“That to me is mental” Flynn Downes reaction to the rather vocal criticism after Southampton’s 1-1 draw with Rotherham United. Worth remembering that last season Flynn Downes contributed to a European Cup winning side whereas Southampton were relegated, finishing bottom of the Premier League. Perhaps the 24 year old midfielder isn’t quite reading the room here.
Generally the noise wasn’t a direct reaction to the Rotherham game, yes Southampton should have won but being diplomatic you can chalk this particular fixture up as “one off those days” where the keeper has a blinder and the opposition score with one of only two shots on target.
You can’t though extend the unlucky narrative too far. “Unlucky” isn’t the reason we find ourselves in the Championship, failing to win games is. Southampton last season spectacularly underperformed versus xG scoring 8 fewer than the metric suggested they should. Saturday, Southampton reverted to type, if you will, scoring 1 goal while posting a xG of 3.23.
The result a tough reminder that Southampton continue to struggle killing games off. Noteworthy that Saints have only won by a 2 goal (or more) margin once this season.
Furthermore the draw with Rotherham is yet another home game Southampton have failed to register a win.
Just 3 league wins at St Mary’s in 2023.
In the last promotion campaign (2011/12) Southampton’s home record was excellent 16-4-3 amassing 52 points in SO14. After 6 home games the 23/24 record is 2-2-2, you extrapolate that across a season you’re looking at 8-8-7 (23 games at St Mary’s.)
You doubt a mediocre record like that will be enough to sustain a promotion challenge, especially when Southampton already find themselves 11 points off the top 2.
Being of the pace early doors has led to an even greater need to maximise points at each opportunity. This urgency primarily necessitated by a truly awful September! For all intents and purposes Leeds (H) counts as October.
It was big ‘Green Day - Wake Me up When September ends’ energy around St Mary’s. A four game losing streak including a thrashing, two disappointing home defeats & a loss to a winless side is hardly going to rouse an already malcontented crowd. Add in the fact that had Southampton held onto the victory vs Rotherham they’d currently be sat in 6th place. A playoff spot and a feeling that they’re still firmly in the hunt for an automatic spot.
Whereas in reality the points dropped sets up a ‘race for 8th’ clash with Hull City after the international break.
Honestly I understand Downes’ sentiment regarding “Boo-gate” as mentioned earlier it’s been a good week (7/9) but it’s been a good week in a poor month, in a poor year. When you read the room, analyse the situation the noise is somewhat understandable.
For Downes instead of unhelpful language like “mental,” better to let football do the talking. More weeks like the last will certainly go a longer way to silencing any noise.
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