Sky Sports make Gavin Bazunu call after Southampton's draw v Birmingham - It's sparked real debate | OneFootball

Southampton fans are not entirely convinced by Sky Sports’ decision

Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu received Sky Sports’ Man of the Match award following their 1-1 draw against Birmingham City on Monday night.

It was a point raised by Daily Echo journalist Alfie House, via his own X account, with the award sparking debate in the replies.

The Saints gloveman did make a good save, but didn’t have the busiest game altogether and was unable to keep out Phil Neumann’s header.

The award, therefore, raised plenty of eyebrows under House’s post.

Gavin Bazunu had a fairly quiet game v Birmingham

A goalkeeper receiving the Man of the Match award usually denotes a relatively dull game, or an incredible performance between the sticks, denying multiple goals for his side.

Neither criterion fits neatly here, as Bazunu made just three saves in the game, one an admittedly strong stop, tipping a powerful and well-placed Jay Stansfield effort onto the post, but another coming in the build-up to Neumann’s goal.

When the final whistle blew, Bazunu had a goals prevented rate of -0.12, part of the reason some fans were left baffled at the Sky Sports award.

“That one save from Stansfield the commentators wouldn’t stop mentioning,” one fan replied.

“For one good save and a goal he should’ve saved,” laughed another.

But not everyone was so taken aback by the choice, with fan Justin Strong saying: “Deservedly so – outstanding save from Stansfield.”

For both sides, however, the award appears to boil down to that one Stansfield save, which may well have ensured a point for the Saints.

Birmingham City’s James Beadle may have a few questions

It is even arguable that the man at the other end, James Beadle, had a better game.

He made a strong close-quarters save from a reversed Taylor Harwood-Bellis header, which looked bound for goal, one of four saves the 21-year-old made in the game.

In total, he prevented 0.53 goals at St Andrew’s on the night, clearly of greater impact than his opposing number in that metric.

Moreover, the goal he conceded involved significant controversy, after referee Matt Donohue interfered with play in the build-up to Cameron Archer’s goal, but failed to stop the game.

Gavin Bazunu’s season brings greater attention to Man of the Match award

A somewhat strange Man of the Match choice can quite easily fly under the radar elsewhere, but what likely doesn’t help Bazunu here is the season he’s having on the whole.

He’s managed just two clean sheets in the Championship so far this season, in 17 appearances, and at 62.5 per cent, has the lowest save percentage of any goalkeeper in the division.

In terms of goals prevented for the season, he stands at -5.40, only matched by Michael Cooper at Sheffield United, who has a rate of -8.40.

Given Saints fans have been watching Bazunu regularly this season, to limited impact, a Man of the Match award for a relatively routine performance has clearly proven too much for some to take.

However, it is important to point out that the Irishman is still only 23 years old, extremely young in goalkeeping terms, so while he is certainly not having his best season, he has plenty of time ahead of him.