This new Southampton team that was in the 3rd tier only a few seasons ago has proved

to be the team to over perform so far this season. The Saints have far exceeded all expectations this season and their high pressing nature has cause a lot of teams problems. The high pressing nature is to make the back four nervous and play the ball horizontally forcing mistakes. The best way to overcome Southampton is to play the long ball and the points dropped this season have come against Sunderland, Norwich, est !am, Stoke and "anchester #nited, the key similarity between these teams is the ability to play a successful long ball. The key to their success also derives from their ability to win the ball in the air once the opposition have played it long, $onte %&'.()*, +ovren %,3.-)*, anyama %&..')* and Schneiderlin %&'./)* have shown to be difficult to beat in the air with a successful aerial duel rates %percentage of aerial duels won*. The consistency of their starting 01 %2oruc, $onte, +ovren, anyama and Schneiderlin have all played '..) of league games* has helped the Saints %goalkeeper, centre backs and holding midfielders* keep a good defensive record. The 3nglish trio of +ambert, 4odriguez and +allana have been the ma5or source of goals from open play and therefore the ma5or reason 3 points have been won and inevitably their position in the league.