Source: Team_Talk
Irvine seething at shoddy showing
Polish striker Marek Saganowski's double earned Southampton only their second home win of the season and handed Dutch coach Mark Wotte his first win as manager.[LNB]Southampton were 3-0 up at half-time against a ragged looking Preston side, prompting angry words from Irvine.[LNB]The Lilywhites' boss said: "They were first to every ball, they passed the ball better - and we were second best all over the pitch.[LNB]"Our application, desire and determination is something I don't normally have to question with my players - but I did today."[LNB]Irvine was so disgusted with Preston's first half performance he made three substitutions at half-time, replacing Andrew Davies, Chris Sedgwick and Barry Nicholson with Youl Mawene, Chris Brown and Richard Chaplow.[LNB]And the Preston boss hinted he had delivered a stern dressing down in the dressing room during the interval.[LNB]Irvine explained: "Sometimes you have to use the big stick and on other days it's best to remain calm.[LNB]"Today I used the big stick and it got some response. The second half was better - but we had left ourselves with a mountain to climb.[LNB]"In this division there is not much between the teams and you have to turn up for every game - and we did not turn up today."[LNB]Struggling Southampton were good value for their win and effectively had the points wrapped up by half-time.[LNB]Andrew Surman opened the scoring for Saints on 19 minutes with a convincing left-foot finish after David McGoldrick's thrusting run had unsettled a shaky Preston defence.[LNB]Preston goalkeeper Andy Lonergan denied Jason Euell's header with a fine full-length save before Saganowski dipped a spectacular volley over the Preston goalkeeper from 25 yards to double Southampton's lead.[LNB]The Polish international striker took his tally to six goals in seven games with a fine individual goal just before half-time.[LNB]Simon Gillett robbed Preston striker Jon Parkin deep inside the Southampton half and fed Saganowski, who carried the ball half the length of the field against a desperately backpedalling Preston defence before switching inside to bury his shot.[LNB]Preston's only first half effort saw Parkin screw an effort wide from 14 yards and even after Irvine's half-time words the visitors could have fallen further behind but for more heroics from Lonergan - who went full-length to keep out Adam Lallana's header.[LNB]Preston threw themselves the thinnest of lifelines on 71 minutes when Wallace curled a shot round Saints keeper Kelvin Davis - but they failed to grab it as the home side won at home on a Saturday for the first time since April 5.[LNB]Despite the win, Wotte is under no illusions of the size of Southampton's task.[LNB]The Dutchman said: "It was a big win for us and will do a lot for our confidence - but we are still in trouble.[LNB]"With 13 games to go we probably have to win another five or six games so we'll keep our feet on the ground.[LNB]"The difference today was that we had a goalscorer. In recent games we have played well and have got nothing.[LNB]"At Bristol City last week we hit the post twice and in all could have scored three goals but we ended up with nothing.[LNB]"The difference today was that Marek Saganowski put the chances away.[LNB][LNB]
