Southampton stage turnaround for crucial win over Watford

Watford boss Quique Sanchez Flores seems to suggest that the game changed on a moment where one of his substitutes injured themselves in the warm-up.

Gerard Deulofeu came off after 67 minutes to be replaced by Andre Gray. Who was supposed to come on, the Watford boss didn't say. But he's not very chuffed.

He said: "It's changed the situation a lot. We had to put on another player, we had players tired, we lost a little bit the control of the opponent. Elements are working against us.

"At half time we had the feel that we were in a match we wanted. But they went up another level and we didn't do the same."

Asked whether he will be backed by the club, he added: "Yeah I believe I will, but it doesn't only depend on me. I cannot control it. When we lose we can say sorry to the fans, the owners and players, but we have the same feeling, we want to fight."

As for the incident in the build-up to Southampton's equaliser, he said it was a handball.

• Watford’s haul of eight points after 14 games is their worst ever return at this stage of a Premier League campaign.
• Watford have registered just one win in their last 18 Premier League games, drawing six and losing 11
• Watford’s Ismalia Sarr scored his first-ever Premier League goal with his seventh shot in the competition in his seventh appearance.
• Watford’s Ismalia Sarr is the 27th Senegalese player to score in the Premier League, with only Nigeria boasting more different scorers (31) among African nations.

No, is the answer to that previous question. Quique has arrived in front of the camera. A lot of sighing and head shaking from the Watford boss. Understandably, he's hurting.

The Spanish boss says he is devastated by the result but is not thinking about getting the sack. Full quotes to come...

Wondering where Quique Sanchez Flores is? So are we. He's not been hauled into a meeting with the Watford hierarchy has he???

• Southampton have won from a losing position at half-time for only the second time in their last 44 Premier League games (D7 L35).
• Southampton ended a run of eight Premier League games without a win (D2 L6).
• Danny Ings has netted seven of Southampton’s 15 Premier League goals this season, (46.7%), the highest proportion of a side’s goals by a player in the competition in 2019-20.
• Each of Southampton’s last 10 Premier League goals has been scored by either Danny Ings (6) or James Ward-Prowse (4).
• Only Matt Le Tissier (7) has scored more direct free-kick goals for Southampton in the Premier League than James Ward-Prowse (5).

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl told Match of the Day: "The first half was a completely different performance to last weekend and it was unbelievable it could happen. At half-time, we were very critical and in the second half it was a good reaction. After 10 minutes we made two subs and they had a big impact in the game and it was a big big win for us.

"We have not had one good start so far this season and it doesn't matter what we say or how we we prepare, the moment the game starts it is in our minds. Now we have to push it away and our crowd deserve it. Let's do it again on Wednesday."

An excellent reminder from Ralph there, not that Saints fans will need reminding... their side have another MAHOOSIVE home match on Wednesday.

Fellow relegation scrappers Norwich are coming to town...

Depending on results tomorrow and Wednesday Southampton could move out of the bottom three with a win.

SMS Message: Maybe Ralph does have the X factor? Ings superlative once more! from Randall

Maybe Ralph does have the X factor? Ings superlative once more!

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl: "There is a tonne of weight falling off the shoulders, there were tonnes of weight here today, you could feel it from the first moment. We couldn't move. It was completely different to last weekend.

"The subs had a good impact and gave us fresh energy. Then it was a completely different second half, an unbelievable turnaround for the table. Sofiane Boufal on one side and Moussa Djenepo on the other gave us good quality.

On the suggestion there was a handball in the build-up to the equaliser: "We are all very happy about the VAR because it makes a good job. We want less discussion, but it is not always going to be right. It is not possible to see everything. Sometimes you are lucky with VAR, sometimes not.

On the importance of beating Watford: "It is not important to analyse this game in the context of the while season, but the pressure we had in the run-up to this game was clear. It was so difficult in the first half but I'm so happy it gives us three points and lift ahead of the Norwich game here on Wednesday."

Watford midfielder Etienne Capoue on Sky Sports: "We are very frustrated, we did a good first half performance but we couldn't hold it for another 45 minutes, but the spirit is good and we have another game on Wednesday so we have to get three points very soon.

"It's not about VAR decisions, it's down to us. We suffered in the second half but we shouldn't and we conceded two goals.

"It's a big week, big weeks, December and January are very tough. Everyone is on the same page and we really want to stay in the Premier League and we have the players to do it. Quique does the job very well, it's just down to us, we are the main protagonists on the pitch."

Southampton midfielder James Ward Prowse told Match of the Day: "It's a nice feeling it is something I work on a lot, so to see it come of on a matchday and contribute to us picking up three points is pleasing.

"It has been an up and down season and we are not where we want to be but this period after the international break is a good opportunity for us to pick up points. We knew the enormity of he game and that we had to win to push forward, so it is a real positive step for us.

"We showed the belief in what we are doing and we all had a belief that this game was winnable."

And here is why it is such a massive result for Saints...

BBC SportCopyright: BBC Sport

Southampton striker Danny Ings told Sky Sport: "It's a massive result. It has been a very tough week for everyone at the club, To go 1-0 down and then to comeback and win shows the character of the lads. The atmosphere was great in the end and we deserved the points."

On his goal: "I could sense something coming and just making that run to the near post and managing to put it in was a great moment for me."

On a potential penalty claim: "I felt like I had read the keeper and I knew he was going to chop back. I cant really remember it and all that matters is we got the win."

On first home win: "It's massive and it is so underrated how much the fans mean to you at home games. We have to make other teams not want to be here."

Speaking of which....

Justsaying: For the first time in weeks as a Saints fan I can enjoy MOTD!!

We got to give credit to the team and the Southampton manager for making an early change with a double substitutions.

Southampton were pressing for the goals and delivered in the second half.

It is that much needed first home win: it is a party atmosphere at the moment but there is still a lot of work to do

I should point out there is some chat that the television cameras have picked up a suspicion of a handball by Moussa Djenepo before he laid the ball on a plate for Danny Ings to score Southampton's equaliser.

Sounds like the Saints may have got away with one...

Alphonse: Would like to wish Flores all the best in his new job. But we should never have reappointed him