Latest news with #SaintsFC
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Stewart nets first Saints goal as Arsenal snatch late win at St Mary's
SAINTS ended the 2024/25 Premier League season with a positive performance but fell to a late 2-1 defeat to Arsenal at St Mary's. Saints were equal to second-place Gunners for most of a competitive clash but Kieran Tierney opened the scoring before the interval. Injury-stricken Scotland compatriot Ross Stewart rose highest to head his first Saints goal and first goal for any team since January 2023. However, Martin Odegaard crushed interim boss Simon Rusk's hopes of a third point in seven matches when he rifled in on the 87th minute. Saints finish the Premier League season bottom of the table with a dismal 12 points, but are able to put a more positive spin on the future. New manager Will Still watched the match from the stands, while academy youngsters started and came off the bench after their strong season. A 2-1 defeat to Arsenal draws the curtain on the Premier League season. Saints were decent today to be fair, but finish on 12 points and a record 30 defeats. Big summer ahead, let's hope they get it right. A lot of pieces now in place. #SaintsFC — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 25, 2025 Rusk made five changes to his final Saints team but some were enforced, including the absence of Jack Stephens due to a fractured wrist. Tyler Dibling was also not in the squad with muscle tightness cited as the reason, while there was no farewell for departing Kyle Walker-Peters. Amongst those coming into the team were Charlie Taylor - who had not played since January - and 18 year old Jay Robinson for a first start. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta also made a raft of changes to his team, leaving Bukayo Saka on the bench with loanee Raheem Sterling preferred. There were 59 points between the two teams ahead of kick-off but Saints drew 4-4 with Liverpool on the final day of their last Premier League season. Final-day matches often provide a surprise, and Saints were on top for much of the first half, even feeling aggrieved at being denied a penalty kick. A powerful Mateus Fernandes shot appeared to strike the outward hand of Declan Rice but the referee and VAR agreed it did not constitute a foul. Stewart headed wide with a chance to score his first Saints goal, although St Mary's roared at the winning of a succession of corners. Ross Stewart off to a standing ovation after scoring his first Southampton goal. A lovely moment for him after a horrible few years. #SaintsFC — George Rees-Julian (@rees_julian) May 25, 2025 Aaron Ramsdale denied former Gunners teammate Gabriel Martinelli when his perfectly timed run saw him evade defence one-on-one. But Ramsdale was unable to prevent the goal scored by departing defender Tierney just before half-time, marking his final Arsenal appearance. An overlapping Ben White crossed low into the front post, where dreamer Tierney was in front of his man to sweep home in the 43rd minute. Saints, inspired by talented youngster Robinson, did not let that derail them and instead flew out of the traps to equalise within 11 minutes. Moments after the academy starlet won a dangerous free-kick, his trickery in the box earned Saints a corner that Stewart rose to score from. Fernandes whipped in the delivery and the Scottish striker cleverly headed backwards to send St Mary's into a frenzy over his first Saints goal. Yuki Suagwara, back in the starting team for the first time since March 15, cleared off the line to keep the scores level shortly after. Substitute Saka thought he had put his team in front when he turned in the loose ball from a Ramsdale save but the linesman's flag went up. But Saints were not offered the same reprieve when fellow substitute Martin Odegaard beat Will Smallbone and fired in from outside the area. The Norwegian's 87th-minute goal condemned Saints to a 30th Premier League loss; a record number of defeats in a league season. Saints: Ramsdale; Sugawara, Wood, Taylor, Welington; Downes, Ugochukwu (Kayi Sanda, 85), Fernandes; Kamaldeen (Archer, 78), Robinson (Smallbone, 78), Stewart (Onuachu, 69). Unused subs: McCarthy, Manning, Aribo, Bree, Moore. Arsenal: Raya; White, Kiwior, Tierney (Trossard, 63), Zinchenko (Lewis-Skelly, 69); Partey, Rice, Nwaneri (Odegaard, 74), Merino, Sterling (Saka, 63); Martinelli (Havertz, 69). Unused subs: Neto, Jorginho, Henry-Francis, Kabia. Referee: Darren Bond. VAR: Graham Scott.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
New Saints boss Still spotted in attendance at St Mary's for Arsenal match
NEW Saints manager Will Still is in attendance at St Mary's for his new side's final Premier League match of the season. Saints, guaranteed to finish bottom, are hosting second-place Arsenal with nothing but pride on the line, as neither club can move league position. However, Saints fans have been given a reason to be excited for the future as new boss Still is in the ground for the first time this afternoon. Will Still takes his seat.#SaintsFC — Alfie House (@AlfieHouseEcho) May 25, 2025 Belgian-born Englishman Still has signed a three-year deal to take over as the latest permanent manager at St Mary's, replacing Ivan Juric. Still got his first glimpse of his new squad, although high player turnover is expected in the summer following the club's relegation. The 32 year old will lead the side in the Championship next season, looking to win promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt. Still, who has left French outfit RC Lens to return to England, was spotted at cricket ground Trent Bridge on Friday and Wembley on Saturday, where he watched Sunderland win the Championship play-offs.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Footage emerges showing absurd referee decision against Saints starlet Dibling
FOOTAGE has emerged showing a simply absurd refereeing decision given against Saints starlet Tyler Dibling versus Manchester City. The 19 year old was credited by interim boss Simon Rusk as having "outstanding work-rate" in Saturday's 0-0 draw with the FA Cup finalists. Dibling was back to his best with the ball and against it, as he completed 66 minutes for the first time in over a month before he was withdrawn. However, the home support was left incensed when Dibling was penalised for a foul when he simply appeared to beat his marker, Josko Gvardiol. 🙈#SaintsFC — George Rees-Julian (@rees_julian) May 12, 2025 It looked like a bad officiating decision in real time, but footage emerging has shown just how absurd the call by the referee, Tim Robinson, was. Dibling sized up the Croatian international, petrified of being nutmegged, before knocking it past his planted feet and running around his outside. The youngster speeds past to collect the ball but Gvardiol hit the deck under the slightest feeling of Dibling's hand on the back of his shirt. It was an opportunity for Dibling to fashion a rare chance for Saints, entering the box on his favoured left foot with only Ruben Dias to beat. Dibling was awarded a foul in his favour soon after, escaping two men facing his own goal to play out of pressure before being hauled down. The upcoming summer transfer window's hot prospect could keep his place in the Saints team for Saturday's visit to Everton's Goodison Park.
