Match Reports: Southampton 1-1 Midtylland

Jay Rodriguez has scored his first goal for Southampton since March 2014 (v Newcastle). The Danish side are statistical recruiters and they found Sparv – signed from Greuther Fürt – despite his obvious presence on Saints’ radars: he was part of their 2005 FA Youth Cup finalists, with Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale.

Then Rodriguez stepped up to score from the penalty spot to salvage a draw.

Speaking to the club’s official website, the Kenyan worldwide said, “European nights are big nights and hopefully we can achieve something with Southampton“.

Brad Pitt starred in the Hollywood film, but he wasn’t around when Saints needed an Oscar victor last night.

The match represents a chance for Southampton to fine-tune after they progressed 5-0 on aggregate against Vitesse Arnhem in the last round. “We just have to move forward and try to get better”. “The reaction of the crowd was lovely, that was the sort of thing I’ve been waiting for ever since I’ve been out injured”.

25′ GOOD SAVE! Stekelenburg makes a superb save to his left after another long throw caught Southampton out, allowing Erik Sviatchenko to get his head on it.

Koeman had issued a hands-off warning to Manchester United over winger Sadio Mane before the tie and named the Senegalese speedster in his starting line-up.

But gradually the Danes began to get into the game, and Petter Andersson shot just a foot wide after a free kick was not cleared.

Koeman’s side had lost their momentum, and when Pione Sisto dribbled all the way through to the byeline, he should have done better than hit the side netting.

The visitors, who now sit top of the Danish league, opened the scoring against the run of play when former Saints man Tim Sparv drilled in a low shot from 20 yards in first-half stoppage time.

England ace Rodriguez put his injury torment behind him by converting a 56th-minute penalty to cancel out ex-Saints academy star Tim Sparv’s shock opener. Koeman’s team thought they had levelled when Caulker headed home – but French referee Clement Turpin ruled there had been a push. If it had been the Premier League there would have been no whistle.

“It’s normal that you will lose something – the new players need time in that position, the team needs time to develop and have the same strengths as last season”.

But their lead was short-lived as Rodriguez converted a penalty 10 minutes into the second period, with the home side producing a marked improvement after the break.