MY ACCOUNT
Southampton marked their first home game since Dragan Solak’s £100million takeover by thrashing Brentford 4-1 at St Mary’s to move up to 11th.
The hosts opened the scoring after just five minutes when set-piece specialist James Ward-Prowse’s inswinging corner was glanced past Alvaro Fernandez from close range.
Thomas Frank’s men drew level 18 minutes later, Vitaly Janelt smashing a left-footed volley in from Bryan Mbeumo’s right-wing cross.
Southampton regained the lead eight minutes before half-time.
Ibrahima Diallo struck the post after another Ward-Prowse corner and was fortunate to see it deflect in off the outstretched glove of Fernandez.
On-loan Chelsea forward Armando Broja netted his seventh goal of the campaign shortly after the restart to make it 3-1 and move clear as Saints’ top scorer in all competitions.
Substitute Che Adams added gloss to the scoreline with 20 minutes left to play, lifting the ball beyond Fernandez just five minutes after entering the fray.
Southampton head coach Ralph Hasenhuttl was thrilled with his side’s performance, particularly their ruthlessness in front of goal.
He said: “We had 120 minutes on Saturday so to see our energy today from the beginning was impressive.
“Scoring four goals for the first time since 2017, it’s not very often that injury time plays out and we feel comfortable because sometimes it’s tight here. Today we had a fantastic performance.
“Our attitude today was don’t give up, go for every ball.
“(It’s an) important result for us. Unbeaten in five games now and even longer at home.
“We spoke about getting a second and third goal and being able to play calmer football so that was fantastic to watch. Today was one of the best performances at home.”
Did you know?
Southampton have scored four or more goals in a single Premier League game at St Mary’s for the first time in 78 home league matches, last doing so against Everton in November 2017 (4-1).
Brentford have suffered their heaviest top-flight defeat since May 1947, when they lost 3-0 at home to Blackburn.
Following tonight’s victory, Southampton have won eight of their last nine games (L1) against a side they were facing in the top-flight for the first time.
Since keeping a clean sheet in their first two games of the 2021-22 Premier League season (against Arsenal and Crystal Palace), Brentford have only kept two more in their last 18 games in the competition (30 goals conceded in total).
Only Norwich (15) have conceded the first goal in more Premier League games this term than Brentford (13), who have done so in 12 of their last 13 matches.
Bednarek’s opener was the fourth time that Southampton have scored in the first five minutes of a Premier League game this season (two of those scored by the Polish defender); the most of any side in the competition in 2021-22.
Five of Bednarek’s six Premier League goals for Southampton have been scored at St Mary’s, with four of those being assisted by Ward-Prowse.
Broja has become the youngest player in Premier League history to score in each of his first four home starts in the competition (20y 123d) and is the first player of any age to do so in the competition since Diego Costa for Chelsea in October 2014.
