Southampton’s B team manager Dave Horseman was left frustrated in Premier League 2, as Sunday’s dominant second half performance still resulted in a defeat against high-flying Blackburn Rovers.
Blackburn took the lead after just 12 minutes; Connor McBride volleying home from close range to extend his lead at the top of the scoring charts for the division.
But despite a difficult start, Saints grew into the game following the first half-an-hour, in what Horseman described as a ‘battering’
“We went in at half-time, we tweaked a couple of bits,” said the manager at Snows Stadium. “Carl [Martin] spoke to them about their out-of-possession shape to help us get the ball back. Then we spent 45 minutes where we absolutely battered them, from start to finish.
“We’ve had one-vs-ones and hit the post, we’ve had tap-ins in the six-yard-box, we’ve had a perfectly good goal we’ve just watched on the video there ruled out. Which is incredible.”
“I’m really proud of them second half, really proud. I think at the moment they are not getting, in terms of the results, what they deserve.
“But if they keep playing the way they’re playing; they’ll have good careers. Any manager wants someone who can press, run, chase, tackle and play. Plus we will get the results.
“We totally controlled possession, territory and created chances. But if we want to be a good team we have to put teams away now. This isn’t the first time this has happened."
Dave Horseman
To limit them to near-on zero shots second half and probably have five or six guilt-edged chances of our own showed what we're doing.
Southampton FC B team manager
First team manager Ralph Hasenhüttl was in attendance at Snows Stadium, joined by his staff, as they watched the likes of Michael Obafemi, Jake Vokins and Yan Valery gain valuable minutes.
“It’s amazing that the manager [Ralph Hasenhüttl] and all of his staff were here watching today. I think that’s amazing for the boys, where do you get that opportunity where everybody turns up on a Sunday?
“The B team concept is one that has been really useful for the boys. They see it as an opportunity where you don’t necessarily have to go out on loan to get the things we’re looking for within the club.”
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