Skip to content

Ronald Koeman's attacking Southampton line-up was rewarded but only after getting caught out by Aston Villa

Southampton were unable to inflict defeat on Aston Villa on Monday Night Football and had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Saints boss Ronald Koeman got rewarded for his positive team selection but might opt for more caution in the future after being caught out by Villa...

Faced with the absence of Steven Davis, Ronald Koeman might have been expected to make the same decision he did when the midfielder was taken off in the first half of Southampton’s previous game against Leicester City. But instead of sending for Jack Cork he took the attacking option.

Koeman even admitted that it was in part due to Aston Villa’s issues in defence, while also suggesting that he wanted more offensively from his midfield. It seemed harsh on Cork given that he’d actually found the net three times this season but the Saints boss sensed an opportunity to get four attack-minded players onto the pitch following Shane Long’s brace last time out.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Ronald Koeman frustrated by draw

It looked to be working as well with Dusan Tadic and Saido Mane tormenting Villa in the wide positions early on as Southampton - fielding a team of full internationals for the first time in their 129-year history – utterly dominated possession. Home advantage must have felt anything but that for Villa’s players.

The combination of their inability to keep the ball and the visitors’ pathological desire to press their opponents looked toxic for Paul Lambert’s side. But after making such an assured start to his Southampton career, Fraser Forster made a bad decision - rushing from his line when Toby Alderweireld seemed to have the situation under control, only for Gabriel Agbonlahor to nip in first.

Gabriel Agbonlahor of Aston Villa
Image: Gabriel Agbonlahor used his electric pace to punish Southampton's rare defensive error

Incredibly, the Opta statistics show that this was the first error leading to a shot conceded by Southampton let alone a goal. Agbonlahor certainly has the tools to make goalkeepers look foolish – he was clocked at 34.78km/h with nobody else on the pitch hitting 33km/h – but Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville was unforgiving.

Speedy striker

Gabriel Agbonlahor was the fastest man on the pitch, clocked at 34.78km/h.

“It’s a really poor decision,” said Neville. “Hesitation for a goalkeeper is a disaster. You never want your goalkeeper coming off his line if his centre-backs are goal side of the ball.” Perhaps what was most disappointing is that it’s hardly news that Villa are a counter-attacking team. They were the only Premier League team to score more than 10 per cent of their goals on the counter last season and yet in terms of both selection and approach Southampton seemed ripe for it.

Threat

“We talk about the counter-attack with Aston Villa but it hasn’t stopped Southampton committing lots of bodies forward,” added Neville. “I think the counter-attack is on for Villa which I’m surprised at. I thought they would have managed that a little better. It’s almost a case of defending while you’re attacking against this Villa side as it’s their only real threat.

Live Ford Super Sunday

“They’ve almost got four forwards on the pitch and only two midfield players. That does mean that if (Victor) Wanyama or (Morgan) Schneiderlin do go forward – which at times they have – they do get a little bit exposed because both full-backs are going. At times we saw four or five players in the box for Southampton. That’s fine but they’ve got to be aware against this Villa team.”

Saints pushed hard after the break but it was not a huge surprise that the first clear opening fell to Andreas Weimann from another Villa counter-attack. Unlike Wayne Rooney for Manchester United at a similar stage of the game against Arsenal on Saturday Night Football, Weimann was unable to seize the opportunity and it proved costly.

Image: Southampton opted for an attacking line-up and were rewarded as both full-backs combined to score

Southampton eventually got the reward for their expansive approach and the source of the goal was something of a vindication for Koeman as one full-back, Ryan Bertrand, crossed for the other in Nathaniel Clyne to pass the ball beyond Brad Guzan. “It’s important for the team,” said Koeman of his full-backs. “We like to play in an offensive way.”

It was not until the final moments with Villa chasing the winner that the Dutchman did bring on Cork for Long. But with the next two home games against Manchester City and Manchester United sandwiched by a midweek trip to Arsenal, don’t be too surprised if Koeman opts for a more conservative approach in the coming weeks.

Watch Southampton v Manchester City live on Super Sunday from 12.30pm