Southampton

"If I were in that changing room, I would definitely not be ruling out automatic promotion... yet."

Former Saints defender Dan Harding joins BBC Radio Solent as they take a look at a lacklustre season for Southampton so far and countdown their top 10 best individual performances from a Saints player in a match.

Listen to the latest episode of the Saints Social podcast and more Southampton content on BBC Sounds.

Tom Gayle
BBC Final Score reporter at Pride Park

Image source, Getty Images

Two years ago Ross Stewart was one of the EFL's most sought-after strikers. He averaged a goal every other game at Sunderland, form which he would have expected to continue after making the switch to Southampton.

Sadly injuries have seen the Scot spend more time in the club's treatment room than out on the pitch.

It was hoped his two goals, including the winner in the 2-1 victory over Sheffield United, would be the turning point in his Southampton career. Yet 30 minutes into Saturday's 1-1 draw at Derby, he was forced off with another problem.

Watching on from the press box, I was optimistic in the fact Stewart was able to walk from behind the Rams' goal to the technical area, before heading straight down the tunnel. However, afterwards, manager Will Still confirmed it was a "pulled hamstring".

By the time you are reading this, Southampton will probably know the severity of the setback. Depending on it being classified as either a grade one, two or three hamstring injury, the recovery timeline can range from a couple of weeks up to several months.

The question needs to be asked whether it was wise for Stewart to make his third start in seven days, given his history of setbacks.

Moving forward, in the short term at least, someone else will be given a chance to stake a claim for the lone striker role. Still doesn't appear to be convinced by Cameron Archer, an unused substitute in two of the last three games, and with a record of one goal in his last 34 league appearances.

Instead, he may look to American international Damion Downs, a striker Still describes as "unique" when compared to other squad options, and a talent who has "scored goals at a very good level" (10 goals for champions Koln in 2. Bundesliga last season).

I'll be honest, the 21-year-old looked out of his depth in the half an hour or so of substitute minutes I saw from him on Saturday.

Just nine Championship games into the job, Still has already shown he's prepared to make big calls.

The likes of Gavin Bazunu, Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Flynn Downes are warming the bench in line with their manager's approach of trusting in both his gut and what the data shows him.

The softly spoken Still won't shy away from another key decision, but sooner rather than later he has to start winning more games.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton boss Will Still said his side's 1-1 draw away against Derby County showed the need to have more composure in front of goal.

"We have got four points from six in two tricky away games," Still told BBC Radio Solent. "But if we're being hyper-critical and demanding of ourselves then these are the sort of games we have to learn to win or find a way to win.

"We started really well and brightly and created a good few chances. We wobbled a bit after our goal and they hit us with a lot of direct and physical play.

"Then we grew back into the game and had a bit more control, but we've then been undone by what I think is a really poor refereeing decision. I don't know how the throw-in goes their way.

"We still need to then switch on and we've conceded an annoying goal. The second half was scrappy and it wasn't our style but we have to deal with it.

"We've had a few opportunities we haven't really taken and we need to have a bit more composure going forward."

Image source, Opta

Derby's quest for a first home win of the season resumes as they welcome Southampton to Pride Park on Saturday (15:00 BST).

Though Tuesday's late draw against Charlton means the Rams have lost just one of their past six matches, four of those have ended all-square and they have taken just two points from their opening four home games.

Will Still's side picked up their first away win of the season at Sheffield United on Tuesday, earning as many points as they had in their previous five matches combined.

Though County are fifth-bottom, a point above the drop-zone and six places adrift of Southampton, a two-goal win for the Rams would actually take them above the Saints in the table.

• Derby County have won just one of their past nine league games against Southampton (D5 L3), a 1-0 victory in February 2007.

• Southampton have won just four of their 31 away league games against Derby County (D12 L15), though are unbeaten across their last four since 2005 (W1 D3).

• Derby County have drawn four of their past six Championship games (W1 D1), while no team have drawn more matches than them (7) in the competition since the start of April.

• After beating Sheffield United in midweek, Southampton will be looking to achieve consecutive league wins for the first time since April 2024 (three in the Championship).

• Carlton Morris has scored 40% of Derby County's goals in the Championship this season (4/10). However, after scoring in his first four league games this term, he's failed to score in each of the past four.

"Players need to take a little more responsibility on the pitch, and help each other and demand more."

