With his free-kick goal in first-half stoppage time at Stamford Bridge, James Ward-Prowse not only earned Southampton their first win since the FIFA World Cup 2022, but the midfielder also moved to within one of a Premier League record held by David Beckham.
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The Manchester United legend scored 18 times from direct free-kicks in the Premier League during his 11 seasons at Old Trafford.
Ward-Prowse's goal on Saturday was the 17th from a set-piece that he has scored in his 11 seasons and 328 Premier League matches for Saints.
Coming for you, Becks 😏 pic.twitter.com/x6aDY3IQ6T
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) February 18, 2023
“It's good for me to know that with any skill in life, if you work hard for it, you can perfect it,” Ward-Prowse told BBC Match of the Day. "When I was a kid doing this in my parents' garden, this was what I dreamed to do. It is great to do it today."
To show how his hard work has continued to pay off, 11 of these goals have come in the past three campaigns.
Of the 17, only four free-kick goals have come at St Mary's and the last eight have been all on the road.
Ward-Prowse's free-kick goals
| Season | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2015/2016 | West Brom (H) | 16/01/2016 |
| 2017/2018 | West Brom (A) | 03/02/2018 |
| 2018/2019 | Man Utd (A) | 02/03/2019 |
| 2018/2019 | Spurs (H) | 09/03/2019 |
| 2019/2020 | Watford (H) | 30/11/2019 |
| 2019/2020 | Watford (A) | 28/06/2020 |
| 2020/2021 | Aston Villa (A) | 01/11/2020 |
| 2020/2021 | Aston Villa (A) | 01/11/2020 |
| 2020/2021 | Man Utd (H) | 29/11/2020 |
| 2020/2021 | Newcastle (A) | 06/02/2021 |
| 2021/2022 | Crystal Palace (A) | 15/12/2021 |
| 2021/2022 | Wolves (A) | 15/01/2022 |
| 2021/2022 | Leeds (A) | 02/04/2022 |
| 2021/2022 | Brighton (A) | 24/04/2022 |
| 2022/2023 | Fulham (A) | 31/12/2022 |
| 2022/2023 | Everton (A) | 14/01/2023 |
| 2022/2023 | Chelsea (A) | 18/02/2023 |
Beckham's record was set in 265 matches in total, with a free-kick goal in each of his seasons at Man Utd, including five in 2000/01. Like Ward-Prowse, the majority, 11, came in away matches.
Beckham's free-kick goals
| Season | Opponent | Date |
|---|---|---|
| 1996/1997 | Southampton (A) | 26/10/1996 |
| 1997/1998 | Liverpool (A) | 06/12/1997 |
| 1998/1999 | Leicester (H) | 15/08/1998 |
| 1998/1999 | Everton (H) | 21/03/1999 |
| 1998/1999 | Aston Villa (H) | 01/05/1999 |
| 1999/2000 | Leicester (A) | 18/03/2000 |
| 1999/2000 | West Ham (H) | 01/04/2000 |
| 1999/2000 | Southampton (A) | 22/04/2000 |
| 2000/2001 | Ipswich (A) | 22/08/2000 |
| 2000/2001 | West Ham (A) | 26/08/2000 |
| 2000/2001 | Leeds (H) | 21/10/2000 |
| 2000/2001 | Coventry (A) | 04/11/2000 |
| 2000/2001 | Man City (A) | 18/11/2000 |
| 2001/2002 | Fulham (H) | 19/08/2001 |
| 2001/2002 | Blackburn (A) | 22/08/2001 |
| 2001/2002 | Southampton (A) | 13/01/2002 |
| 2001/2002 | Sunderland (H) | 02/02/2002 |
| 2002/2003 | Everton (A) | 11/05/2003 |