Southampton ease past struggling Sheffield United in 3-0 win

Che Adams and Stuart Armstrong struck either side of half-time to lift Southampton to a 3-0 Premier League win over Sheffield United on Sunday.

Nathan Redmond then ended his run without a goal as he made it a comprehensive victory, scoring three minutes and seven seconds after his introduction.

The 2,000 spectators, who were welcomed back to St Mary’s Stadium for the first time since March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, were treated to one-way traffic against relegation threatened United.

Southampton, meanwhile, are flying high in the table with the win bringing them up into third place ahead of the afternoon kickoffs on 23 points from their opening 12 games.

Adams gave Saints a deserved lead in the 34th minute when he was the benefactor of a poor clearance, latching onto Jan Bednarek’s header back into the box before swinging his right-footed through the ball for the opening goal.

A toothless United had their best opportunity of the match right before falling behind, but Sander Berge could only roll his free attempt inside the box well wide of the post.

Armstrong doubled the lead shortly after the hour mark after Danny Ings played the winger into space and he struck a left-footed shot that deflected off a defender and past a flat-footed Aaron Ramsdale.

James Ward-Prowse came close to adding to his tally of free-kick goals, but he wheeled away with his hands over his face after flying just over the bar with Saints searching for more.

It was Redmond, however, who stepped off the bench and turned in a right-footed shot from inside the box that made it 3-0 seven minutes from full-time.

Southampton (4-4-2): McCarthy; Bertrand, Vestergaard, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Walcott (Redmond 79), Romeu (Diallo), Ward-Prowse, Armstrong; Adams (N’Lundulu), Ings

Unused subs: Forster, Stephens, Djenepo, Salisu

Goals: Adams (34), Armstrong (62), Redmond (83)

Bookings: None

Sheffield United (5-3-2): Ramsdale; Stevens, Jagielka, Egan, Basham (Mousset 70), Baldock; Fleck, Ampadu, Berge; Sharp (Brewster 70), McBurnie (McGoldrick 46)

Unused subs: Osborn, Robinson, Lundstram, Verrips

Goals: None

Bookings: Stevens (28)