Saturday 1 November 2014

Hull 0 - Southampton 1: VICTOR WANYAMA'S 40-yard strike secured all threepoints for Southampton at Hull as the Saints' wonderful start to the season continued.

Victor Wanyama took advantage of an Eldin Jakupovic error as
Southampton continued their fine run in a 1-0 Premier League
win at Hull City.
Third-choice Hull keeper Jakupovic continued to deputise in the
absence of Allan McGregor and Steve Harper in Saturday's game
at the KC Stadium.
And his mishit clearance after just three minutes fell into the
path of Wanyama, who cleverly guided the ball home from
distance for the only goal of the game.
On balance of play it was a deserved three points for
Southampton, who remain second in the table, as Jakupovic's
opposite number Fraser Forster was rarely tested in his bid to
impress the watching England manager Roy Hodgson.
Hull, who made one change from last week's 0-0 draw at
Liverpool with Paul McShane coming in for Alex Bruce, failed to
stamp their authority on the game and fell to a second home
league defeat of the season.
Wanyama's early strike gave in-form Southampton a perfect
start, and former Hull striker Shane Long - who moved to St
Mary's in August - was a constant threat for the visitors in the
first half.
The second period failed to produce much in terms of
goalmouth action, but Southampton substitute Saido Mane
should have made it 2-0 when he put a gilt-edged opportunity
from inside the six-yard box over the crossbar with 20 minutes
remaining.
However, Wanyama's third Premier League goal of the season
proved enough for Southampton, who have now won 10 of
their last 11 matches in all competitions.
Following the Kenyan's opener, Hull enjoyed a spell of
pressure and Hatem Ben Arfa should have done better when he
stot tamely at Forster from the edge of the box on his favoured
left foot.
But at the other end, Southampton nearly benefitted from
another Jakupovic error.
The Pole hesitated after realising Long would reach a long ball
first and was relieved the ex-Hull man could not direct his
looping header into the goal.
Southampton looked assured in possession after the break as
Hull tried desperately to get a foothold in the game.
The visitors almost had a second in fortuitous circumstances
when Graziano Pelle's acrobatic overhead kick fell kindly for
Steven Davis, who could only half-volley straight at Jakupovic
from close range.
Hull's Mohamed Diame was perhaps lucky to escape
punishment for a crude challenge on the heel of Dusan Tadic.
But Tadic picked himself up and his teasing cross found Mane in
a great position in the penalty area, only for the forward to flick
his shot into the ground and over the crossbar in the 70th
minute.
The hosts had tame shouts for a penalty denied when Robbie
Brady's cross appeared to hit Tadic on the hand, but Steve
Bruce's side rarely threatened the Southampton goal in the
closing stages.
Indeed, it was the visitors who went closes to scoring again, as
Pelle wasted a great chance to round off the win in the 89th
minute when he clipped a shot wide at the near post after a fine
delivery from Mane.
It mattered little, though, as Ronald Koeman's men march on.
Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless handheld from Glo Mobile.

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