Southampton vs Swansea City match report: Virgil van Dijk sets up Saints win with first Premier League goal

Southampton 3 Swansea City 1

Virgil van Dijk leaps highest to head home for Southampton (Getty Images)

Ronald Koeman showed just how tough he is to please by criticising his Southampton players following a convincing win over Swansea.

The Saints’ perfectionist manager rapped his players for giving Swansea a glimmer of hope through Gylfi Sigurdsson’s late penalty.

“I’m satisfied with three points, but maybe it was not the best game of the season clinical-wise,” said Koeman. “We didn’t create a lot of chances but we scored three times. But the performance was not very good, there were a lot of mistakes in possession. Swansea had some good chances, free shots.

“It’s not easy to win against Swansea, but we have to control the game better than we did.”

Koeman’s verdict seemed harsh given the ease with which they swept aside a poor Swansea.

Virgil van Dijk, the £13million deadline-day signing from Celtic, powered in a header from James Ward-Prowse’s corner to give them an 11th-minute lead.

Dusan Tadic doubled the advantage shortly after half-time when he latched onto Graziano Pelle’s clever ball and his angled shot was deflected in.

Ronald Koeman showed just how tough he is to please by criticising his Southampton players following a convincing win over Swansea.

The Saints’ perfectionist manager rapped his players for giving Swansea a glimmer of hope through Gylfi Sigurdsson’s late penalty.

“I’m satisfied with three points, but maybe it was not the best game of the season clinical-wise,” said Koeman. “We didn’t create a lot of chances but we scored three times. But the performance was not very good, there were a lot of mistakes in possession. Swansea had some good chances, free shots.

“It’s not easy to win against Swansea, but we have to control the game better than we did.”

Koeman’s verdict seemed harsh given the ease with which they swept aside a poor Swansea.

Sadio Mane tangles with Andre Ayew (Getty Images)

Virgil van Dijk, the £13million deadline-day signing from Celtic, powered in a header from James Ward-Prowse’s corner to give them an 11th-minute lead.

Dusan Tadic doubled the advantage shortly after half-time when he latched onto Graziano Pelle’s clever ball and his angled shot was deflected in.

Mané then grabbed his third goal in a week, following his double in the 6-0 Capital One Cup romp at MK Dons, with a fine strike from 20 yards.

Swansea got their consolation in the 82nd minute, Jose Fonte chopping down Neil Taylor and Sigurdsson scoring from the spot, but Garry Monk had good reason to lay into his players.

“It was very disappointing,” said the Swans boss. “That’s two away games, where we have been well below our usual standards.

“We are making uncharacteristic decisions and individual errors. They deserved to win but I don’t think they played us off the park, it’s down to us not being at the right standard. We’ve shown the levels we can reach this season.”

PA