SM
Barcelona vs. Brann: 6 hrs 25 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews
SL
Premier League | Gameweek 17
Dec 14, 2019 at 5.30pm UK
 
WH

0-1

 
FT(HT: 0-1)
Haller (37')

Michail Antonio: 'West Ham players still fully behind Manuel Pellegrini'

:Headline: Michail Antonio: 'West Ham players still fully behind Manuel Pellegrini': ID:383003: from db_amp
The Hammers won for only the second time in 11 top-flight games.

Michail Antonio says West Ham's players have "loads of respect" for manager Manuel Pellegrini and hopes the victory at Southampton can kick-start the club's faltering season.

Mounting pressure on Hammers boss Pellegrini was eased slightly by Saturday's deserved 1-0 success at St Mary's.

Sebastien Haller's first-half goal earned the visitors just a second win from 11 Premier League games to move them four points clear of their 18th-placed opponents and the relegation zone.

Forward Antonio, who had a second-half goal disallowed by VAR for handball, was a constant menace to Southampton's defence and believes his team have sufficient desire to rediscover their early-season promise.

"Obviously we showed in our performances in the last couple of weeks we've improved, but we haven't got the results we wanted," Antonio told West Ham's website.

"But we showed that we've got the fire, that we've got the grit.

"It was a massive result because we've got loads of respect for the manager.

"We started the season well before we went on a bit of a blip.

"I've been here for five years now and we've always come out of these blips. Hopefully this is the time where we can start moving forward and getting ourselves up the league."

West Ham's record signing Haller had gone eight top-flight games without a goal before scuffing home his fifth of the campaign in the 37th minute.

Antonio was unfortunate not to double the advantage when his crisp second-half strike at the end of bundling run was ruled out following consultation with Stockley Park.

Pellegrini was pleased to see his side beginning to fulfil their potential and is looking forward to an 11-day break ahead of three games in seven days, starting at Crystal Palace on Boxing Day.

"I don't know exactly if the word is relief. For me seeing the team playing the way we did is what I expect about us," the Chilean said of the much-needed win.

"I'm always talking with the players that we must play the same way we work every day of the week, we must try to be a solid team and score goals and I think we are able to do it better.

"After a couple of days off, we will recover and start preparing for the game against Crystal Palace.

"It is a part of the year where I think we must arrive fresh because we play 26, 28 and the 1st."

Southampton failed to build on successive home wins over fellow strugglers Watford and Norwich, suffering an eighth defeat from 12 league games.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl opted to substitute under-performing winger Nathan Redmond at half-time.

Redmond was rejuvenated by Hasenhuttl's arrival last December and named the club's player of the year for 2018-19 but has struggled to replicate that form this term, scoring only once in 15 league appearances.

"The subbing in half-time was not only about a bad performance, we changed the shape," said Hasenhuttl.

"Sure, in the moment he is missing a little bit the goal maybe, he had the chance against Newcastle (on December 7) and then he maybe would have been more self-confident.

"But he must work, like we all have to do it. In the end, it's about getting the next chance and showing up."

Saints travel to 17th-placed Aston Villa next weekend and Hasenhuttl is optimistic about a positive response.

"We know that we can take something against Villa so therefore we should take the heads up and look forward," he said.

amp_article__383003 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2019-12-15 10:10:46:
html db last update - 2021-02-28 09:46:30 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Michail Antonio

Click here for more stories about Southampton

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds38257670284282
2Leicester CityLeicester37264774334182
3Ipswich TownIpswich38249580493181
4Southampton36227773472673
5West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom381991059362366
6Norwich CityNorwich381871369541561
7Hull City371610115346758
8Coventry CityCoventry3715121059431657
9Preston North EndPreston37168134954-556
10Middlesbrough38166165352154
11Cardiff CityCardiff38165174351-853
12Sunderland38146184845348
13Watford381212145351248
14Bristol City38138174245-347
15Swansea CitySwansea381210164858-1046
16Millwall381110173650-1443
17Blackburn RoversBlackburn38119185164-1342
18Plymouth ArgylePlymouth381011175462-841
19Stoke CityStoke38118193553-1841
20Queens Park RangersQPR381010183650-1440
21Birmingham CityBirmingham38109194259-1739
22Huddersfield TownHuddersfield38815154261-1939
23Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds38115223061-3138
24Rotherham UnitedRotherham38311243077-4720
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .