SOUTHAMPTON moved to within three points of the play-offs after beating the league leaders Coventry in their own back yard in a fiery affair.
Strikes from Flynn Downes, on his 100th appearance, and Kuryu Matsuki in the second half were just about enough for the win. Although a late dubious penalty decision for Coventry made it a nervy last few minutes for the Saints.
They managed to hold on and continue their 12-game unbeaten run, while simultaneously ending Coventry’s six-match winning run.
Southampton started the game off the brightest as within the first minute Ryan Manning found Cyle Larin in behind the Coventry defence but he couldn’t latch onto it as Rushworth came out to claim.
The Saints’ switch to a 4-1-4-1 formation worked for the visitors as they controlled the early stages of the match and nullified the Sky Blues’ wide threat.
Ten minutes in a deep corner to the back post from Ryan Manning found Kuryu Matsuki who put it back across to Cyle Larin who tried swiveling and hitting one on the turn but it went inches wide of the post.
In terms of chances, the first half was quiet but there were lots of fouls. It was very reminiscent of the reverse fixture in December, where both sides received fines for failing to control their players and manager in Coventry’s case.
The first big chance of the game came just before half-time from a beautifully whipped in cross from Josh Eccles and he found Liam Kitching who did nothing wrong with the header as he glanced it towards goal but it was met by an insane save by Daniel Peretz who dived across to his left.
They went into the break goalless but the visitors come out strong in the second 45.
Three minutes into the second half, Kuryu Matsuki cut onto his left from the right handside and whipped in a delicious cross which nearly went in without a touch but it forced Carl Rushworth to push it onto the post.
Unfortunately for him, it fell straight to Flynn Downes, who could not miss from a few yards out to give the Saints the lead.
The visitors could have doubled their lead from a Ryan Manning free-kick but his strike from 25 yards just went over the bar.
Coventry started to get the ball to wide areas quickly shortly after the hour mark as they began bombarding the Saints box with crosses. The best chance was the cross from the right hand side which found Haji Wright but his header was straight at Daniel Peretz – this resulted in him being replaced by Ellis Simms.
As Coventry pushed for an equaliser, Saints continued to threaten on the counter but their second goal came from a set piece.
A James Bree corner fell nicely at Kuryu Matsuki’s feet, who in truth did not know much about it, but it hit him in the six yard box and went past Carl Rushworth to double the visitors advantage.
Frustrations grew for the home side, Ellis Simms went in with a nasty elbow on Ryan Manning just after the goal but that went unpunished.
Coventry were given a lifeline in the 90th minute as the referee awarded the penalty for the lightest of touches from Shea Charles on Victor Torp.
The Dane stepped up and placed it into the bottom left, Daniel Peretz went the right way but could not get a hand on it but it meant nothing in the end as Southampton marched on to all three points.
