Rampant Saints hit four past Blackburn

Saints were dominant from start to finish, and got themselves in front at the perfect time, right at the end of the first half through Samuel Edozie’s second goal in as many games.

Gavin Bazunu was called upon before the goal, to deny Sammie Szmodics and Callum Brittain in quick succession, and after the goal to keep out Andrew Moran, but this was a game in which Rovers were pinned back for the vast majority.

Blackburn’s challenge effectively ended with the 56th-minute dismissal of Brittain for a second yellow card, before the outstanding Stuart Armstrong sealed the victory with a calm finish nine minutes later.

Saints should have added a third from the penalty spot, but, with Adam Armstrong off the field, Carlos Alcaraz took responsibility and saw his attempted chip sail over the bar.

Instead Alcaraz’s fellow substitute Sékou Mara did find the net in stoppage time, before Alcaraz completed the rout as Saints ran out 4-0 winners.

Russell Martin made three changes to his starting line-up following Wednesday’s second successive 1-1 draw on the road.

Edozie, scorer of Saints’ midweek equaliser at Coventry, was rewarded with his first start in two months, while Flynn Downes was fit to play after illness.

Elsewhere, James Bree came into the starting line-up at right-back, meaning Kyle Walker-Peters switched to the left, as Ryan Manning, Shea Charles and Ché Adams dropped to the bench.

Saints began the game bursting with intent. Adam Armstrong was flagged offside as he tried to sneak in behind his former club, while namesake Stuart flashed a curling shot past the post that only missed the target by a matter of inches, with goalkeeper Leopold Wahlstedt rooted to the spot.

At times the Scot was Saints’ most advanced player, but he dropped deep to float a pass up Adam Armstrong, whose knockdown was thumped over by Will Smallbone.

The opening exchanges were being played exclusively in Rovers territory, as Stuart Armstrong and Bree both tried their luck from outside the box, the latter forcing a first save from Wahlstedt.

Stuart Armstrong wanted a penalty for this shirt pull in the first half

By the first half’s midpoint, Blackburn were finally enjoying a spell of possession, and a cutback to the edge of the box tempted Downes to dive in and upend Adam Wharton, inviting a first sight of goal for the Championship’s leading scorer, Szmodics.

This was a free-kick in prime position. Szmodics made it awkward for Bazunu with a low shot that kicked up in front of him, and the goalkeeper had to bravely block Britain’s follow-up when the ball ran loose off his chest.

At the other end, Wahlstedt endured an uncomfortable moment when a backpass put him under huge pressure from Adam Armstrong, always lively, who shut him down as the ball flew behind for a corner when it could have easily ended up in Wahlstedt’s net.

It seemed the collision had repercussions for the keeper, who was left needing treatment soon after.

By now Saints had resumed full control, as the half ended the way it started. The hosts’ best moment to date arrived 10 minutes before the interval when Stuart Armstrong crossed from the left for the onrushing Smallbone, who met it on the volley and guided his shot on target but could not beat Wahlstedt.

Midfielder Armstrong was continually involved. He wanted a penalty when he was pulled back by Hayden Carter, as did Downes, who was booked for protesting, but Blackburn survived.

That was until the final minute of the half, when Bree swung in his ninth corner of the game and Edozie forced it home from right in front of Wahlstedt, whose eventful first 45 came to an end by fishing the ball out of his own net.

The action resumed with Stuart Armstrong still purring. Walker-Peters, drifting infield, was twice involved in the build-up before Armstrong set his sights on the top corner and was only denied by a flying Wahlstedt save.

A rare Rovers foray culminated in a half-chance for Moran, who tested Bazunu from the edge of the box, but the visitors’ task was about to get a whole lot tougher.

Samuel Edozie claimed Saints' opener in the final minute of the first half

When Edozie tempted James Hill into conceding a free-kick near the touchline 11 minutes into the second period, Brittain booted the loose ball away for a thoroughly avoidable second yellow card.

Now it was up to Saints to cash in and kill the game, and it would take only nine minutes to take advantage of the extra man.

Smallbone slid a pass through the defence for Downes, who had made a late burst from midfield and jinked inside the last man, only to lose his footing.

Whether he was clipped or not proved immaterial when Armstrong arrived on the scene to sweep home the loose ball and give his outstanding individual performance the goal it deserved.

Mindful of the festive fixture schedule, Martin immediately turned to his bench and introduced Charles, Ryan Fraser and Jack Stephens – the latter stepping out to generous applause for his first appearance since August.

Mara threatened to score his first goal of the season when put through by fellow substitute Alcaraz but Wahlstedt was quick off his line to save at his feet, before the Frenchman was clipped from behind by Carter, prompting the award of a late penalty.

With Mara initially down receiving treatment, Alcaraz took responsibility himself but tried to be too clever with the spot-kick, and chipped the ball over Wahlstedt’s crossbar as the keeper dived to his right.

Fraser, so often Saints’ super sub, was only denied by a spectacular Wahlstedt save, capping an impressive performance from the Swedish stopper.

The winger would have to be content with an assist instead, crossing for Mara to score from close range, before Alcaraz lashed home Smallbone’s parried shot with virtually the last kick of the game.

Southampton: Bazunu, Bree, Harwood-Bellis (Stephens 66), Bednarek, Walker-Peters, Smallbone, Downes (Charles 66), Aribo, A Armstrong (c) (Mara 76), S Armstrong (Alcaraz 76), Edozie (Fraser 66).

Unused substitutes: Lumley, Holgate, Manning, Adams.

Goals: Edozie (45’), S Armstrong (65’), Mara (90+7’), Alcaraz (90+10’).

Yellow cards: Downes, Smallbone.

Blackburn: Wahlstedt, Brittain, Hill, Carter, S Wharton, Pickering, A Wharton (Travis 70), Tronstad (Leonard 58), Moran (Garrett 58), Szmodics (c), Sigurdsson.

Unused substitutes: Hilton, Gamble, Hyam, Gilsenan, Markanday, Ennis.

Yellow cards: Brittain, Szmodics.

Red card: Brittain (56’)

Referee: Graham Scott

Attendance: 27,646