Southampton fans will feel deflated going into a huge game with Leicester City on Tuesday after suffering defeat at Cardiff City.
The trip to South Wales to face a side with little to play for was not anticipated to cause an in-form Southampton side too many problems.
However, wasteful finishing coupled with a tendency to allow sides back into games saw Southampton fall to a 2-1 defeat in the 96th-minute.
Joe Aribo scored after just 12 minutes as he continues his best run of form of the season, and many would have felt there was only one outcome after that goal.
That was not the case, though, as the Saints missed a host of guilt-edged opportunities. Che Adams failing to finish his fair share having been on a hot streak in front of goal prior to this game.
David Brooks will also not want to watch this game back as he fluffed an open goal by dithering when he should have fired into an unguarded net.
The game represents another frustrating defeat when Southampton could have quite easily been four or five goals ahead in the first 45 minutes. It is also hugely damaging to their automatic promotion hopes.
Russell Martin was understandably dismayed at his team’s inability to secure the win, with the attackers particularly culpable.
Jan Bednarek impressive despite Cardiff defeat
Whilst it is unlikely to offer Southampton fans much comfort now, Jan Bednarek‘s performances deserves praise despite defeat.
The Poland international has been incredibly dependable this season, with the Daily Echo labelling him Southampton’s ‘Mr. Reliable’ for his performance against Blackburn Rovers in December in their match ratings.
Bednarek was rated an eight out of ten that day, with the accompanying comment: “Excellent numbers in the first-half in both possession and against the ball. Played the full 90 minutes and helped to record another clean sheet. Has become Mr. Reliable.”
Bednarek was unfortunate that Cian Ashford’s 96th-minute strike deflected off his leg en route to the back of Alex McCarthy‘s goal.
That moment aside, it was a very solid performance from the 28-year-old who has regained his place having dropped out of the side for Jack Stephens on a couple of occasions recently.
In the past two games he has resumed his partnership with Taylor Harwood-Bellis that gave Southampton such a solid defensive platform across their record-breaking 25 game unbeaten run earlier in the season.
The duo had little to do in the 3-0 win over Preston North End in midweek but found themselves much busier in Cardiff on Saturday.
Bednarek tops impressive statistic against Cardiff
Bednarek was the more commanding of the central defensive partnership against Cardiff.
In possession, both centre-backs were impressive as they so often are. According to Sofascore, Bednarek recorded accurate 95 passes, whilst Harwood-Bellis completed 100.
This gave the former a pass accuracy of 94%, with the latter 93%. The only player on the pitch who could match Bednarek’s 94% pass accuracy was Cardiff’s Joe Ralls, however the midfielder only found a teammate 33 times.
We have come to expect Martin’s central defenders to register incredibly high passing numbers, such is his style, but Bednarek was equally impressive defensively.
The man who spent the first half of last season on loan at Aston Villa made six clearances, which was the most of any player on the pitch. To add to this, he made two tackles and two interceptions.
Most remarkable, though, was the fact that Bednarek won 100% of his five aerial duels against Cardiff players on Saturday. He also won two of his five ground duels, giving him a duel success rate of 70% when combining the two.
Southampton lost ground on their automatic promotions rivals with defeat against Cardiff, but Bednarek can hold his head high after a battling performance that deserved more.