1993–94 Southampton F.C. season

The 1993–94 Southampton F.C. season was the club's second in the Premier League, and their 24th season in the top division of English football. Having narrowly avoided relegation from the newly formed league the previous season, the club were looking to improve their performances in order to remain in the top flight for another year. For the second year in a row, Southampton finished 18th in the league, again just one point above the relegation zone. They also reached the third round of the FA Cup, and the second round of the League Cup.

Southampton F.C.
1993–94 season
ChairmanGuy Askham
ManagerIan Branfoot
(until January 1994)
Alan Ball
(from January 1994)
StadiumThe Dell
FA Premier League18th
FA CupThird Round
League CupSecond Round
Top goalscorerLeague:
Matthew Le Tissier (25)

All:
Matthew Le Tissier (25)
Highest home attendance19,105 vs Blackburn Rovers (16 April 1994)
Lowest home attendanceLeague:
9,028 vs Ipswich Town
(8 December 1993)
Overall:
5,038 vs Shrewsbury Town
(22 September 1993)
Average home league attendanceLeague: 14,751
Overall: 14,169

The club brought in a number of players throughout the season to try and bolster the squad – defenders Simon Charlton and Paul McDonald were transferred during the 1993 summer transfer window, followed by midfielders Paul Allen and Peter Reid, and goalkeeper Dave Beasant, later in the year. After Christmas Southampton also enlisted the services of striker Craig Maskell, midfielder Jim Magilton, and winger Neil Heaney. Tim Flowers was sold to Blackburn Rovers in November 1993 for £2 million, while Glenn Cockerill, Paul Moody and Micky Adams all departed too.

Halfway through the season, on 10 January 1994, Southampton manager Ian Branfoot was dismissed from his position at the club. At the time, the club were placed second from bottom in the Premier League table, with just five wins from a total of 24 matches. Former Saints midfielder Alan Ball was appointed as Branfoot's replacement, and made an instant impact by leading the team to three wins out of the next four matches, and eventually to safety in the Premier League. He would remain with Southampton for the following season, and left in 1995.

At the end of the season Southampton finished 18th in the Premier League table with 12 wins, 7 draws and 23 losses, just two positions and one point above the relegation zone. Matthew Le Tissier was the club's top scorer with 25 goals in the league, making him the third best goalscorer in the league that season. Le Tissier also won the Southampton Player of the Season award, joining Peter Shilton and Tim Flowers as a second winner of the accolade. At the end of the season, striker Lee Powell was released from the club.

FA Premier League

Southampton's start to the second Premier League season was one of the worst in the league, with the club losing eight out of their first nine games. In the other match the Saints picked up their best win of the season, overcoming Swindon Town 5–1, with Matthew Le Tissier scoring two goals. The team improved throughout October and November, picking up 11 points from a total of 21 in a seven-match period, including tight home wins over Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur, and a 2–0 win at Aston Villa. During this period, Le Tissier continued to increase his scoring record by netting six more times for Southampton.

Following this positive run of results, Southampton had dropped back into the relegation zone by Christmas when they lost five games in a row, scoring just one goal overall. In the three matches immediately after Christmas, the club beat Chelsea 3–1, drew 1–1 with Manchester City, and lost 0–1 to Norwich City, after which chairman Guy Askham dismissed manager Ian Branfoot and replaced him with former Saints midfielder Alan Ball.

With Ball in charge fortunes appeared to change, as Southampton won four of their next five games, the only loss coming against Oldham Athletic. During this period, Matthew Le Tissier scored at least once in every match, including a hat-trick against Liverpool. Thanks to those wins, by the end of February the Saints were up to 17th in the table, their highest position that season. The run didn't last long however, as the side went seven matches without a win between 5 March and 9 April 1994, including a 0–4 loss against Arsenal at The Dell.

Southampton saved their Premier League place in the final month of the season, winning three and drawing one to pull themselves up to 18th in the table, the same position as the season before. The first win was a dramatic 5–4 victory over Norwich City, in which Le Tissier scored his second hat-trick of the season. The second win came against Blackburn Rovers, to whom the Saints had in recent times sold both star striker Alan Shearer and mainstay goalkeeper Tim Flowers, and the third win was the second of the season over Aston Villa, which Southampton won 4–1. The final match of the season saw the Hampshire side sharing the spoils with West Ham United in a dramatic 3–3 draw at the Boleyn Ground, which meant they dropped down from 17th to 18th in the final Premier League standings.

