With new Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl seeing his early bounce at St Mary’s Stadium undone with a couple of results in recent times, the side got back to winning ways in Saturday’s trip to the King Power Stadium to face Leicester City.
Coming up against former manager Claude Puel, midfielder James Ward-Prowse opened the scoring eleven minutes into the game as he converted from the penalty spot and Shane Long broke his own goal drought in first half stoppage-time to give us a 2-0 lead at the break.
We were down to ten men given Yann Valery’s double booking in the 45th minute, but Leicester could only claw one goal back in the second period and we held on to take the win.
With a step up in performances for a few players, centre-half Jan Bednarek took the plaudits on social media as fans reacted to the win after the fulltime whistle had gone.
Matt targett game of his life. Ward prowse incredible. Bednarek different class. Stephens solid. Long hardworking. Romeu brick wall. Whole team fantastic. #saintsfc
— Ewan Campbell (@EwanCampbell1NI) January 12, 2019
Still can’t quite work out how Jan Bednarek couldn’t get a game under Mark Hughes ????♂️????. Been superb since he came in. JWP very impressive today. Maybe just maybe he is starting to show what we all hoped he could be all those years ago! Ralph deserves full credit.
— Steve Jones (@fleetsaints) January 12, 2019
#SaintsFC | Jan Bednarek v #LCFC
3 Blocks
7 Headed clearances
12 Clearances overall
6/8 Aerial duels won
& THAT goal line clearance.Another great performance, ever improving pic.twitter.com/VTuxTj5GJ9
— Conor Smith (@ConorSmith_94) January 12, 2019
He’s just getting better and better under Ralph showing why he was so highly rated back in Poland ???????? ????
— ⚽️ KevanHuttl???????????? (@kevvygrinny) January 12, 2019
Immense defender… Making that position his to lose imho
— Charlie Tre-Vett (@charlie_bear86) January 12, 2019
He's the next VVD ????
— xavisto (@vaxiii_1) January 12, 2019
Can't believe Hughes never picked him
— Ian Hunt (@eyedontseehow) January 12, 2019
Oh bednarek you beautiful beautiful creation
— char (@charseymour8) January 12, 2019
Bednarek is going to become one of the best CB in the league, really good performance today so far #SaintsFC #LEISOU
— Sigurðsson's Peen???????? (@SigurdssonsPeen) January 12, 2019
My #SaintsFC thoughts: What a manager we have on our hands. Vestergaard looks like he is settled and playing with confidence. How Bednarek did not play more under Hughes I don’t know. Very happy that long scored too. On to Derby COYR
— SaintsFC Fan (@Saints_Fan_COYR) January 12, 2019
Describing him as Virgil van Dijk’s successor may be a step to far on the back of one game, but lots of fans were curious as to why he fell out of favour under Hughes given the performances of others.