WATFORD boss Claudio Ranieri insisted his side were much improved in the second half against Saints and added: “Maybe we deserved to draw the match.”
Claudioi Ranieri said: “We had to improve our defensive way together, I know. I’ve been working here three weeks and the Southampton manager (Ralph Hasenhuttl) is working since 2018 and that will make a difference, but I think we were too passive in the first half. The second half was much, much better. They put them under pressure. Maybe we deserved to draw the match because we had the chance with Ismaila Sarr and at the end, but that’s it. But we must be patient and our fans must be patient and take us with love, support us at this first moment because it is very, very important. I don’t want us to be up and down in the table…I would like us to be more consistent.”
The Hornets fell behind after 20 minutes at Vicarage Road when Che Adams netted the only goal of the game. And despite Ismaila Sarr’s effort being blocked on the line by the backside of Kyle Walker-Peters, the hosts were left to contemplate a 1-0 setback. Victory took Saints above the Hornets in the league table. Hasenhuttl’s men now have 11 points from 10 games played.
