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Southampton dropped points from a winning position for the umpteenth time this season as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Watford at Vicarage Road on Tuesday night.
Saints came into the clash against the Hornets knowing that three points would all-but guarantee their spot in the Premier League again next season, and they looked set to get it following Shane Long’s early record-breaking strike.
However, Andre Gray struck for the hosts in the final minute to ensure the shares were spoiled, meaning Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men require a win against Bournemouth on Saturday to reach the magic 40-point mark.
The south coast outfit were already beginning to soak up the pressure as they looked to hold onto their slender one-goal advantage before Long picked up an issue that meant that he had to be replaced in the 78th minute.
With Charlie Austin and Danny Ings on the bench the solution to the problem seemed obvious, with another attacking player needed as an outlet for a rearguard that was severely under the cosh.
Instead, Hasenhuttl introduced young defender Yan Valery in place of the Republic of Ireland international – a decision which ultimately backfired and was labelled as “absolutely bizarre” by one supporter on the Saints Forum.
Rather than having a striker on the pitch to hold things up, every time Southampton did clear the ball it came back at them.
The Austrian manager may realise in hindsight but he should have made a positive change instead of a negative one at that point, even if he wanted to protect the injury-prone Ings ahead of the weekend visit of the Cherries.
That was the substitution that could have altered the outcome of the final 15 minutes or so, and luckily enough for Saints it shouldn’t cost them in the bid to remain in the top flight.