As the second half unfolded Sam Allardyce started scratching his head. Repeatedly. It is safe to assume this had nothing to do with the Sunderland manager’s choice of shampoo and was all about the dawning realisation that heis facing possibly his biggest managerial challenge.
In some ways, and particularly in defence, the Wearsiders have clearly improved since he replaced Dick Advocaat. But all things are relative; Allardyce has now lost three of his first four games in charge and, seemingly super-glued into the relegation zone, Sunderland have won one Premier League game all season.
Despite the slender scoreline, Southampton merited victory on a day when Maarten Stekelenburg had only one serious save to make and Yann M’Vila’s lapse of judgment in needlessly felling Ryan Bertrand prompted a penalty impeccably converted by Dusan Tadic’s left foot.
Ronald Koeman is limping slightly after surgery to repair a ruptured achilles tendon but his side moved with a freedom and fluency Sunderland struggled to contain. “We had a lot of possession and if we have the ball they can’t score,” said Southampton’s manager. “We like to enjoy ourselves, if you enjoy the way you play you’ll win a lot of games.”
It is a long time, and several managers, since Sunderland fans have derived any sustained pleasure from observing their team in action and sure enough, watching Allardyce’s charges was once again, a somewhat gruelling experience.
“A frustrating afternoon,” he said, well aware his defensive tightening would quite possibly have earned a point had M’Vila – otherwise by far the home team’s best player – not erred.
“We were playing against a very good team but we gave a soft penalty away. I’m disappointed. Yann M’Vila didn’t need to bring Ryan Betrand down but that sort of thing seems to be part of our makeup. In training I see a lot of good things but I ain’t seeing it when we get on the pitch. Certainly the players have to produce more.”
Allardyce thought his side might have had a penalty of their own for an arguable handball against Maya Yoshida but he was the first to agree Sunderland were outmanoeuvred as the aptly named Jordy Clasie controlled the pace and tempo from midfield. Some of Clasie’s interchanges with Tadic doubled as mini masterclasses in ball manipulation.
Yet much as Koeman’s charges dominated possession, they were persistently thwarted by much improved central defensive positioning on the part of the previously suspect Sebastián Coates and Younès Kaboul, with that pair ably protected by M’Vila’s defensive midfield intelligence.
In the wake of last Sunday’s 6-2 reverse at Everton Allardyce had sensibly scrapped his experiment with three at the back and Costel Pantilimon appeared a key beneficiary. Admittedly he made a handful of important saves, most notably from Tadic and Mane, but he must have been pleasantly surprised at how many of Southampton’s final balls were being cut out.
Then came one those moments of self destruction so wearingly familiar to Sunderland fans. His generally sure judgment momentarily deserting him, M’Vila lunged in on Bertrand - (who awkwardly positioned, posed no immediate danger) - in the penalty area and Tadic’s confident penalty killed the contest.
Sunderland’s problem was that, having fallen behind, they presented minimal attacking threat, with the highly promising young winger, Duncan Watmore offering their sole genuine outlet.
Unfortunately the concentration on defence left Watmore lacking support and the lone striker, Steven Fletcher, isolated. Tellingly Stekelenburg’s sole proper save featured the diversion of an Adam Johnson volley. Despite Jermain Defoe finally stepping off the bench, it seemed almost an unnecessary precaution when Koeman protected his lead by switching to a back five.
“An outstanding performance,” enthused Southampton’s manager. “Maybe that was the best we’ve pressed when we lost the ball. We want European football next season – for us, that would be liking winning the title.”
On planet Sunderland finishing 17th would represent an equivalent achievement.
