page_title: 2016–17 Southampton F.C. season
section_title: November–December 2016
hierarchical_section_title: 2016–17 Southampton F.C. season / Premier League / November–December 2016
caption_attribution_description: Pre-season friendly Wednesday 2 August 2017 Image by Lewis Commons
context_page_description: The 2016–17 Southampton F.C. season was the club's 18th season in the Premier League and their 40th in the top division of English football. In addition to the 2016–17 Premier League, the club also competed in the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Europa League. The season was the club's only campaign with manager Claude Puel, who took over from Ronald Koeman on 30 June 2016. The club finished eighth in the Premier League table, having won twelve, drawn ten and lost sixteen of their 38 matches played. They were knocked out of the UEFA Europa League at the group stage, having won two, drawn two and lost two of their matches, and the FA Cup in the fourth round, while they finished as runners-up in the EFL Cup Final losing 3–2 to Manchester United.
  Following the end of the 2015–16 season, Southampton released goalkeeper Will Britt, midfielder Gastón Ramírez and defender Josh Debayo, while veteran goalkeeper Kelvin Davis retired. The club also sold striker Juanmi to Real Sociedad, midfielder Victor Wanyama to Tottenham Hotspur, winger Sadio Mané to Liverpool, striker Graziano Pellè to Shandong Luneng, defender Bevis Mugabi to Yeovil Town, and defender Jordan Turnbull to Coventry City.
context_section_description: On 6 November, Southampton lost 2–1 at the struggling Hull City. The Saints went a goal up within six minutes, when Charlie Austin scored a penalty awarded for a foul by Curtis Davies. The visitors continued to dominate throughout the rest of the first half and into the second, although the hosts equalised through Robert Snodgrass in the 61st minute. Within two minutes, Hull went 2–1 through Michael Dawson, holding on for an unlikely win. On 19 November, the club returned from another international break to face Liverpool at St Mary's, which ended in a goalless draw. Former Saints winger Sadio Mané came close to opening the scoring for the visitors twice in the first half, before Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Nathaniel Clyne also missed good chances later on, with the home side's defence playing strongly to keep Liverpool out. The following week, Southampton beat Everton (managed by former Saints boss Ronald Koeman) by a single early goal to return to tenth in the league table. Charlie Austin scored in the first minute to put the hosts ahead, converting a cross from debutant Josh Sims. Southampton continued to dominate possession and chances on goal throughout the match, with James Ward-Prowse coming closest to doubling his side's lead in the second half.
  The Saints lost 3–0 to struggling Crystal Palace in their first game of December, dropping down a place in the league table as a result. Christian Benteke opened the scoring for the home side in the 33rd minute after a poor clearance from Fraser Forster, before James Tomkins double Palace's lead just a few minutes later from close range. The visitors enjoyed the majority of possession and chances on goal, but Benteke struck again late on to secure the victory. The following week, Southampton picked up a 1–0 win over Middlesbrough at St Mary's Stadium to move up to tenth in the league table. After a first half of relatively few chances, Sofiane Boufal broke the deadlock shortly after the break with his first Premier League goal, striking from around 25 yards out. On 14 December, Southampton and Stoke City drew 0–0 at the bet365 Stadium. The hosts were reduced to ten men early on when Marko Arnautović was sent off for a high-footed challenge, but the visitors failed to take advantage and break the deadlock. Jay Rodriguez came closest to score, but missed from close range, while a shot from James Ward-Prowse was cleared off the line later on.
  On 18 December, Southampton travelled to face local rivals Bournemouth, coming from a goal behind to win 3–1 and move up to seventh in the Premier League table. Nathan Aké opened the scoring for the Cherries within six minutes, but Ryan Bertrand scored less than ten minutes later to bring the Saints level. Both sides enjoyed numerous chances to go a goal up, but it was the visitors who scored again shortly after the break, when Jay Rodriguez tapped in a chance set up by substitute Steven Davis. Southampton dominated the rest of the game, and Rodriguez scored his second of the match to seal the win late on. In their first game after Christmas, Southampton lost 4–1 to Tottenham Hotspur on 28 December. The home side opened the scoring quickly in the second minute when Virgil van Dijk headed in a free kick from James Ward-Prowse, but it was the visitors who scored next as Delle Alli scored a header from Moussa Sissoko's deflected cross. After dominating much of the rest of the first half, Spurs went ahead shortly after the break through Harry Kane, who missed a penalty a few minutes later when Alli was fouled by Nathan Redmond, who was sent off. Son Heung-min scored a third for Tottenham late on, before Alli scored his second of the game to make it four. On the final day of the year, Southampton lost at home again to West Bromwich Albion, who won 2–1. After enjoying the majority of possession in the first half, the hosts went one up through Shane Long just before half-time, although the lead was short-lived as Matt Phillips equalised just a minute later. Shortly after the break, Hal Robson-Kanu scored a second for West Brom, whic
caption: Charlie Austin scored four goals in four games between 17 September and 15 October 2016 to help Southampton move up to the top half of the table.
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