Former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem joins Adam Blackmore to analyse Saints' performance in the 2-1 win against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

Listen to the full episode of Goin' Home with Adam and Jo and more on BBC Sounds

Image source, Opta

Sheffield United will seek to avoid unwanted history when they welcome Southampton to Bramall Lane on Tuesday night (19:45 BST).

With Chris WIlder back at the helm the Blades picked up their first points of the season with a 1-0 success at Oxford United on Saturday but return home where they have lost their opening three fixtures. Four of their past five fixtures have seen a single goal scored, though the other was a 5-0 defeat at Ipswich.

Will Still's Saints were pegged back by Middlesbrough in a 1-1 draw at St Mary's on Saturday and are now winless in six Championship games since the opening day.

They drew their opening two away games but went down 3-1 at Hull City in their most recent away game, though their recent record against United has been excellent.

• Sheffield United have lost each of their past four league meetings with Southampton, all in the Premier League in 2019-20 and 2020-21. The Blades have never lost five in a row versus the Saints before.

• Southampton have won on three of their last four league visits to Sheffield United (D1), as many as their first 22 beforehand (W3 D4 L15).

• Sheffield United have lost all three of their home league games this season; only in 1954-55 have they ever begun a league campaign with four successive home defeats.

• Since the start of last season, Southampton have won just one of their 22 away league games (D5 L16), a 2-1 victory at Ipswich in February.

• Southampton have lost each of their past four away league games played in midweek (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday) since a 1-1 draw at Coventry in December 2023. Their last such win was at Stoke in October 2023.

Image source, Rex Features

Southampton head coach Will Still says it is time to turn performances into wins after his side was held to a 1-1 draw by Middlesbrough.

Saints, who had made six alterations from their previous league game, took a second-half lead against the Championship leaders through Adam Armstrong, but were pegged back by Kaly Sene's 77th minute equaliser.

The result means Still's team has not won since the opening day of the season, a run of six games and they languish in 19th.

"The performance was really positive and really encouraging, but we need to change those into points and into wins," Still told BBC Radio Solent.

"A lot of the players that played on Tuesday deserved to be back in the team and we need to find that balance - we're almost there.

"We're fine-tuning things and we're a couple of hairs from turning interesting stuff into wins - that's what we need to do."

Dan George
BBC Sport

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton boss Will Still admits it has been a "frustrating" start to the season for his side - but insists they are going "in the right direction".

Saints have picked up just six points from their opening six league games and sit 19th, having failed to win since the opening weekend of the Championship season.

After two defeats and three draws, despite being new to his surroundings at St Mary's, Still has started to come under some pressure from fans to deliver results.

But after a narrow Carabao Cup defeat at Liverpool in midweek, many have taken encouragement from elements of the performance at Anfield.

"It's frustrating being where we are and having the number of points we have but we are to blame for that," Still told BBC Radio Solent.

"We need to stand up and start picking up points pretty soon otherwise it creates a bit more of a challenge.

"It's not an excuse but it is early days in the Championship season, and a lot of pieces have moved over the past couple of weeks and we need to get that right sooner rather than later.

"Especially after Tuesday, I am fairly confident we're making progress and we're going in the right direction."

Prior to their exit from the EFL Cup, Saints lost 3-1 to Hull City and endured a frustrating draw with their bitter rivals Portsmouth.

On Saturday, they take on Championship leaders Middlesbrough who have won five of their six games so far and are yet to taste defeat in the league.

Still's side will be searching for their first league win since beating Wrexham at St Mary's in August.

"These next three games are an opportunity to have a right go," Still added.

"We're playing good teams and they are all big games - we just need to build on Tuesday, correct some mistakes we made and then move forward.

"It frustrates me as much as anyone that it isn't going as quick as I'd like it to but that's just human nature and the way football works."

Southampton host league leaders Middlesbrough on Saturday (15:00 BST) as they look to get their season back on track after a disappointing run of results.

The Saints won their opening league game against Wrexham but have failed to register a victory since, losing last time out against Hull City to see them just one point above the bottom three.

But it'll be tough to take their second set of three points against Boro though given the side's stellar form, with the Teesside club yet to suffer a league defeat this season and guaranteed more time in the top spot regardless of how the weekend unfolds.

• Southampton have won four of their last seven league games against Middlesbrough (D1 L2), though failed to beat them either time when they last met in 2023-24 (D1 L1).

