Che Adams’ brace inspired Southampton to an impressive 3-1 comeback victory against his former club Sheffield United as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men ended the season on a high.
Chris Wilder’s side have earned plenty of plaudits for a superb first season back in the Premier League and Saints also deserve immense credit for the way they have turned relegation form around.
Nobody could have foreseen Saints finishing 11th when they were humbled 9-0 by Leicester in October, but nine months on they blunted the Blades as Adams’ double and a Danny Ings penalty secured victory at St Mary’s.
Saints have been one of the stars of ‘Project Restart’ and head into the summer on the back of a seventh match unbeaten – something that had looked unlikely during a shaky first half.
Wilder’s men took the lead through John Lundstram and would have put the match to bed had the midfielder not been denied a second by the superb reflexes of Alex McCarthy.
Play got off to a scrappy start at St Mary’s, where the big pre-match talk revolved around the omission of Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg amid interest in a player that has no intention of extending his deal beyond next summer.
It was a warning shot that Southampton failed to heed, with Wilder’s side going ahead in the 26th minute as a cross from the left somehow found its way through to Lundstram to score with a low finish.
That setback for the hosts was compounded by Stuart Armstrong’s early withdrawal and matters would have worsened had McCarthy not produced a top-class save to deny Lundstram scoring his second.
Hasenhuttl’s men returned from the break strongly and drew level within five minutes of the restart.
Smallbone curled over the bar as Saints’ pressure continued, but Romeu saved the day after McCarthy threatened to undo his good work by passing straight to Sharp.
But Adams would not be denied for long and lapped up the loose ball after Kyle Walker-Peters’ effort was blocked, continuing to thrash past Henderson in the 71st minute.
