Report: Saints blunt Blades in return to winning ways
Southampton put a timely end to their seven-game winless streak in the Sky Bet Championship, as an early goal proved to be the difference in a narrow victory over Sheffield United.
Looking for an instant response to defeat four days prior, Saints got off to the perfect start when Leo Scienza's deflected strike opened the scoring after just seven minutes.
There were opportunities to extend the lead throughout the game but the one goal margin was how it stayed at St Mary's Stadium, thanks equally to a crucial late save from Daniel Peretz to deny Patrick Bamford.
In the build up to the midweek clash Tonda Eckert promised personnel changes, and Saints' boss stayed true to his word with four alterations to the side.
Ross Stewart, in for his first start since October, joined Elias Jelert, Jack Stephens, and Welington in the starting line-up.
St Mary's remembers Martin Chivers before kick-off. (Photos: Matt Watson)
In an encounter between two sides sat further down the table than they'd have hoped at the start of the season, three points under the lights would provide a much needed boost for either camp.
With that in mind, it was Saints who struck first after just seven minutes to lift the home crowd.
Welington did well to dispossess Ki-Jana Hoever, which allowed Scienza to pick up the loose ball and power a shot towards goal that found the bottom corner, via a helpful deflection off Blades captain Oliver Arblaster.
Saints were a goal to the good, but the game remained fairly even as the first half wore on with the visitors chasing an equaliser.
Tahith Chong burst into space down the right wing and delivered a low cross that Daniel Peretz could only parry back into the danger area before Saints could clear.
Leo Scienza celebrates his opener.
At the other end, Stewart came close to a second goal in as many games when he rose high to meet a Scienza corner, but the Scot's headed effort was cleared by Arblaster stationed on the post.
Saints' biggest chance for a second goal fell on the half hour mark, as they won the ball high again; Flynn Downes was the architect this time, as he stole possession and interchanged passes with Stewart, before squaring to Finn Azaz who skewed the gilt-edged opportunity wide at close range.
Caspar Jander powered a low angled shot just wide shortly after as Saints remained on top in the contest, but the threat of an unwelcome leveller was never too far away.
A poor pass from Peretz towards Jelert presented Sheffield United with a chance of their own, as the latter was beaten to the ball, but Tyrese Campbell could only fire into the side netting after darting into the penalty area.
Just before the break, Saints again spurned a chance to extend their lead. Scienza took advantage of a slip from Hoever as the Brazilian raced into acres of space in the United half, before shooting straight at Michael Cooper as the visitors unconvincingly cleared at the second attempt.
In the second half, Saints continued to keep their South Yorkshire counterparts at an arms length, with Scienza continuously involved in most attacking threats.
Some initial good work from Tom Fellows moved the ball across the field just outside the Sheffield United area, before finding Scienza who nipped inside from the left but blasted over the crossbar.
At the other end, United's search for an equaliser came in short bursts; Ben Mee and Callum O'Hare had efforts caught by Peretz, before the latter squandered a sizeable chance from ten yards out when he met a cutback pass but saw his attempt deflected wide
Adam Armstrong was introduced just after the hour mark, and almost made an instant impact when he was picked out by a Jelert cross but could only head the ball wide at an angle.
Saints' top goalscorer in the Championship was a lively threat, and he was slipped into the area soon after with space to stand up a cross towards the back post, which was met by a diving Scienza header that Cooper was equal to in goal.
The game steadied as the half wore on with minimal chances of note for either side, as Chris Wilder called upon the attacking reinforcements of Patrick Bamford and Danny Ings to find a late leveller.
It almost arrived in the final minute of normal time, when a defensive mix-up put hearts in mouths as Bamford surged into the area, worked space to shoot but was denied by Peretz's trailing leg to relieve the St Mary's crowd.
In stoppage time, fellow Blades substitute Gustavo Hamer hit the side netting at the far post from an Andrew Brooks' cross as the home support bayed for the final whistle.
Full time brought a sigh of relief for Saints, who held on to return to winning ways at a crucial time with the south coast derby looming on the horizon on Sunday.
Southampton: Peretz, Fellows, Harwood-Bellis, Stephens (c), Welington (Manning 78'), Jelert (Wood 90+1'), Downes, Jander, Azaz (Charles 78'), Scienza (Robinson 78'), Stewart (Armstrong 61').
Unused substitutes: McCarthy, Quarshie, Matsuki, Archer.
Goals: Scienza (7').
Booked: Scienza (55'), Charles (90+3'), Jander (90+7').
Sheffield United: Cooper, Hoever (Seriki 66'), McGuinness, Mee, Burrows, Peck, Arblaster (c), Chong (Brooks 59'), O'Hare (Hamer 66'), Campbell (Bamford 59'), Cannon (Ings 79').
Unused substitutes: A. Davies, McCallum, T. Davies, Ogbene.
Goals: N/A.
Booked: O'Hare (53').
Referee: Thomas Kirk.
Attendance: 25,967