• Six of Middlesbrough's last 10 away league games against Southampton have been drawn (W2 L2), with their last victory at St Mary's coming in the Premier League in September 2003.

• Southampton have won just one of their last 20 league games (D6 L13), beating Wrexham 2-1 on the opening weekend this season.

• Middlesbrough's 16 points this season is their best return after six games in any league campaign. They last went unbeaten in their first seven to a season back in 2011-12.

• No player has created more chances in the Championship so far this season than Southampton's Ryan Manning (14).

"The biggest down for me: being mauled by the Tigers not just on the pitch but off the pitch as well. That's got to be a low moment for Saints fans that were there being mocked by 20,000 Hull fans and their mascot. That is a season low."

This week on Saints Social, Jono Holmes and Tom Murray discuss where Southampton are going wrong at the beginning of Will Still's tenure.

There's a top 10 countdown of the best Southampton academy products and BBC Radio Tees' Paul Addison joins the podcast to preview Saturday's showdown with league leaders Middlesbrough.

Listen to the full episode of Saints Social and more Southampton on Sounds.

A potential move to take the Championship play-offs down to eighth place would damage the competition's credibility, according to former Huddersfield, Stoke and Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith.

The EFL board is set to discuss proposals to increase the number of teams in the end-of-season play-offs from four to six but Smith, who was promoted to the Premier League with Huddersfield via the play-offs in 2017 is not a fan of the idea.

"It's not for me - I think it suits teams who don't really have a chance to get in the top six," he told the BBC's EFL podcast 72+.

"From a credibility point of view the top six is there to be aimed at and you have to earn your place in it."

The play-offs were first introduced for the 1986-87 season where sides finishing third down to fifth were involved along with the team third-from-bottom in the top flight.

After two seasons the format was changed to be played out between teams finishing third to sixth in the second tier.

"To finish eighth in the Championship and potentially get promoted to the Premier League it just doesn't sit right with me," added Smith.

"Notoriously over the past years getting into the top six is tough and when you get in there after a long hard season it feels brilliant, so to make it a top eight it dilutes it."

"It's a night when it's hard to know if we should be happy or sad.

"Off the back of Hull I just feel better about Southampton than I did on Saturday evening. Now what does Will Still do in the match against Middlesbrough, and Sheffield United, and Derby... the ones that matter?"

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore and former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem look at the positives from the narrow EFL Cup defeat at Anfield and ask where the Saints boss goes from here.

Listen to the full episode of Goin' Home and more Southampton content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton's good performance but 2-1 defeat by Liverpool in their Carabao Cup third-round meeting at Anfield is a perfect example of their current problems, according to boss Will Still.

The Saints hit the woodwork early in the tie against the Premier League leaders, before a mistake by goalkeeper Alex McCarthy handed the home side the lead. Liverpool went on to win with a late goal from Hugo Ekitike after Shea Charles had equalised for Still's side.

"We've done a lot of really positive things in the first half, hit the crossbar, somehow missed the goal and they go up the other end and we've put it on a plate for them, which is frustrating but a reflection of the direction we're going in," the head coach told BBC Radio Solent.

"We're consistently inconsistent, which is annoying. We're conceding too many goals, too cheaply, so we need to urgently sort that out."

Still made nine changes to his side from the one which was beaten 3-1 at Hull City in the Championship last weekend and was encouraged by the performance.

"The players who were out there stood up, made themselves accountable and put in an interesting performance," he added.

"I'm disappointed for them they couldn't reap the rewards of a good performance but it's where we're at.

"It's not fun, it's not very enjoyable, but we need to keep believing in it, hammering away, keep plugging away, because that's the only way it's going to work."

Southampton return to action at home to Championship leaders Middlesbrough on Saturday, 27 September (15:00 BST).

Shea Charles said he hopes Southampton can use the positives of their battling EFL Cup defeat at Liverpool as a springboard to a Championship revival.

The 21-year-old midfielder came off the bench early in the second half at Anfield, and poked home his first Saints goal to equalise 14 minutes from time in front of the packed away end, only for the Premier League champions to snatch an 85th-minute winner to secure a place in the fourth round.

Charles told BBC Radio Solent: "Obviously, it's a good place to score my first goal for Saints. I just got my first professional goal last year, and to score at Anfield is incredible.

