pieces, enhanced by Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola, who previously described Ward-Prowse as the best corner taker in the league. “We played with the ball so good but not without the ball,” he said after City’s 6-1 win over Southampton last November. “We were not stable behind. We concede a lot of corner kicks and with the best taker in the league [Ward-Prowse] like Southampton had.”

Spurs knew what was coming next. Unfortunately for them, and their top four chances, it was another incredible effort that beat Hugo Lloris all ends up.

It’s now six goals for Ward-Prowse across his last nine league outings. This latest beauty was the fourth direct free-kick he’s registered for Southampton in the Premier League – only club legend Matt Le Tissier (7) has scored more.

Jubilant scenes at full-time were followed by a serious huddle on the pitch. The job, by all means, is not yet done. Southampton, with eight matches left, are just two points above the drop as Cardiff City also picked up three valuable points against West Ham.

As for Spurs, well, their championship dreams were vanquished with back-to-back league defeats away to Burnley and Chelsea which subsequently has dragged them in a battle to finish in the top four. This result will no doubt be greeted enthusiastically by the other three clubs – Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea – fighting for two spots.

Spurs, currently third, are just two points ahead of Manchester United who face Arsenal (one point further back) in a mouthwatering clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Chelsea, meanwhile, can leapfrog Mauricio Pochettino’s men if they win both of their games in hand.

The post How Guardiola’s favourite Southampton player matched Le Tissier to dent Spurs’ top four hopes appeared first on Squawka News.



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