14 August 1993 1Southampton0–2EvertonSouthampton
Beagrie  10'
Ebbrell  45'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 14,051
Referee: Keith Cooper
17 August 1993 2Ipswich Town1–0SouthamptonIpswich
Marshall  58' Stadium: Portman Road
Attendance: 14,958
Referee: Alan Wilkie
21 August 1993 3Queens Park Rangers2–1SouthamptonLondon
Penrice  13'
Wilson  46' (pen.)
Dowie  88' Stadium: Loftus Road
Attendance: 10,613
Referee: Roger Dilkes
25 August 1993 4Southampton5–1Swindon TownSouthampton
Le Tissier  12', 50'
Kenna  56'
Dowie  62'
Maddison  79'
Maskell  83' (pen.) Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 12,505
Referee: Paul Durkin
28 August 1993 5Southampton1–3Manchester UnitedSouthampton
Maddison  12' Sharpe  5'
Cantona  15'
Irwin  49'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 16,189
Referee: Alan Gunn
31 August 1993 6Wimbledon1–0SouthamptonLondon
Barton  34' Stadium: Selhurst Park
Attendance: 6,036
Referee: Keith Hackett
11 September 1993 7Southampton0–2Leeds UnitedSouthampton
Deane  50'
Speed  90'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 13,511
Referee: Keith Burge
18 September 1993 8Sheffield Wednesday2–0SouthamptonSheffield
Sheridan  58' (pen.)
Hirst  80'
Stadium: Hillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 22,503
Referee: Rodger Gifford
25 September 1993 9Arsenal1–0SouthamptonLondon
Merson  45' Stadium: Arsenal Stadium
Attendance: 26,902
Referee: Kelvin Morton
2 October 1993 10Southampton3–3Sheffield UnitedSouthampton
Monkou  29'
Maddison  53'
Kenna  77'
Falconer  72'
Flo  80', 90'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 11,619
Referee: Graham Poll
16 October 1993 11Coventry City1–1SouthamptonCoventry
Babb  87' Charlton  56' Stadium: Highfield Road
Attendance: 9,837
Referee: Joe Worrall
24 October 1993 12Southampton2–1Newcastle UnitedSouthampton
Le Tissier  62', 87' Cole  72' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 13,804
Referee: Philip Don
30 October 1993 13Liverpool4–2SouthamptonLiverpool
Fowler  14', 29', 85'
Rush  63'
Le Tissier  40', 79' Stadium: Anfield
Attendance: 32,818
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
6 November 1993 14Southampton1–0Tottenham HotspurSouthampton
Maddison  60' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 16,017
Referee: David Allison
20 November 1993 15Blackburn Rovers2–0SouthamptonBlackburn
Shearer  24' (pen.), 77' Stadium: Ewood Park
Attendance: 17,434
Referee: Keith Cooper
24 November 1993 16Aston Villa0–2SouthamptonBirmingham
Le Tissier  50', 62' Stadium: Villa Park
Attendance: 16,180
Referee: Kelvin Morton
29 November 1993 17Southampton0–2West Ham UnitedSouthampton
Morley  30'
Chapman  38'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 13,258
Referee: Martin Bodenham
4 December 1993 18Everton1–0SouthamptonLiverpool
Cottee  35' Stadium: Goodison Park
Attendance: 13,265
Referee: Keith Burge
8 December 1993 19Southampton0–1Ipswich TownSouthampton
Kiwomya  54' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 9,028
Referee: Gerald Ashby
11 December 1993 20Southampton0–1Queens Park RangersSouthampton
Ferdinand  2' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 11,946
Referee: Keren Barratt
18 December 1993 21Swindon Town2–1SouthamptonSwindon
Bodin  11'
Scott  65'
Le Tissier  38' Stadium: County Ground
Attendance: 13,565
Referee: David Elleray
27 December 1993 22Southampton3–1ChelseaSouthampton
Widdrington  28'
Dowie  65'
Bennett  89'
Stein  42' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 14,221
Referee: Paul Durkin
28 December 1993 23Manchester City1–1SouthamptonManchester
Phelan  29' Dowie  26' Stadium: Maine Road
Attendance: 24,712
Referee: Alan Wilkie
