Southampton’s aspirations for automatic promotion took a significant hit following a dramatic last-minute loss to Ipswich Town.
Russell Martin’s team managed to secure only a single point over the Easter weekend, drawing 1-1 against Middlesbrough in their previous match. As a result, they find themselves trailing the top two teams by 12 points, albeit with two games in hand compared to Leeds United and Ipswich.
Despite having played fewer matches, Southampton may struggle to bridge the gap, considering the impressive form of their rivals as the season nears its end. Martin expressed deep disappointment following Monday’s defeat, especially given the manner in which they conceded a stoppage-time winner scored by Jeremy Sarmiento.
Although Saints dominated much of the game against Ipswich Town, defensive lapses proved costly once again, ultimately leading to their defeat.
It is necessary to bench Gavin Bazunu against Blackburn Rovers.
Gavin Bazunu, the goalkeeper for Southampton, has faced significant criticism this season due to several subpar performances. In the match against Ipswich, the Irish international was potentially responsible for the first goal, as Leif Davis struck the ball into his near post. Alfie House, a journalist from the Daily Echo, rated him poorly with a four-match score, the lowest in the team.
House commented, “Should perform better for all three goals conceded. Beaten at his near post by Davis’ powerful shot. Unable to reach Nathan Broadhead’s central strike. Failed to prevent Sarmiento’s low shot from finding the bottom corner.”
An alarming statistic emerged after the game, highlighting Bazunu’s consistent underperformance throughout the season. Southampton may need to seek an upgrade in the transfer market this summer. In the meantime, Martin should consider taking a risk by giving Joe Lumley an opportunity.
It is advisable for Joe Lumley to be given the starting position against Blackburn Rovers.
Lumley joined the South Coast club last summer on a free transfer following his departure from fellow Championship side Middlesbrough. Since his arrival, he has featured in four matches for the team, all of which were in the FA Cup, and he has largely impressed in those outings.
After his debut in January, Martin expressed satisfaction with Lumley’s comfort on the ball. “He was excellent,” Martin remarked. “His proficiency with the ball is why Dean Thornton was eager to bring him here. Joe hasn’t had the opportunity to showcase his abilities because he hasn’t played for teams with that style.”
“It’s about having a manager who encourages that style of play, and Joe has found that here. I thought he displayed a lot of composure,” added the Saints boss.
Clearly, Martin values Lumley’s skill set. Therefore, considering Bazunu’s underperformance, Lumley may be a worthwhile gamble in the remaining eight games.