Saints left to rue dropping Mane for late show as Tettey gets his timing right
PERHAPS Sadio Mane should have asked for a watch for Christmas. Or add ‘improve timekeeping’ to his list of New Year’s Resolutions.
The Senegalese forward was dropped to the bench by Ronald Koeman for Southampton’s match at Norwich after he turned up late to a team meeting two hours before kick off, but the Dutchman paid the price as his side failed to score in a narrow defeat.
As the travelling Southampton supporters started to chant Mane’s name in the second half, their side fell to 10 men when Victor Wanayama was sent off, then fell behind minutes later through Alex Tettey’s expertly struck goal.
For the first 30 minutes, Southampton lacked Mane’s creative threat. Shane Long headed over and Ryan Bertrand sent a first-time volley wide, but the majority of chances came for the home side.
Jonny Howson got in behind Southampton’s defence on 11 minutes after Jose Fonte made a hash of a clearance, but the ball bounced up too high, weakening the halfvolley which he directed wide of the left post.
Alex Neil’s side were stringing together some carefully constructed moves. Wes Hoolahan played in Howson on the left and his low ball went through Southampton’s defence but narrowly behind Russell Martin who would have had a tap-in at the back post.
Another combination, on 30 minutes, saw Nathan Redmond pass to Martin overlapping on the right. His ball to the near post found Dieumerci Mbokani but he could only poke wide.
‘There can’t be any complacency,’ said Neil, whose side have won three of their last four games to move clear of relegation. ‘It’s not as if we’ve been winning games week in week out. We’ve come off the back of a good period, but the next month is crucial.’
Koeman took a couple of glances at his watch as the first half ticked on. Had he punished Mane long enough? Still the 23-year-old remained in his seat and Koeman’s patience almost paid off.
Long was played in on goal by Cuco Martina and should have scored but Declan Rudd dived at his feet. From the resulting corner, Bertrand found Long at the back post and he headed into the ground, but Rudd tipped the rising ball over.
Chants of ‘Oh Sadio Mane’ started coming from the travelling fans midway through the second half. He continued to warm up as Dusan Tadic got on the end of a long ball from goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg, only to shoot over.
The urgency to bring on Mane increased on 73 minutes when Wanyama was sent off for a second yellow, the first for a late tackle on Redmond and the second on Norwich substitute Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe. Two minutes later, OdjidjaOfoe nutmegged Jordy Clasie and teed up Tettey, who placed the ball the ball into the top left corner.
Mane was finally introduced for Tadic with 10 minutes left but it was too little, too late.