Southampton have failed to score in eight of their last nine home games, while summer target Patrick Roberts contributed a brilliant assist for Celtic.
The inquests into Southampton’s performances seem to consist of a similar theme these days, with Mauricio Pellegrino’s men failing to find the back of the net once again this season.
The Saints’ 1-0 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend was the eighth time in their last nine home games that they have failed to score, while it also means that they have failed to score in five of the seven games that they have played this season in all competitions.
It was a spirited performance against Jose Mourinho’s men, especially in the second-half, but for the supporters, even the excellent performances are now becoming tiresome as those displays are rarely backed up with the goals that secure them the three points.
Only two teams in the Premier League have scored on fewer occasions this term, and that is despite Southampton boasting a collection of strikers arguably good enough to contribute their fair share of goals.
The supply appears to be the main issue at the moment, and the frustrations over that lack of creativity coming from the players playing behind the likes of Manolo Gabbiadini and Shane Long would not have been helped by a moment of real quality from summer target Patrick Roberts in Celtic’s weekend win over Rangers.
Patrick Roberts
Roberts – who returned to the Scottish Premiership this summer for another loan – bagged a brilliant assist in the win at Ibrox as he found Leigh Griffiths with a perfectly-weighted through ball before the striker tucked the ball home.
The Daily Mirror reported in August that the Saints wanted to sign Roberts from Manchester City during the previous window, and his form during his time at Celtic certainly suggests that missing out on him has been a blow for Pellegrino.
Those who doubt whether Roberts would be as influential in the Premier League at this stage only have to look at some of his Champions League displays coupled with how swiftly the likes of Virgil van Dijk, Victor Wanyama and Fraser Forster have adapted after swapping Parkhead for St Mary’s to see that the youngster could make an impact.
And while Roberts may not have changed Southampton’s fortunes in front of goal on his own, his contribution in the Old Firm game just hints that he may have had the quality to create some of the genuine opportunities that Southampton’s strikers have been crying out for.
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