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Summer time always brings change down on the South Coast but in the quality of the Southampton production line, there is at least one reassuring constant.
Southampton may have lost their manager Ronald Koeman and seen a high turnover of players once again but their academy continues to turn out players of true promise.
On a balmy evening at St Mary’s, coach Claude Puel made eight changes to the team that defeated Swansea in the Premier League on Sunday and fielded four academy graduates in Matt Targett, James-Ward Prowse, Harrison Reed and Jake Hesketh.
All four dazzled in an enterprising Southampton performance but it was Hesketh’s star that shined brightest. He scored the second goal, applying the finishing touches to a rapid breakaway move, but offered so much more during a polished performance.
Only 20 years old, he floated in behind the two forwards, Shane Long and Charlie Austin, demonstrating flair and panache but also an end product as he weaved patterns in the Saints’ midfield.
As he stamped his name all over this fixture, it rapidly became apparent as to why Koeman gave him his debut in two games at the back end of 2014 and also why Manchester United scouts have kept track of him over the past year. This was Southampton’s third home win in a week and for Puel, there are signs of momentum building.
Palace, for their part, barely laid a glove on this contest and in truth, Alan Pardew’s post-match comments, bemoaning a penalty decision that led to the opening Southampton goal, were as spiky as Palace had been all evening.
Up front, the pace and power of Long and Austin caused no end of problems for the Palace defence, who saw Scott Dann exit the fray early on through injury.
His replacement Martin Kelly was caught out for the opening goal and this was the moment that provided the material for Pardew’s post-match complaints.
As the ball ran loose in the penalty area, Long nipped in, nudging the ball away and falling over the lunge of the Palace defender.
Pardew suggested that Long was ‘going over already’ and suggested the player has ‘history in these situations’.
It might not have escaped Pardew’s attention that Long was booked only on Sunday against Swansea for diving.
Puel disagreed of course, citing a ‘dangerous’ tackle and revealing Long nearly didn’t make it out for the second half.
On this occasion, Long appeared innocent and video replays appeared to support the Southampton manager. Austin stepped up to convert the penalty, sending Wayne Hennessey diving in the opposite direction. It was the striker’s fourth goal in six days.
The goal proved to be the wake-up call the game required.
Moments later, Austin should have doubled the lead. Long went on the rampage down the right flank, hunting down a lost cause and shrugging off Ezekiel Fryers.
He whipped a low ball to the edge of the penalty area, where Austin met the ball on the half-volley but fired over.
The two sides began to trade blows. Wilfried Zaha fired a shot goalwards and it deflected back into Cabaye’s direction. The Frenchman set himself, working half-a-yard before curling a low effort just wide.
Down the other end, Hennessey then produced his finest form. Austin nipped in once more, breaking free one-on-one with the Palace goalkeeper but the Welshman spread himself superbly, extending a hand to deny the forward.
Cuca Martina then broke beyond the Palace defence, firing hard and low from the angle but Hennessey stuck out a leg to divert the ball wide with the faintest of touches.
As Southampton’s tempo increased, Palace became ragged. On the counter, Austin and Long combined once more. Austin fed a pass in behind the Palace back line and the Irishman touched the ball away from Hennessy, running clear of the goalkeeper but failed to garner enough purchase on the strike, which was poked off the line by Damien Delaney.
After the break, Palace enjoyed some possession but still lacked menace in the final third.
As one move broke down, Southampton dashed upfield on the break, steaming through the gears. James-Ward Prowse carried the ball over half-way, sliding through a pass for Long. He was denied by Hennessy but as it dropped on the edge of the box, Hesketh curled home his finish.
Long, without a goal in nine games, was furious, kicking the post in frustration. For Hesketh, there was only jubilation.
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