Saturday 21 October 2017 21:24, UK
Mauricio Pellegrino saluted a "beautiful" goal from Sofiane Boufal after he scored a superb winner for Southampton against West Brom on Saturday.
Substitute Boufal left six players in his wake, three of them on their backsides, before sliding the ball home for a truly memorable strike to secure a 1-0 victory.
"I think it was a beautiful goal, one of the most beautiful goals of this season," said Saints boss Pellegrino.
It was going to take a moment of supreme quality to settle an otherwise drab affair, with Boufal's strike giving Southampton their second home win of the season.
With the visitors exhibiting a lack of ambition, Southampton had to take the initiative and were rewarded with a wonder goal five minutes from time.
Boufal, who has started only one game this season and had only come on four minutes earlier, spun away from two West Brom players deep inside his own half.
He then skipped past Jake Livermore, slipped between Allan Nyom and Craig Dawson as the duo ran into each other - then stepped around Gareth McAuley and curled the ball past Ahmed Hegazi inside the far post.
"It changed the game because it was a difficult game, but the most important thing was we deserved the win," added Pellegrino.
"We were better than them in my opinion and we dominated the game. I am happy for Sofiane."
Boufal's goal was only his third for Saints since joining in 2016, and he celebrated it by running in front of his manager.
"Most of my players needs to play. All of them," said Pellegrino. ""Most of them deserve to play but this is a team sport and in a team sport you have to wait for your opportunity and you have to work for that.
"I am happy for Sofiane. I am happy for my players because we needed this three points. Hopefully this action can change more or less and have more minutes."
