Odemwingie sinks sorry Southampton

Southampton’s miserable return to the English top flight continued as they were beaten 2-0 by West Bromwich Albion to remain rooted to the foot of the Premier League.

Nigel Adkins’ side have won just one game this season and never looked like adding to it at The Hawthorns, as Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie punished some slack defending.

Southampton have now conceded 28 goals in their ten games, nine more than the nearest side to them in the table, Queens Park Rangers.

The South Coast club enjoyed a 27-year stint in the top flight before relegation in 2005, but with just four points to their name so far a swift return to the second tier could be on the cards.

Adkins told Sky Sports: “Our desire to defend our goal has to be better, unfortunately we’ve conceded far too many goals this season.

“We need a win, that’s without question. You’ve got to find a way to do that, to win you’ve got to score goals, that is our endeavor, to entertain supporters and score goals.

“I’m a far better manager than when I joined the club. I love being at Southampton. I believe the players are with me as well, I’m positive. It’s my responsibility to lead from the front.”

For West Brom, victory ended a run of two successive defeats – to champions Manchester City and Newcastle – and took them to fifth in the table.

Steve Clarke, in his first management role, has now presided over five wins from their six home games and had Odemwingie to thank for their latest triumph.

The Nigerian had already gone close on several occasions before he opened the scoring on 36 minutes. After appearing to control the ball with his hand, his left foot shot took a deflection off Southampton’s Maya Yoshida before finding the net.

Rickie Lambert nearly leveled the game with a precise half volley but his effort cannoned back off the crossbar.

Just over ten minutes later Odemwingie struck again, this time finishing off a swift counter attack with a precise diving header from Shane Long’s pinpoint cross.

Chris Brunt went close to a third late on as he volleyed narrowly wide from Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku’s center.

Odemwingie told Sky Sports: “This was a good response from a good team. We needed a bit of luck and it is simple, if you keep shooting you will score, we are happy with the three points.”

Meanwhile, Scotland have sacked manager Craig Levein with the national side languishing bottom of their World Cup qualifying group with two points from four matches.

Former Dundee United manager Levein has won just three of his 12 competitive matches since taking the job in 2009.

Stewart Regan, the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association said in a statement: “We are taking this decision with real sadness.

“Craig has worked hard to bring success, and has been thoroughly professional in his approach to the job. He has achieved a great deal with the team and in other areas.

“However, he would be the first to agree that football is a results-driven business. For that reason we have relieved Craig of his duties with immediate effect.”