Hull City get their first victory since August in the game against Southampton courtesy of goals from Robert Snodgrass and Michael Dawson.
Southampton went ahead through striker Charlie Austin after six minutes. Curtis Davies fouled Maya Yoshida and the referee pointed to the spot for Austin to convert. Snodgrass showed his capabilities in coming from the bench to grab the equalizer before setting up Skipper Dawson for the match winner.
Snodgrass – Hull City’s highest goal scorer – was not fit enough to start the game against The Saints due to an issue with his ankle. However, after the early goal and two injuries to Abel Hernandez and Will Keane, the coach of the hosts Mike Phelan sent in Snodgrass. The player went in and transformed the fortunes of the club.
“Most clubs have two or three players who can produce something that’s a bit different. He’s one of them. At the start of the game, he wasn’t ready. Thirty minutes would have been reasonable for him but he managed to find what’s required and showed his quality,” Phelan said after the game, satisfied with the results, which is his first victory since his confirmation as a permanent coach.
Hull was yet to trouble the Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster until when Sam Clucas combined with Ryan Mason on the left to deliver a low cross that the unmarked Snodgrass scored. Snodgrass then sent in a free kick into the box that Dawson sent into the top corner. The goal was a restitution for Dawson who scored an own goal in the tie against Watford the week before.
Southampton manager seemed to blame the loss on fatigue. He said:
“When you win a game like Inter [Milan] and you come back to the league against a team with good preparation, with one game a week. It’s important to keep concentration and a good attitude. But it is always difficult I think we learn for the future.”