Chapter 20
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Translator: Silver Dragon
Chapter: 20
Chapter Title: Southampton Falls, Blackburn Lives.
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34th round, away at Southampton.
Hampshire's Southampton. We'd arrived at The Dell.
It was so cramped it hardly felt like a Premier League stadium. Still, they were planning a new 32,000-seat arena.
"Sorry, but your new stadium's opening in the second division."
In this do-or-die relegation showdown, I settled into the VIP seats and scanned the Southampton lineup.
Veteran striker Mark Hughes, pondering retirement at season's end.
Along with solid players like James Beattie, Wayne Bridge, and Garry Monk.
Premier League clubs can't handle those fat contracts after relegation, so most squads bolt. Today, we'd plunder these treasure goblins from Southampton for all they were worth.
Beep-
The match kicked off. I watched Yoo Sung-chul starting at right back instead of wing, paired up top with Ian Wright and Kevin Davies.
The matchup with James Beattie felt oddly poetic.
One a Blackburn youth product turned Southampton star. On our side, Kevin Davies—another Southampton alum Jack Walker had shelled out big for, an explosive prospect.
The forwards clashed. Kevin won the physical duel and fed it straight to Duff.
"That's it!"
Duff blew past with his signature quick dribble. Ian, Davies, and Wilcox lurked central.
Who'd get the tap-in? Southampton players leaped to block the cross—but Duff drove on himself.
"Huh?!"
He charged with clear intent to score, blasting toward keeper Paul Jones's near post. The net rippled.
"Goal!!!!!"
First blood at the 22nd minute.
Duff settled it solo, basking in the cheers before taunting the Southampton stands with his celebration.
Great vibe.
Just keep this up.
But Southampton came roaring back on the attack.
Manager Dave Jones bellowed from the touchline for fire with fire. The tiny stadium amplified his voice all the way here.
"Keep pushing! This ain't wrapping up in one or two goals."
In the Saints' blistering counter, Martin Taylor let one slip.
"Damn it!"
We conceded the equalizer in no time.
Chris Marsden coolly mocked the Blackburn away end as the score tied at 1:1.
Ten minutes of back-and-forth ensued before another chance.
Yoo lofted a long cross. Kevin Davies leaped like a gymnast for the header.
Kwang!
Off the post. Chaos erupted in the box as Saints defenders and our attackers scrapped.
Southampton's James Dodd tried to clear, but Gattuso flung himself to deflect it. The ball rolled to one of our defenders pushed upfield.
It bounced wildly. Flailing Paul Jones spilled it.
Goal!
"How the hell does that go in? Haha!"
Pure comedy gold—a scrappy mess showing what chaos goals are made of.
Our entire defense surged forward, hacking and bouncing amid the frenzy. Stepping in for Henchoz today, Darren Hiccox poked it home after a couple ricochets.
A central defender trekking to the opp box for a slapstick finish—rare sight.
We looked set to take a 2:1 lead into halftime. But in stoppage time—three minutes added—Wilcox burst forward, linking with Duff into the box.
"Wha—?!"
Third goal.
A wild 3:1 half. Goals galore today.
The Blackburn locker room echoed with Kenny Dalglish's fired-up rallying cry.
"Brilliant work! But no getting cocky. We're away here—goals can come anytime. Widen the gap while we can!"
The gaffer spoke, then Van Basten and Brian Kidd chimed in on the attack.
"Kevin! That big frame's for smashing defenders. Header miss? Drop it to the runners below. Stay aggressive!"
"Taylor, ease off the risky tackles. Your boots keep flying at their studs."
Tailored advice given, the second half kicked off on the pitch.
Beep-
End-to-end stuff. Both sides all-out attack.
Duff and Wilcox probing, Saints blocking.
Hughes and Marsden countered, our backline holding.
Then Gattuso got turned.
"What?!"
Partner Marcolini scrambled after, but the long ball found their winger.
The winger carried, then crossed central.
The 36-year-old ex-Ferguson protégé—once United legend—unleashed vintage leap power. Net bulged.
Goal!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
15,000 Southampton fans went berserk for the comeback.
"Snap out of it!"
Wilcox roared at the defense amid the 3-2 chase.
Now we had to cling to that one-goal edge.
With our abysmal half-time goals against, goal difference was a lost cause anyway.
Forget defense—pile on attacks, rack up points.
That mindset in play, Yoo retied his laces and charged.
Blackburn's bench buzzed: Martin Taylor off, Henchoz on.
We steadied post-sub. But home momentum swung. Endless shots, and we leaked another.
Chwaaak-
To Eastern European striker Marian Pahars.
Our 3-1 party turned 3-3 nightmare by the 85th.
"F***!"
"Damn it!"
Gattuso and Wilcox cursed. Right back Yoo sprinted left to cover, but watched helpless as it sailed in.
85th-minute leveler.
Blackburn Rovers' morale plummeted. Heads dropped.
Except for one.
"Lads, heads up! No loose change on the pitch."
"!?"
Team's elder statesman striker Ian Wright gathered them.
"Game ain't over. Ten minutes left."
Up for the attack, he urged the squad:
"Mark Hughes bags one? Gotta match my mate. Trust me, lads."
'63-born vets. Ian saw Hughes's wondergoal and refused to yield, loosening up.
Dalglish's final throw: 86th minute, Kevin Davies off, Ashley Ward on.
"Ryu."
"Y-yeah?"
"Pass and run."
"!"
Ian barking the kickoff plan: pass forward and sprint.
Yoo central. Amid peak 3-3 jeers from Southampton fans, kickoff.
Tuk-
As instructed, Yoo bolted alongside Ian.
Full ninety breathing fire, thighs screaming—but for the team, he pushed.
Wilcox and Duff flanked wide, spent from endless dribbles, knees clutched often. But now? Just run.
Gattuso trailed for counter cover.
Saints, sensing the press, swarmed two-per-man post-kickoff.
Tight zonal on flanks, fortress center.
Ian dribbled, then chipped up.
Tuk-
"!?"
Ball to Yoo's feet. He spun from charging Saints defenders.
Wilcox signaled desperately right. Yoo lashed it long without hesitation.
Pung-
Ashley Ward synced with Wilcox's run, snatching it as the skipper stalled outside the box.
Central man wide aiding wing, receives, cuts central.
Three Saints blocking. Ward chips desperately for the line...
"Mine! Mine!!!"
Yoo's frantic yell. Ward instantly fed it.
Back to Yoo. Two Saints dove tandem at his legs and ball...
Tuk-
Yoo slipped it to trailing Gattuso.
The charging Blackburn Asian's backheel blindsided the pair—they spotted Gattuso late.
"Hmph!"
Gattuso barreled like a bull, eyeing one marker, and smashed it.
Pung-
Ambiguous lob—cross or long shot? Amid bulky Saints rears, an acrobatic black forward soared.
Ball met Ian Wright's head, spinning viciously.
Chulung-
91st-minute Blackburn header.
15,000 at The Dell froze in an instant.
Beep-
"We won! We won!"
What a heart-stopper. Final whistle.
4:3. Blackburn toppled Southampton.
After Middlesbrough-Arsenal, today's Saints win added three points—now at 40, 14th.
Southampton: 31 points, 19th.
Barring our total collapse or miracle Saints runs from the bottom three, we're safe.
"Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Chicken party tonight, lads!"
Felt like we'd crested 80% out of relegation hell.