With a broad smile on his face and a Southampton scarf in his arms, it’s most likely price somebody telling the watching Dragan Solak, the Serbian billionaire behind the membership’s latest takeover, that it’s not at all times like this. Southampton swept previous Brentford, a win capped by the substitute Che Adams, after Jan Bednarek, Armando Broja and an unlucky personal purpose by Álvaro Fernández helped the hosts into a snug lead.
The personal purpose, which pinballed off a submit and in through the again of the goalkeeper’s hand, summed up a taxing night time for the guests. In the long run a rasping equaliser by Vitaly Janelt was nothing greater than a footnote for Brentford, who succumbed to their heaviest defeat of the season.
This marked the primary residence sport of a brand new period, with Solak, in membership colors – a crimson tie and white shirt – sitting alongside the Southampton chief govt, Martin Semmens, within the administrators’ field. For the reason that takeover by Sport Republic, wherein Solak is the primary investor, the supervisor, Ralph Hasenhüttl, has talked up the advantages of the funding group’s plan to place Southampton on the coronary heart of their multi-club empire and alluded to the “huge information” in his programme notes.
“They’re good individuals who learn about soccer, learn about enterprise and can assist us sooner or later,” Hasenhüttl stated. Solak, the founding father of Serbia’s greatest telecoms and media supplier, has a love for golf –he’s a eager participant and owns programs in Slovenia – however with 5 minutes gone right here he appeared to have the soccer bug. James Ward-Prowse despatched an inswinging nook into the field and Bednarek nipped in entrance of Ivan Toney on the entrance submit to look a header past Fernández within the Brentford purpose. Solak and Semmens, all smiles, rose to their ft in celebration.
For Thomas Frank, it should have been a very maddening purpose to concede given the Brentford head coach had forewarned his group of Ward-Prowse’s prowess from set items, and, within the buildup to this sport, even making a case that the Southampton captain could also be the very best right-footed free-kick taker on the planet.
This was a nook nevertheless it was a scrumptious, pinpoint ball into the six-yard field and Bednarek did the remainder. Southampton had been within the driving seat, Brentford somewhat out of types, and some minutes later Broja did brilliantly to create a beautiful alternative for the hosts to double their benefit. Broja beat Jansson on the sting of the world and crossed from the suitable nevertheless it dribbled harmlessly throughout the six-yard field.
Frank reduce a pissed off determine on the sidelines, bemoaning a sloppy move by Kristoffer Ajer that went awry in defence, however his group replied in fashion. The normally dependable Toney swiped at skinny air after Christian Nørgaard flipped a looping ball into the field however Brentford levelled a minute later. Bryan Mbeumo sped down the suitable, breaking away from Mohammed Salisu after which stood up a cross in the direction of the again submit. Toney missed it however Janelt, lurking just a few ft behind the striker, didn’t, unerringly scissoring throughout a bouncing ball along with his left foot and emphatically smacking the ball into the underside nook. Janelt virtually put Brentford in entrance two minutes later however Fraser Forster repelled the German midfielder’s highly effective drive from exterior the field.
It was virtually as if Ibrahima Diallo, considered one of three adjustments from Southampton’s extra-time victory at Swansea on Saturday, had been impressed by Janelt’s strike. When a nook was cleared to the sting of the field, Diallo despatched a left-footed shot thudding in the direction of purpose that rattled a submit and cannoned in off Fernández’s proper glove. Frank may solely chew on his gum that little bit quicker.
Brentford may argue Southampton had been a contact lucky and Fernández unfortunate however they solely had themselves responsible when Broja prolonged the hosts’ lead. Oriol Romeu uncovered a gaping gap within the Brentford again line with a defence-splitting move and Broja slotted in, through a form deflection from Fernández’s left boot.
Credit score to Southampton, who went from the sting of their 18-yard field to bearing down on Fernández inside three slick passes. Diallo, Salisu and Romeu interlinked earlier than the latter performed Broja via on purpose with Pontus Jansson trailing for firm.
Solak and Henrik Kraft, the co-founder of Sport Republic, rejoiced within the stands. Frank recognised he wanted to stem Southampton’s move, introducing Yoane Wissa and Mathias Jensen from the bench, however his defence unravelled once more when the ball was pumped ahead by Diallo clearing his strains.
Diallo intervened to stem a Brentford assault, walloped the ball ahead from deep and Adams, recent from arriving off the bench, acquired the ball below his spell along with his first contact earlier than dinking previous a stranded Fernández along with his subsequent.
There was nonetheless time for arguably the second of the match, or a contender for that accolade a minimum of. Brentford switched the ball from proper to left and simply as Wissa appeared primed to use the completion, a hurtling Ward-Prowse charged in to rake the ball to security. It was virtually the right night time.