page_title: 2017–18 Southampton F.C. season
section_title: January–March 2018
hierarchical_section_title: 2017–18 Southampton F.C. season / Premier League / January–March 2018
caption_attribution_description: Image by Steve Hogg
context_page_description: The 2017–18 Southampton F.C. season was the club's 19th season in the Premier League and their 41st in the top division of English football. In addition to the Premier League, the club also competed in the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. Southampton finished 17th in the Premier League table with seven wins, 15 draws and 16 losses. They were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the second round by Championship side Wolverhampton Wanderers, and were knocked out of the semi-finals of the FA Cup by Chelsea. The season was Southampton's first and only campaign with manager Mauricio Pellegrino, who replaced Claude Puel after one season in charge on 23 June 2017. Pellegrino was fired with eight league games remaining on 12 March 2018, with the club in 17th position in the table, one point above the relegation zone. Mark Hughes, who played for the club between 1998 and 2000, was appointed as his replacement two days later.
  Following the end of the 2016–17 season, Southampton released Martín Cáceres, Lloyd Isgrove, Cuco Martina and Harley Willard.
context_section_description: In their first game of 2018, Southampton lost 2–1 to Crystal Palace. Shane Long scored his first goal since February 2017 to put the hosts up in the first half, but second-half goals from James McArthur and Luka Milivojević gave Palace the win. The club's next game, at Watford, ended in a 2–2 draw. The Saints were 2–0 up by half-time, with James Ward-Prowse scoring his first two league goals of the season before the break. Andre Gray brought a goal back for the hosts in the second half, before Watford secured a point in controversial circumstances when Abdoulaye Doucouré scored in the final minute of normal time after using his hand. The following week, Southampton hosted Tottenham Hotspur and drew 1–1. After a lot of pressure in the opening exchanges, the Saints went 1–0 up in the 15th minute when defender Davinson Sánchez turned a cross from Ryan Bertrand into his own goal. Three minutes later, however, Spurs were equal through a Harry Kane header from a corner. Jack Stephens almost scored a second for the hosts before half-time, and both chances enjoyed numerous chances to score a winner after the break, but it ended level and Southampton remained in the relegation zone. The club drew 1–1 again in their following game, at home to Brighton & Hove Albion. Glenn Murray opened the scoring with a 14th-minute penalty, after a foul by Wesley Hoedt, with Jack Stephens equalising in the second half from a James Ward-Prowse corner.
  Southampton picked up their first win in 13 games on 3 February 2018, beating bottom side West Bromwich Albion 3–2. The Baggies opened the scoring within five minutes when Ahmed Hegazi headed in a corner from Chris Brunt, but the Saints increased the pressure and dominated much of the rest of the first half. Shortly before the break, Mario Lemina scored his first goal for the club from outside the penalty area and Jack Stephens scored his third goal in as many games to put the visitors ahead. Ten minutes into the second half, James Ward-Prowse added a third from a free-kick, before Salomón Rondón pulled back a second for the hosts later on. The following week, the Saints hosted Liverpool and lost 2–0. Roberto Firmino opened the scoring in the sixth minute, after being set up by Mohamed Salah. The hosts came close to equalising on a number of occasions, but it was the visitors who struck again just before half-time, as Salah scored a goal of his own. On 24 February, Southampton drew 1–1 with Burnley at Turf Moor. Neither side mounted many challenges on goal in the first half, with the hosts opening the scoring 20 minutes into the second half courtesy of Ashley Barnes. The Saints almost scored through substitute Josh Sims but for a save by Nick Pope, before Manolo Gabbiadini scored his first goal since October in the final minute of the game to save a point for the visitors and keep them out of the relegation zone.
  On 3 March, Southampton were held to a goalless draw by Stoke City at home, dropping to 17th in the table as a result. The visitors came close to scoring at the end of the first half through Badou Ndiaye, with goalkeeper Alex McCarthy making a save from his header. The hosts had a number of chances in the second half through Josh Sims, Cédric Soares and substitute Sofiane Boufal, but were unable to convert and were held at 0–0.  The following week, on 10 March,  Southampton lost 3–0 to Newcastle United at St James' Park. Brazilian loanee Kenedy opened the scoring for the hosts within the minute of play, and scored a second in the 29th minute to double Newcastle's advantage. The visitors offered little goal threat, with only two shots on target from the Saints in the second half. Matt Ritchie scored a third for the home side after 57 minutes, wrapping up the three points in convincing style and condemning Southampton to yet another defeat. It would spell the end of Mauricio Pellegrino's tenure as Southampton manager, as he was sacked on 12 March with the club one point above the relegation zone and having won just once in 17 matches. On 14 March, former Southampton player Mark Hughes was appo
caption: Jack Stephens scored his first two goals for the club to help temporarily lift them out of the relegation zone.
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