Why Fear Southampton?

06 November 2013 12:59
We go into tonight's League Cup tie knowing one positive fact - the Saints couldn't beat us in their own back yard earlier this season. SOUTHAMPTON 1 SUNDERLAND 120. Keiren Westwood 12. Ondrej Celustka 16. John O'Shea 21. Modibo Diakite 14. Jack Colback 54'11. Adam Johnson 8. Craig Gardner 7. Sebastian Larsson 23. Emanuele Giaccherini 82'28. Stephane Sessegnon 46'17. Jozy Altidore Subs6. Cabral 10. Connor Wickham 82'15. David Vaughan 54'19. David Moberg Karlsson 25. Vito Mannone 27. Dong-Won Ji 46'29. Valentin Roberge It had looked like an early goal from the diminutive Emanuele Giaccherini would see Paolo Di Canio's men take three points back to the north east.Standing at just 5ft 5in, the smallest player of the pitch headed home a Sebastian Larsson corner unmarked in just the third minute.Poor finishing, fine goalkeeping from Kieren Westwood and plain old bad luck looked set to deny Saints, only for centre-back Fonte to head home two minutes from time.It was just reward for Mauricio Pochettino's side, who came into the clash buoyed by a fine opening-day win at West Brom and another big-money acquisition.Following moves for Dejan Lovren and Victor Wanyama, Dani Osvaldo arrived this week from Roma for a fee that could reach £14.5million.The forward was named amongst the substitutes at St Mary's, where another Italy international struck the first blow.Larsson sent across a corner from the left found Giaccherini unmarked and he nodded home to the delight of the hardy 1,867 travelling fans.It was hardly the start Southampton wanted but one they responded well to.Rickie Lambert slipped through a fine ball to Jay Rodriguez, who slotted past Westwood and wheeled away in celebration - only for the linesman to rule the sixth-minute leveller out for offside.Saints again came close 10 minutes later, with Westwood this time the man in the way.James Ward-Prowse, one of three 18-year-old academy graduates in the starting line-up, sent over a looped cross to Lambert, with only an exquisite Westwood save down to his right preventing the England international heading home.Neither side was managing to dominate play but Sunderland were looking the more confident, epitomised by a cheeky in-swinging Larsson corner that almost caught Artur Boruc off guard.A Rodriguez snap shot deflected wide off Craig Gardner when play returned to the other end, with Jozy Altidore proving a handful for Southampton's defence.Lambert powered a header over at the back post, while Altidore, Fonte and Adam Lallana all had penalty appeals waved away before half-time.Nathaniel Clyne and record-signing Osvaldo were introduced for the second period, with the latter close to having an immediate impact.The Italian's deft pass saw Lallana with a clear shot on goal, only for Modibo Diakite to swoop in with a fantastic, late tackle.The Saints captain saw a right-footed half volley curl just wide shortly afterwards, before an Osvaldo cross found Rodriguez, only for the Saints attacker to head straight at Westwood from close range.Westwood did well to tip a long-range Lambert strike around the post but Saints were still struggling at the back, with only the onrushing Boruc preventing Altidore doubling the Black Cats' advantage.It was Southampton in the ascendancy, though, and they kept knocking on the visitors' door.Lambert and Rodriguez were the next to threaten, although the intensity began to peter out with 15 minutes remaining.Osvaldo headed into the ground under pressure from John O'Shea as the match entered the closing stages as tempers began to fray.Ironic cheers met referee Lee Mason's award for a foul on the new boy late on - a decision that led to Saints equalising at the death.Ward-Prowse floated in the free-kick and centre-back Fonte met the ball with a powerful header