Manager Mark Hughes declared he was thoroughly pleased with Southampton’s performance against Arsenal at the weekend but he knew key moments in the game had counted against us.
Losing three two at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, goals from Shane Long and Charlie Austin weren’t enough to share the points as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Danny Welbeck got on the score sheet with the latter getting a brace on the day.
Speaking to saintsfc as he met with the media following the game, Hughes knew he could take plenty of positives from the match even though the final result went the hosts’ way.
That’s the passion we need. Just need to get organised again
? Robin Atkinson (@AtkinsonRobin52) April 8, 2018
‘Apart from the key moments which led to goals, I thought our performance was good. Once we were behind, we had to show a lot of character and I was pleased by what I saw. I wanted to see that kind of performance and that was the main thing for me. It was encouraging, that contrast in what we produced at West Ham and what we did today.’
Hughes went on to say that having shown some resilience in the game, he was also pleased with the attacking intent as the players had shown they had taken on board things that had been worked on in training across the week.
Extremely unlucky not to get a point
? malcolm thorpe (@malcolmthorpe2) April 8, 2018
Obviously he was disappointed with the final result but he did feel that the performance gave him and the players something to build on in the remainder of the season and fans will be hoping that’s enough to get our noses ahead of the relegation zone and then stay there.
Thank you for your fantastic support at the Emirates today, #SaintsFC fans! ???? pic.twitter.com/lDOwOAMUG4
? Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) April 8, 2018