Southampton 3 Sparta Prague 0: Charlie Austin brace helps Saints kick-start their Europa League campaign
Striker staked a place in Claude Puel's first team with two goals in first half before Jay Rodriguez completed the rout
CHARLIE AUSTIN staked a place in manager Claude Puel's first team with a brace as Southampton kick-started their Europa League campaign with a 3-0 win over Sparta Prague.
The striker, who scored just one Saints goal before this game, won a penalty in controversial fashion and after fighting team-mate Dusan Tadic for the spot kick, dispatched it confidently in the bottom corner.
22 minutes later and Austin had doubled his season's tally with a back post header following a pinpoint cross from right-back Cuco Martina making his first appearance of the season.
Sparta Prague offered little going forward and their best opportunity fell to David Lafata midway through the second half but his fierce shot was saved well by keeper Fraser Forster.
Jay Rodriguez, who came on for Austin, then completed the deserved victory with a simple tap in following good work by Shane Long.
FACTS, STATS, GOALS & LOLS
- England rugby union coach Eddie Jones, who popped into St Mary's on Wednesday for a pep talk with Claude Puel, would have been proud of the way Virgil Van Dijk tackled and wrestled p Dusan Tadic away from the ball to allow Charlie Austin to score his first goal of the season from the penalty spot.
- Who says football doesn't even itself out...this was a real soft penalty decision for handball which was nearly as bad as the one referee Bobby Medley awarded Arsenal in the final minute on Sunday.
- Greedy Austin, whose last goal for the club was the winner against Manchester United in January, quickly headed a second and Tadic couldn't complain this time.
- Austin now becomes the first Saint to score two goals in an European tie since Steve Moran did it against Limerick in the UEFA Cup in 1981.
- Sparta Prague's regular red shirt and white short kit is all down to former club president Dr Petrik who fell in love with Arsenal's strip when he visited England in 1906.
5Jay Rodriguez celebrates after scoring Southampton's thirdCredit: Reuters - Talking about the Gunners it was a shame that Sparta left their "Little Mazart" Tomas Rosicky, who spent ten years with Arsenal, back home in The Czech Republic for this tie.
- Saints fans may already be getting stressed out with French boss Claude Puel Premier League record but they mustn't forget that Ronald Koeman's team were knocked out in the Europa League play-off round last summer by Danish minnows FC Midtjylland!
- Swansea fans had better get to Southampton early for Sunday's Premier League showdown because of extra crowds attending the annual Boat Show
- Someone forgot to tell Sparta's bare-chested followers that we don't allow supporters to storm Her Majesty's police line to try to get at rival fans in this country nowadays.
- Sparta Prague are the most successful side in their country winning a total of 36 league titles, 20 Czech Cups and two Czech Supercups.
SOCIAL SAYS
WHAT THEY SAID
Southampton striker Charlie Austin: "It was a special night for me but more importantly it was about the win as we needed that.
"The fans got right behind us and gave us a lift.
I'm a centre forward and I think I should take the penalties. I was feeling confident. It was a bit silly from me and Dusan but in future I'll take the penalties. It's all about the team.
"It's one game at a time."