"Coming on after half-time, it's a weird time to come on, but I thought I settled into the game well and I thought we played some good bits.

"We missed a sitter and then conceded straight after in the first half, but I thought we responded well after half-time."

Saints went down 3-1 at Hull City last weekend but Charles hopes the performance at Anfield gives them momentum to take into Saturday's visit of leaders Middlesbrough to St Mary's.

"On Saturday we played some good bits, but it was the same mistakes at the back and not being able to create chances and score goals," he said.

"I think we can go into the game on Saturday at home with the fans behind us with a positive attitude and can go and win the game."

"Saints have been outplayed, outfought, outthought and outdone by Hull City, a team many people expect to be in the bottom half of the Championship table come the end of the season."

BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore and former Southampton midfielder Jo Tessem discuss a hard watch for Saints fans as they fell to a 3-1 defeat at Hull City after a dismal defensive performance.

But who should bear the responsibility - the players or the manager?

Listen to the full episode of Goin' Home and more Southampton content on BBC Sounds.

Image source, Rex Features

Southampton manager Will Still believes his side 'gifted' goals away against Hull City following their 3-1 loss on Saturday.

Adam Armstrong's stoppage-time strike was just a mere consolation for Saints with Kyle Joseph, John Lundstram and Oli McBurnie netting prior for the hosts.

Still has led the freshly-relegated former Premier League club to just one win so far this season having taken over in the summer.

"I'm really disappointed," said the 32-year-old to BBC Radio Solent. "I think we've worked incredibly hard on things out of possession, I think we've worked hard on things in possession.

"I think for large parts of that game we were totally in control, but we've just gifted three goals away.

"As long as we're defending like that we're not going to go anywhere. I'll take it on me, I'll take it as my responsibility and we just need to get on with things."

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton winger Ryan Fraser said that his side have to "start turning draws into wins".

Saints have won just one game this campaign, drawing three matches and losing one.

They are 15th in the Championship, with head coach Will Still starting to come under some pressure from fans to deliver results.

"We need to start turning draws into wins which will be a good feeling when we start doing that," Fraser told BBC Radio Solent.

"Some of the goals we have scored have been really good but then the general play in those games has been quite poor in the way we have conceded.

"Once we get that balance of not conceding and being able to get the key goal, that could be the platform for us to kick on as a group.

"We will click into position, we need to as soon as possible but we have a lot of new players and we're all learning everyday."

Fraser has played in all five of Southampton's league games this season as well as Saints' two EFL Cup matches.

Showcasing his versatility, he has played on both wings as well as centrally under new boss Still.

"I've been happy playing different positions and learning," Fraser added.

"I've really enjoyed it so far and hopefully we can start winning, get the result we need and get a good feeling back."

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

Image source, Rex Features

And the winner for the biggest anti-climax goes to…..

It was the most hotly-anticipated south coast derby for 14 years, the last time the fierce rivals met. This one, however, failed to deliver on the hype and they played out a drab and disappointing 0-0 draw.

The first half saw Saints register just one shot on target, which led Will Still to admit: "We wasted everyone's time".

Portsmouth, arguably, were the better side and managed seven shots. The closest, when Andre Dozzell smashed Gavin Bazunu's bar from just outside the box.

Saints picked up their efforts slightly in the second half. Cameron Archer finally got the home fans off their seats when he rounded the keeper, but left himself too much to do and was easily hooked away with no red shirts coming to his aid.

The game had a combined 20 shots on goal with both managing just one on target each. Fans will have to wait for the return fixture at Fratton Park at the end of January to claim those bragging rights on the south coast.

If we try to focus on the positives, Still switched his formation to a flat back four, something the fans had been calling for after new additions were made in the summer window.

Debutant Tom Fellows started and we saw two further debuts from Caspar Jander and Leo Scienza from the bench. No complaints over Still's selections.

Defensively, we looked solid. Jack Stephens and Taylor Harwood-Bellis kept Colby Bishop and Conor Chaplin quiet and limited their chances.

Unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good - a lack of intensity and creativity moving forward and movement on the ball was wasteful. Plenty of work is needed in preparation for Hull this weekend.

The new signings still need time to gel and with no international distractions for a full week of training, hopefully Still will keep things the same in terms of formation and personnel. No fresh injury concerns for the trip to Hull City. Hopefully something sticks.

You can hear more from Ray on the In That Number podcast., external