How can Southampton find their shooting boots?

Adrian Clarke is looking at tactical battles of three Premier League fixtures in Matchweek 2. 

Southampton v West Ham

Southampton have not scored at St. Mary's Stadium in four-and-a-half months, which equates to just over nine hours of playing time. 

Will they end this run at home to West Ham United this Saturday? Provided they can keep their heads at key moments, they should.

Their goalless Matchweek 1 draw with Swansea City provided various reasons for encouragement.

Asserting themselves over their opponents, Mauricio Pellegrino’s men spent 34.7% of the match inside the final third; this was only bettered, and fractionally so, by Manchester City at Brighton & Hove Albion (34.8%).

Playing at a higher tempo and moving the ball quickly and into wide areas with more purpose, Southampton carved out some excellent chances.

Down the left Ryan Bertrand (four) and Nathan Redmond (five) manufactured nine goalscoring opportunities.

The quality from wide areas was especially good, with 56% of Southampton’s 16 crosses finding a team-mate.

Dusan Tadic, who regularly drifted wide in his free role, produced four accurate crosses from open play. 

There were signs of creative improvement.

In April and May Southampton failed to top 16 shots on goal in any of their five home fixtures. But against the Swans they mustered 29, including 16 from inside the box.

Those were the highest numbers recorded in both categories for any team in Matchweek 1.

Finishing remains the issue: only two of those 29 efforts hit the target.

Southampton’s players could probably count themselves a little unlucky over the course of this barren period.

Sergio Romero and Eldin Jakupovic saved penalties that would have won them matches on home turf, and they also stumbled across a series of inspired man-of-the-match displays by opposition goalkeepers.

But as the run has continued doubts have crept into their heads, and we saw classic symptoms of Southampton players tightening up last Saturday.

The hosts either rushed their efforts on goal (missing the target 16 times) or took an extra touch to steady themselves at key moments (allowing defenders to close them down and make 11 blocks).

These are the two key areas they must address against West Ham.

One and two-touch finishes are required.

If the Hammers cannot defend better than they in their 4-0 loss at Old Trafford, Southampton are sure to create a stack of chances. To take them, they must banish negative thoughts.

That’s not easy when you have had 94 efforts since you last scored a home goal, but they have no choice but to stay calm.

Southampton's last six home matches 

Once the run has been broken, I’d expect Southampton to score many more home goals than the 17 they managed in 2016/17. They have the collective style and skill to plunder far more.

See: Loftus-Cheek central to Palace hopes of Anfield history