The classy Southampton star who enjoyed West Ham win even more than Lewis Dobbin
Southampton wanted to send out a statement to the Championship when they travelled to West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.
Indeed, Finn Azaz spoke about the Saints wanting to "stamp their authority" on the division with an eye-catching win that showed they belonged in the automatic promotion race.
They pulled off just that on their travels to Nuno Espirito Santo's Hammers, as Tonda Eckert's men raced into a blistering 3-1 lead inside the first 45 minutes, before they rolled their sleeves up in the second half to collect a seriously impressive 3-2 victory.
Now, they're only three points off second placed Swansea City, who collapsed to a shocking 5-0 loss at Queens Park Rangers, while the Saints flexed their automatic promotion credentials.
Lewis Dobbin would have loved the fact that he played a key role in the 3-1 win being secured, as there would have been grumbles that he was chosen to lead the line, in the absence of an injured Cyle Larin.
But, the £9m summer recruit fought back against his critics.
Dobbin would have enjoyed the win
Of course, Dobbin would have been swept up in the glory of the win as it was a huge statement that Southampton managed to topple Nuno and Co. on their own patch.
Alongside that, he also would have been over the moon with the nature of the win on a personal level, as he has been subject to a lot of criticism, since leaving Everton behind for the Saints, for one too many anonymous displays.
Indeed, he would miss a whole host of chances during Southampton's recent 0-0 draw with Bolton Wanderers, so when he was named as the main marksman, with Larin nowhere to be seen, many would have been writing off the decision as a misfire, before a ball was even kicked.
He would respond to his critics in style, with the decisive third goal ended up being tapped home by the eager number 11, as he found himself in the right place at the right time to capitalise on some suspect Hammers defending.
It wasn't a breathtaking strike like James Bree's, but Dobbin won't care one bit, as he now finally has that monkey off his back, and he can hopefully push on to try and remove the notion that he is a £9m flop.
While the 23-year-old was noticeably beaming from ear to ear in the post-match celebrations, one of his Saints teammates would be even more ecstatic than the number 11 at the full time whistle...
The Saints star who would've enjoyed the win more than Dobbin
James Ward-Prowse costing only £800k to snap up towards the end of the summer transfer window continues to stick out as an insanely cheap bargain.
He has come back into the Saints first team fold effortlessly, with the classy midfield operator running the show at points at the London Stadium, with only seven passes all match going astray.
He didn't get on the scoresheet, but the final result would have been extremely sweet for the midfield veteran, all the same, as he ended up joining his beloved side for £800k, due to being discarded by Nuno at West Ham.
That would've given the win an extra spice for Ward-Prowse, as he proved a lot of people wrong at West Ham, who would've deemed the number 30 as being over the hill.
Instead, he is a key part of Eckert's machine, and so the final result swinging in Southampton's favour would've been doubly sweet for him, as he continues to show his worth under the German, all while shooting Nuno down.
Ward-Prowse would even admit, when speaking to the media post-match, that he wasn't going to "lie" and say the win didn't mean a lot more to him, due to his previous run-ins with the Hammers boss.
The revitalised number 30 will be looking to start again on Halloween when QPR come to St. Mary's, alongside another enlivened first-team figure in Dobbin, as the Saints continue to chase after those top two positions.
