Southampton fans got their pre-match calls spot on as they criticised Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team selection against West Ham United.
The Saints lost 3-1 to David Moyes’ side on Saturday, with Jarrod Bowen, Sebastien Haller, and Michail Antonio all on the scoresheet.
Michael Obafemi scored for Southampton, cancelling out Bowen’s opener, but they were 3-1 down by the 54th minute.
A number of Saints fans were unhappy with the XI that Hasenhuttl picked, particularly his omission of striker Danny Ings.
Ings came on early in the second half, replacing winger Sofiane Boufal, and Hasenhuttl did explain that he was benched due to an injury sustained in training.
That did not halt a meltdown on social media, however.
A number of other fans were concerned about the bench; three defenders, Kyle Walker-Peters, Yan Valery, and Jannik Vestergaard were all on the sidelines.
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It was particularly puzzling given that James Ward-Prowse, a central midfielder, was selected at full-back.
Of course, as it turned out, the supporters were spot on.
While Obafemi scored, Shane Long offered precious little, having just one shot on goal throughout the game, which did not trouble Hammers goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski.
A half-fit Ings may have been a risk but he has been in electric form this season, scoring 15 goals in 28 Premier League appearances.
One has to imagine that he could well have offered more than Long against the Irons.
On top of that, the three goals conceded suggests Hasenhuttl should have in fact played a proper defender on the right-hand side, especially after Michail Antonio scored and picked up an assist.
