Southampton vs Brentford: The Saints climbed to 11th place after a big home win against Brentford

Match preview

Southampton won’t have any trouble facing a newbie like Brentford, especially in their home ground. The game between these two clubs was initially scheduled to take place in December 2021, but due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout England, it was removed to 12 Jan 2022. 

Also, due to the COVID-19 virus, many players in the squads of Southampton and Brentford will be absent in this game, or even other matches. This can be considered a disadvantage for both, but it is obvious that Southampton won’t find it hard to surpass Thomas Frank’s club.

In the most recent five Premier League games as the visitors, Brentford just drew twice and lost in three games. 

Line-up

• Southampton: Forster, Bednarek, Perraud, Lyanco, Salisu, Oriol Romeu, Redmond, Ward-Prowse, Tella, Diallo, Broja
• Brentford: Alvaro Fernandez, Jansson, Ajer, Rasmussen, Pinnock, Norgaard, Sergi Canos, Janelt, Baptiste, Toney, Mbeumo

Southampton 2-1 Brentford in the first half

Southampton took the lead right in the 5th minute, after a corner kick. Bednarek scored himself the third goal in this season of Premier League with a header in front of Brentford's goal. But soon in the 23rd minute, the visitors equalized the score with the goal from Vitaly Janelt. 

Bednarek scored the opening goal for Southampton in the 5th minute

Mbeumo successfully got through the chase of Salisu and made a nice assist to Janelt to make a beautiful and quick shot and tie the score. The Southampton goalkeeper was quite shocked and surprised with this shot that he couldn’t even move to handle the ball, but just looked at it going to the net instead.

Janelt who had an equalizer for Brentford in the 23rd minute

Thí 23-year-old German midfielder had another dangerous shot two minutes later, but this time, Forster nailed it. 

Notably, in the 37th minute, the Brentford goalkeeper had the own goal as the last person to touch the ball before it went to the back of the net. Ibrahima Diallo was the last Southampton player who made a shot, and the ball hit the ground, then the post instead. 

It would have not been a goal for Southampton if Fernandez didn’t touch the ball, but he did actually, putting the home club in front again before the first half ended. 

Fernandez is disappointed after his own goal

The home club rose strongly in the second half

Right in the first minutes of the second half, the home club satisfied their fans and doubled the difference. Southampton had a couple of passes in their side before the long pass of Romeu to Broja. 

Broja scored the third goal for Southampton

Not stopping at this score, The Saints even achieved the fourth goal in the 70th minute thanks to the substituted player Adam. It seemed that being watched by the new president, Southampton played much more excitedly and they finished the game with a 4-1 win over Brentford.  

Adam entered the pitch and scored the fourth goal for The Saints

Updated 2021-22 Premier League table

2021-22 Premier League table

After a week without any Premier League game, Southampton put a victory in the first returning game. With this result, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s students brought three points and took them to 11th standing in the 2021-22 Premier League table.

Brentford, with 23 points, rank 13th position, after Crystal Palace with the same points but more goal difference. 

Southampton only need one more win to climb to ninth place, but there are also many other clubs above The Saints that haven't finished their 19th and 20th Premier League games, which means that the club from the port city need more attempts to get a better standing and finish in this season of the Premier League.

References

Wikipedia

Betimate.com

Vavel.com

Espn.com