Mark Hughes and his players had walked the last 100 yards into the Liberty Stadium at the start of the evening after their coach was prevented from entering and if that was a signal that this team meant business, then substitute Manolo Gabbiadini’s late winner proved it to be the case.
It was a day of rather petulant slights, a club denied their four-star hotel of choice by what Hughes described as “over-zealous” Swansea fans on the staff of the city’s Marriott hotel, and then stewards who would not let the away team come in to the ground before their counterparts. In the end it came down to one of those relegation games that neither team dare lose, but one in which Southampton risked that little bit more to win.
Hughes said later that he had always planned to switch one of his three centre-halves for the lesser spotted Gabbiadini who has not scored a goal since February 24, and only three before this one, but what followed was one of those serendipitous moments in a manager’s life.
Southampton’s outstanding goalkeeper, Alex McCarthy, came out to punch a corner away, caught Jan Bednarek on the chin and by the time the Polish defender was back to his feet, Hughes had made his decision.
On came Gabbiadini, frozen out under Mauricio Pellegrino and, Hughes admitted, “disappointed” not to play more since his own arrival. When the Italian striker was called upon he reacted first to Charlie Austin’s blocked shot on 72 minutes to win the game, the goal that should save Southampton’s Premier League status and will surely mean that Hughes is appointed on a permanent basis once the season is over.
Hear from delighted boss Mark Hughes after a huge win at Swansea City Football Club in the Premier League! 😄
In full: sfcne.ws/MHPostSwans
