Southampton are second to Frank Lampard in one key area - But Will Still must sort major issue | OneFootball

The Saints have been creating plenty of chances, but have yet to make many of them count this season

For Southampton and Will Still, it's not been the start of the season that either party would have planned out.

The Saints have won just once in the league so far in the 2025/26 campaign, and that victory needed two stoppage-time goals on opening day at home to beat newly-promoted Wrexham.

Since then, it's been three draws and two defeats in five, including one concerning loss last time out against a Hull City side who, despite being entertaining going forward, haven't been the best defensive side, yet it took Southampton until stoppage time there to net the consolation in the 3-1 loss.

Ultimately, their current 19th-placed position and lack of positive results haven't truly been for the lack of trying, as the Saints have been one of the better sides at creating quality goalscoring chances in the infancy of the Championship season.

For Will Still, it's about turning these golden opportunities into goals, and you feel it'll only be a matter of time before Southampton are back towards the right end of the table.

Will Still's Southampton have been wasteful in front of goal so far this season

According to Fotmob, Southampton have created the second-highest expected goals so far this season. Only Frank Lampard's free-scoring Coventry City have averaged more, but only by 0.3 through the opening six games.

Therefore, despite the closeness in their xG ranks, the fact that the Sky Blues have scored over double the number of goals of Will Still's side will be a slight concern.

The Saints top the average possession charts, are eighth in big chances created, fourth in crosses per match and third in touches in the opposition box. They're doing everything right when it comes to creating chances, but the 1.2 goals per match they are scoring places them slap bang in mid-table when compared to other Championship sides.

Granted, these numbers will be skewed slightly in their win against Wrexham, where they generated 4.14 of their total xG over a whopping 27 shots, but they've managed to create over one xG in all but one of their other five games, too. The only time they didn't was in their 1-1 draw with fellow former Premier League side Ipswich Town.

So, how do Southampton improve their league standing? Tightening up at the back will help, as their 8.6 expected goals against lands them in the top ten of the league so far, and going forward, it's about taking those chances when they come. The good thing for Will Still is that the Saints have several players who can do that.

Patience will be the key for Southampton

Southampton's strikers have simply not been playing to the tune that Championship fans expect of them. Throughout the opening six games, left-back Ryan Manning is the only Saints player to score more than once in league action.

Currently, both Adam Armstrong and Cameron Archer, Southampton's two main strikers, have one apiece, despite averaging close to two xG, and Damion Downes is currently scoreless, despite totalling 1.3 xG.

Further down that list, Ross Stewart, who has played just shy of 70 total minutes of league action this season, has over half an expected goal too, and Championship fans know that when fit, the 29-year-old is a lethal second-tier finisher.

Ultimately, it's about waiting for these frontmen to turn these chances into goals, which people know that they can do, and in Armstrong, Archer and Stewart's cases, have seen them do so in this division in the past.

And Southampton have a plethora of wide men and creative midfielders behind them who can provide those opportunities, such as Tom Fellows, Finn Azaz, Ryan Fraser, and then Ryan Manning from further back, too.

So, the ingredients are there for the Saints' frontline to be a dangerous one in this division — right now, it's about finding a way to put it all together.