Southampton secured their first win since the March international break as they beat Coventry City on Tuesday night.
The 2-1 victory over promotion-chasing Coventry was a much-needed win, with the performance as pleasing as the result.
Southampton survived an early scare, with Haji Wright missing a tenth-minute penalty as justice was perhaps served given the award of the spot-kick was incredibly soft.
The Saints’ first goal came in strange fashion as Kyle Walker-Peters‘ strike from the edge of the box deflected off Che Adams on its way into the Coventry goal on the 18th-minute. 20 minutes later, Adams knew slightly more about it as he prodded home a James Bree corner from short range.
The end to the game was made more nervy than the performance deserved as Southampton allowed Coventry left-back Jake Bidwell to ghost in unmarked at the back post to finish a cross from the lively Fabio Tavares on 68 minutes.
Southampton stood firm, though, and Russell Martin will have been pleased with the way his side managed the final few moments to secure a first win in four games.
Che Adams impressed in Coventry clash
Adams was recalled to the side for the clash at St Mary’s on Tuesday night, having dropped out of the side in the stalemate against Blackburn Rovers last time out.
The Scotland international had scored in the two games prior to the 0-0 draw at Ewood Park, so will have felt aggrieved to have lost his place. However, any frustration was used in a positive way as Adams showed Martin he should be the starting centre forward in an impressive display against Coventry.
On top of his two goals – his 11th and 12th Championship strikes of the campaign – Adams was a constant option for his teammates and looked sharp as he lead the line.
The 27-year-old had 44 touches and completed 86% of his 29 passes, with two of these being classed as key passes.
Adams put in a real shift for his side too and made sure the Coventry centre-backs knew they were in a real battle, evidenced by two-thirds of his duels, made two tackles and won two free-kicks.
Russell Martin must trust Adams to lead Southampton attack
Southampton will hope that Adams’ brace is the beginning of one of his hot streaks of form, with his goals often coming in bursts.
Ex-Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl described the way Adams’ goals seem to come in flurries as the ‘ketchup bottle phenomenon’, explaining this as: “He had again long run when he didn’t score but maybe we have the ketchup bottle phenomenon. So a long time – nothing – then everything comes. I take it yeah!”
When the ex-Birmingham City striker is at his best he is undoubtedly one of the best centre-forwards in the Championship and Martin would do well to capitalise on this whilst he still can with Adams’ contract expiring in the summer.
Martin has six games left to settle on the side that gives Southampton the best chance of winning the play-offs and he must utilise Adams despite the striker’s uncertain future beyond this season.
Whilst Adam Armstrong is the club’s top scorer this season with 20 goals, his best performances have come from wide positions and the Saints simply do not play as well collectively with Armstrong playing centrally.
That is because the side lose their focal point, with Armstrong often getting marshalled out of the game by opposition centre-halves and not able to get involved in the play.
Adams offers a different dimension as the central striker, with his presence unsettling for defenders and his ability to hold the ball up and bring his teammates into play invaluable; particularly when Southampton are under pressure.
With six games to go before what Southampton will hope will be three play-off games, the team that gives Martin’s team the highest chance of securing promotion surely sees Adams spearhead the attack.