Inter Milan 1 Southampton 0: Italians somehow come away with win amid terrible Saints misses in San Siro

SOUTHAMPTON somehow lost to under-fire Frank de Boer's Inter Milan thanks to a smash and grab goal from Antonio Candreva.

During the first half, the Saints were all over lowly Inter, who have had a poor season to date, going close through James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez.

All of that was in vain when Candreva slammed the ball into the right top corner on 67 minutes, before just minutes later Marcelo Brozovic saw red for two yellow card challenges.

A late flurry for the Saints saw Virgil Van Dijk, Charlie Austin and Steven Davis all go agonisingly close, with Samir Handanovic making a stunning save in the dying embers as the visitors struggled to break ten men down.

But it was not enough as Inter stole the game with a daylight robbery in a sparsely-populated San Siro - despite seven thousand Saints fans making the trip.

Facts, Stats, Goals and Lols

• Southampton outdid Iceland tonight bringing 7,500 fans or a whopping 13 per cent of the South coast town’s population of 57,000. Iceland took 30,000 to Euro 2016 from their overall population of 300,000 - or ten per cent. So there.
• Claude Puel stuck to his word and gave rookie left back Sam McQueen the night of his life with a full debut at the majestic San Siro stadium. McQueen, 21, was in for crocked Matt Targett and only made two sub appearances in the Premier League before this game.

• Jay Rodriguez wasted a golden opportunity to put Southampton ahead in the eighth minute when put clean through by a defensive mistake.
• Rodriguez showed a worrying lack of confidence in front of goal missing another super chance to put Southampton ahead on 28 minutes when he was too slow to connect with a flick on from Shane Long.

• So much for the terrifying Inter ‘Ultras’. The hardcore Italian fans were supposed to be waging war against their own captain Mauro Icardi over comments in his book. Not a peep from them in a sparse crowd. Yawn.
• Southampton fans are not the wittiest in the Premier League. No witty flags or banners among the away fans but one proclaiming the ‘Italian Saints’ were in the house.
• James Ward-Prowse turned in another solid and mature performance in midfield. A vastly underrated player.
• Shane Long gave boss Claude Puel the first test of his rotation policy. He limped off ten minutes into the second half forcing Charlie Austin to come off the bench. Puel was hoping to rest his lead striker tonight.
• Austin looked sharp and shot just wide but then Inter struck from nowhere with a stunning goal. Antonio Candreva spun on his heels and buried a ferocious shot from 15 yards.
• It was the first goal that Saints had conceded away from home since September 10 - a 2-1 defeat at Arsenal.

Social Says

Dream Team Ratings

SOUTHAMPTON: Forster 6, Martina 6, Van Dijk 6, Yoshida 7, McQueen 6, Hojberg 6, Romeu 6, Rodriguez 6 (Davis 6), Ward-Prowse 7, Tadic 6 (Boufal 6), Long 5 (Austin 6)

Subs not used: Clasie, Fonte, McCarthy, Stephens

Booked: Hojbjerg

STAR MAN: Davide Santon (Inter Milan, 8)