1 January 1994 24Southampton0–1Norwich CitySouthampton
Sutton  45' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 16,556
Referee: Graham Poll
15 January 1994 25Southampton1–0Coventry CitySouthampton
Le Tissier  44' (pen.) Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 12,397
Referee: Philip Don
22 January 1994 26Newcastle United1–2SouthamptonNewcastle
Cole  38' Maddison  5'
Le Tissier  83'
Stadium: St James' Park
Attendance: 32,067
Referee: Alan Gunn
5 February 1994 27Oldham Athletic2–1SouthamptonOldham
McCarthy  33'
Bernard  38'
Le Tissier  26' Stadium: Boundary Park
Attendance: 9,982
Referee: Kelvin Morton
14 February 1994 28Southampton4–2LiverpoolSouthampton
Le Tissier  1', 42' (pen.), 50' (pen.)
Maskell  6'
Dicks  69' (pen.)
Rush  86'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 18,306
Referee: Peter Foakes
26 February 1994 29Southampton1–0WimbledonSouthampton
Le Tissier  74' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 14,790
Referee: Dermot Gallagher
5 March 1994 30Leeds United0–0SouthamptonLeeds
Stadium: Elland Road
Attendance: 30,829
Referee: Robbie Hart
12 March 1994 31Southampton1–1Sheffield WednesdaySouthampton
Monkou  78' Bart-Williams  67' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 16,391
Referee: David Crick
19 March 1994 32Southampton0–4ArsenalSouthampton
Wright  12', 30', 69' (pen.)
Campbell  85'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 16,790
Referee: David Frampton
26 March 1994 33Sheffield United0–0SouthamptonSheffield
Stadium: Bramall Lane
Attendance: 19,522
Referee: David Elleray
30 March 1994 34Southampton1–3Oldham AthleticSouthampton
Le Tissier  58' Sharp  13'
Benali  42' (o.g.)
Holden  88'
Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 14,101
Referee: Vic Callow
2 April 1994 35Chelsea2–0SouthamptonLondon
Spencer  45'
Johnsen  80'
Stadium: Stamford Bridge
Attendance: 19,801
Referee: Mike Reed
4 April 1994 36Southampton0–1Manchester CitySouthampton
Karl  88' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 16,377
Referee: Brian Hill
9 April 1994 37Norwich City4–5SouthamptonNorwich
Robins  37'
Goss  48'
Sutton  55', 63'
Ullathorne  44' (o.g.)
Le Tissier  57', 63' (pen.), 72'
Monkou  90'
Stadium: Carrow Road
Attendance: 17,150
Referee: Keith Cooper
16 April 1994 38Southampton3–1Blackburn RoversSouthampton
Dowie  28'
Allen  38'
Le Tissier  69' (pen.)
Ripley  48' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 19,105
Referee: Joe Worrall
23 April 1994 39Tottenham Hotspur3–0SouthamptonLondon
Sedgley  4'
Samways  66'
Anderton  88'
Stadium: White Hart Lane
Attendance: 25,959
Referee: Paul Durkin
30 April 1994 40Southampton4–1Aston VillaSouthampton
Le Tissier  19', 76'
Monkou  31'
Maddison  85'
Saunders  57' Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 18,803
Referee: Steve Lodge
7 May 1994 42West Ham United3–3SouthamptonLondon
Williamson  11'
Allen  62'
Chapman  89'
Le Tissier  45', 65' (pen.)
Maddison  52'
Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Attendance: 26,952
Referee: Gerald Ashby
Round123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233343536373839404142
GroundHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
ResultLLLWLLLLLDDWLWLWLLLLLWDLWWLWWDDLLLLLWWLWLD
Position172022181919202121212120212020192021212121202021201819171718181818202121201919171718
Source: statto.com
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
16 Manchester City 42 9 18 15 38 49 11 45
17 Everton 42 12 8 22 42 63 21 44
18 Southampton 42 12 7 23 49 66 17 43
19 Ipswich Town 42 9 16 17 35 58 23 43
20 Sheffield United (R) 42 8 18 16 42 60 18 42 Relegation to the Football League First Division
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated.

