A late Jonjo Shelvey wonder goal gave Swansea a somewhat surprise win at Southampton. The Swans are taking all three points away from St Mary’s after what appeared to be destined for a goalless draw.
A Nathaniel Clyne red card in the dying minutes was icing on the cake for Southampton boss Ronald Koeman, whose side dominated the early proceedings and much of the first half. Thankfully for the Saints they still sit in the Champions League places, but after Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Aston Villa in the lunchtime kick off, they sit above the Gunners on goal difference.
The first half was a barrage of Southampton chances, after Swansea simply sat in their own half and weathered the storm. Their half didn’t get any easier when striker Marvin Emnes went off injured, with Befatembi Gomis having to take the weight of Swansea’s attacking options.
The best chance of the first half fell to Saints midfielder James Ward-Prowse, who latched onto Clyne’s well timed cross but couldn’t convert the chance from six yards, as Swans ‘keeper Lukasz Fabianski was in the right place to keep out the young Englishman’s effort.
In the second half however Swansea started to get back into the game, with a shift in momentum meaning Southampton had to start to defend a little more. Shelvey came within inches of breaking the deadlock. The young playmaker went on a run managing to get past a host of Southampton players, but his shot from 20 yards out struck the base of the post after beating Fraser Forster in the Southampton goal.
This was perhaps a sign of things to come though as with only three minutes remaining, Shelvey finally broke the deadlock. He took a shot from around 30 yards out, but this time he hit the back of the net rather than the post. His goal sent Swansea on course to their third away win of the season.
Ashley Williams managed to become the hero of the day however as he made two goal line clearances to deny Saints substitute Sadio Mane in the dying minutes of the game.
This win comes as a surprise, with Southampton sitting in the top four and Swansea in the lower reaches of the top ten. With other teams around the Saints, such as Manchester United and Arsenal managing wins, Southampton will see this as lost ground, as they have lost both momentum and they now have Arsene Wenger’s men breathing down their necks.
Southampton - Forster 6, Clyne 7, Fonte 7, Yoshida 6, Bertrand 6, Davis 7, Reed 6 (1), Tadic 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Elia 7 (2), Pelle 6 Subs - Mane (for Reed) 8, Seager (for Elia 6)
Swansea - Fabianski 8, Naughton 6 (2), Fernandez 6, Williams 9, Taylor 6, Fulton 6, Carroll 6, Dyer 5, Shelvey 7, Emnes 6 (1), Gomis 6 Subs - Barrow (for Emnes) 6, Rangel (for Naughton) 6, Amat (for Barrow) 6