that at last beat Westwood.Rodriguez saw a shot deflect wide as Saints pushed for another in stoppage time, but there was to be no further goals.SUNDERLAND v SOUTHAMPTON2013/2014    Sat 24 Aug    Southampton    1 - 1    Sunderland    Premier League  2012/2013    Sun 12 May    Sunderland    1 - 1    Southampton    Premier League  Sat 22 Dec    Southampton    0 - 1    Sunderland    Premier League  2006/2007    Mon 09 Apr    Southampton    1 - 2    Sunderland    Championship  Sat 11 Nov    Sunderland    1 - 1    Southampton    Championship  2002/2003    Tue 28 Jan    Sunderland    0 - 1    Southampton    Premiership  Sat 28 Dec    Southampton    2 - 1    Sunderland    Premiership  2001/2002    Sat 23 Mar    Sunderland    1 - 1    Southampton    Premiership  Sat 15 Dec    Southampton    2 - 0    Sunderland    Premiership  2000/2001    Sat 28 Apr    Southampton    0 - 1    Sunderland    Premiership  Sat 11 Nov    Sunderland    2 - 2    Southampton    Premiership  1999/2000    Sat 01 Apr    Southampton    1 - 2    Sunderland    Premiership  Sat 18 Dec    Sunderland    2 - 0    Southampton    Premiership  1996/1997    Tue 22 Apr    Sunderland    0 - 1    Southampton    Premiership  Sat 19 Oct    Southampton    3 - 0    Sunderland    Premiership  1990/1991    Sat 13 Apr    Southampton    3 - 1    Sunderland    First Division  Tue 01 Jan    Sunderland    1 - 0    Southampton    First Division  1984/1985    Tue 29 Jan    Southampton    1 - 0    Sunderland    First Division  Sat 25 Aug    Sunderland    3 - 1    Southampton    First Division  1983/1984    Sat 11 Feb    Southampton    1 - 1    Sunderland    First Division  Sat 10 Sep    Sunderland    0 - 2    Southampton    First Division  1982/1983    Sat 19 Feb    Southampton    2 - 0    Sunderland    First Division  Sat 09 Oct    Sunderland    1 - 1    Southampton    First Division  1981/1982    Sat 08 May    Southampton    1 - 0    Sunderland    First Division  Wed 10 Mar    Sunderland    2 - 0    Southampton    First Division  1980/1981    Sat 31 Jan    Southampton    2 - 1    Sunderland    First Division  Sat 23 Aug    Sunderland    1 - 2    Southampton    First Division  1977/1978    Sat 04 Mar    Sunderland    0 - 0    Southampton    Second Division  Sat 08 Oct    Southampton    4 - 2    Sunderland    Second Division  1975/1976    Sat 27 Mar    Sunderland    3 - 0    Southampton    Second Division  Sat 06 Dec    Southampton    4 - 0    Sunderland    Second Division  1974/1975    Tue 14 Jan    Southampton    1 - 1    Sunderland    Second Division  Sat 24 Aug    Sunderland    3 - 1    Southampton    Second Division  1969/1970    Sat 07 Mar    Southampton    1 - 1    Sunderland    First Division  Sat 22 Nov    Sunderland    2 - 2    Southampton    First Division  1968/1969    Sat 08 Mar    Southampton    1 - 0    Sunderland    First Division  Sat 17 Aug    Sunderland    1 - 0    Southampton    First Division  1967/1968    Sat 02 Mar    Sunderland    0 - 3    Southampton    First Division  Sat 25 Nov    Southampton    3 - 2    Sunderland    First Division  1966/1967    Wed 31 Aug    Southampton    3 - 1    Sunderland    First Division  Wed 24 Aug    Sunderland    2 - 0    Southampton    First Division  1963/1964    Sat 11 Apr    Southampton    0 - 0    Sunderland    Second Division  Sat 30 Nov    Sunderland    1 - 2    Southampton    Second Division  1962/1963    Sat 04 May    Sunderland    4 - 0    Southampton    Second Division  Sat 22 Sep    Southampton    2 - 4    Sunderland    Second Division  1961/1962    Sat 07 Apr    Sunderland    3 - 0    Southampton    Second Division  Sat 18 Nov    Southampton    2 - 0    Sunderland    Second Division  1960/1961    Mon 17 Apr    Sunderland    3 - 1    Southampton    Second Division  Sat 15 Oct    Southampton    3 - 2    Sunderland    Second Division   

Source: Sunderland-Mad

Source: FOOTYMAD