FA Cup

As a Premier League club, Southampton entered the 1993–94 FA Cup in the Third Round. They were drawn against Second Division side Port Vale, who defeated the Saints 1–0 in the replay following a 1–1 draw in which Iain Dowie scored.

8 January 1994 Round 3Southampton1–1Port ValeSouthampton
Dowie Porter Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 11,086
18 January 1994 Round 3 ReplayPort Vale1–0SouthamptonStoke-on-Trent
Unknown Stadium: Vale Park
Attendance: 12,042

League Cup

As a Premier League club, Southampton entered the 1993–94 Football League Cup in the Second Round. They were drawn against Third Division side Shrewsbury Town, who defeated the Saints 2–0 in the second leg after Southampton's 1–0 first leg victory.

22 September 1993 Round 2 Leg 1Southampton1–0Shrewsbury TownSouthampton
Moore Stadium: The Dell
Attendance: 5,038
6 October 1993 Round 2 Leg 2Shrewsbury Town2–0SouthamptonShrewsbury
Unknown Stadium: Gay Meadow
Attendance: 5,247

Squad statistics

No. Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total Discipline
Apps. Goals Apps. Goals Apps. Goals Apps. Goals
1 GK Dave Beasant 250 20 00 270 10
2 DF Jeff Kenna 40(1)2 10 10 42(1)2 40
4 MF Jim Magilton 150 00 00 150 00
5 DF Richard Hall 40 00 10 50 00
6 DF Ken Monkou 354 20 10 384 50
7 MF Matthew Le Tissier 3825 20 00 4025 50
8 FW Craig Maskell 6(4)1 00 00 6(4)1 00
9 FW Iain Dowie 395 21 20 436 80
10 MF Neil Maddison 417 20 20 457 20
11 DF Francis Benali 34(3)0 10 20 37(3)0 31
12 MF Neil Heaney 20 00 00 20 00
13 GK Ian Andrews 50 00 00 50 00
14 DF Simon Charlton 29(4)1 10 10 31(4)1 10
15 DF Jason Dodd 5(5)0 20 00 7(5)0 10
16 FW Nicky Banger 4(10)0 0(1)0 0(1)0 4(12)0 10
17 DF Kevin Moore 140 10 21 171 00
18 DF Steve Wood 270 10 1(1)0 29(1)0 20
19 DF Paul McDonald 00 00 00 00 00
21 MF Tommy Widdrington 111 20 00 131 20
22 DF Matthew Bound 10 00 00 10 00
23 GK Neil Hopper 00 00 00 00 00
24 FW Frankie Bennett 0(8)1 0(1)0 10 1(9)1 00
25 MF Neal Bartlett 4(3)0 00 0(1)0 4(4)0 00
26 FW Lee Powell 10 00 00 10 00
27 MF Paul Allen 29(3)1 20 20 33(3)1 50
29 MF David Hughes 0(2)0 00 00 0(2)0 00
30 FW Colin Cramb 0(1)0 00 00 0(1)0 00
Players with appearances who left before the end of the season
1 GK Tim Flowers 120 00 20 140 00
3 DF Micky Adams 17(2)0 10 10 19(2)0 20
4 MF Terry Hurlock 20 00 00 20 10
8 MF Glenn Cockerill 12(2)0 1(1)0 00 13(3)0 00
20 FW Paul Moody 3(2)0 00 10 4(2)0 00
28 MF Peter Reid 70 00 10 00 80

Most appearances

Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
Starts Subs Starts Subs Starts Subs Starts Subs Total
1 MF Neil Maddison 410 20 20 45045
2 FW Iain Dowie 390 20 20 43043
DF Jeff Kenna 401 10 10 42143
4 FW Matthew Le Tissier 380 20 00 40040
DF Francis Benali 343 10 20 37340
6 DF Ken Monkou 350 20 10 38038
7 MF Paul Allen 293 20 20 33336
8 DF Simon Charlton 294 10 10 31435
9 DF Steve Wood 270 10 11 29130
10 GK Dave Beasant 250 20 00 27027

Top goalscorers

Pos. Nat. Name League FA Cup League Cup Total
1 FW Matthew Le Tissier 25 0 0 25
2 MF Neil Maddison 7 0 0 7
3 FW Iain Dowie 5 1 0 6
4 DF Ken Monkou 4 0 0 4
5 DF Jeff Kenna 2 0 0 2
6 FW Craig Maskell 1 0 0 1
DF Simon Charlton 1 0 0 1
MF Tommy Widdrington 1 0 0 1
FW Frankie Bennett 1 0 0 1
MF Paul Allen 1 0 0 1
DF Kevin Moore 0 0 1 1

Transfers

Players transferred in
Date Pos. Name Club Fee
8 June 1993 DF Simon Charlton Huddersfield Town £250,000
8 June 1993 DF Paul McDonald Hamilton Academical £75,000
8 June 1993 FW Colin Cramb Hamilton Academical £60,000
16 September 1993 MF Paul Allen Tottenham Hotspur £500,000
1 October 1993 MF Peter Reid Manchester City Free
4 November 1993 GK Dave Beasant Chelsea £300,000
7 February 1994 FW Craig Maskell Swindon Town £250,000
11 February 1994 MF Jim Magilton Oxford United £600,000
22 March 1994 MF Neil Heaney Arsenal £300,000
Players transferred out
Date Pos. Name Club Fee
4 November 1993 GK Tim Flowers Blackburn Rovers £2,400,000
10 December 1993 MF Glenn Cockerill Leyton Orient Free
2 February 1994 MF Peter Reid Notts County Free
19 February 1994 FW Paul Moody Oxford United £60,000
24 March 1994 MF Martin Thomas Leyton Orient Free
24 March 1994 DF Micky Adams Stoke City Free
Players released
Date Pos. Name Subsequent club Join date
31 May 1993 MF Perry Groves None (retirement)
31 May 1993 FW David Speedie Leicester City 1 August 1993
1 March 1994 MF Terry Hurlock Millwall 2 March 1994

References

  • "Southampton results: 1993/94". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  • "Southampton squad details: 1993/94". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  • "Southampton transfers: 1993/94". Soccerbase. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  • "Southampton 1993-1994: Home". statto.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  • "Southampton 1993-1994: Results". statto.com. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  • "Southampton football club match record: 1994". 11v11.com. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  • "All Southampton football club players: 1994". 11v11.com. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
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