| 2015–16 season | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chairman | Ralph Krueger | |||
| Manager | Ronald Koeman | |||
| Stadium | St Mary's Stadium | |||
| Premier League | 6th | |||
| FA Cup | Third round | |||
| League Cup | Fifth round | |||
| UEFA Europa League | Play-off round | |||
| Top goalscorer | League: Graziano Pellè Sadio Mané (11 each) All: Sadio Mané (15) | |||
| Highest home attendance | 31,688 vsChelsea (27 February 2016) | |||
| Lowest home attendance | 28,399 vsWatford (13 January 2016) | |||
| Average home league attendance | 30,750[1] | |||
The2015–16Southampton F.C. season was the club's 17th season in thePremier League and their 39th in the top division ofEnglish football.[2][3] It was also the club's first season in aEuropean competition since2003–04.[4] Southampton finished the season in sixth place in the Premier League, having won 18, drawn 9 and lost 11 of their 38 matches.[5] This result is the highest club finish in the Premier League and the highest Premier League points total (63) in the club's history.[6] Aside from the league, the club was eliminated from the third round of theFA Cup,[7] the fifth round of theLeague Cup,[8] and the qualifying play-off round of theUEFA Europa League.[9]
Following the end of the2014–15 campaign, Southampton released seven first team players.[10][11] The club also sold right-backNathaniel Clyne toLiverpool,[12] midfielderMorgan Schneiderlin toManchester United,[13] and strikerEmmanuel Mayuka to French sideMetz.[14] Three players were sent out on season-long loans toFootball League sides –Sam Gallagher toMilton Keynes Dons,[15]Jack Stephens toMiddlesbrough,[16] andJordan Turnbull toSwindon Town[17] – whileJason McCarthy andLloyd Isgrove were sent out on loans until January.[18][19]
In the summer transfer window, the Saints made seven full signings – strikerJuanmi fromMálaga,[20] right-backsCédric Soares andCuco Martina fromSporting CP andFC Twente, respectively,[21][22] midfielderJordy Clasie fromFeyenoord,[23] defensive midfielderOriol Romeu fromChelsea,[24] goalkeeper Harry Lewis fromShrewsbury Town,[25] and centre-backVirgil van Dijk fromCeltic.[14] The club also brought inFulham goalkeeperMaarten Stekelenburg andQueens Park Rangers centre-backSteven Caulker on season-long loans.[26][27]
In January 2016, the club signed strikerCharlie Austin from Queens Park Rangers.[28] Caulker's loan agreement was cut short to allow him to move to Liverpool,[29] while both Gallagher and Stephens returned to Southampton early.[30] Also loaned out wereSam McQueen toSouthend United,[31]Gastón Ramírez to Middlesbrough,[32]Ryan Seager toCrewe Alexandra,[33] and Stephens toCoventry City,[34] while Isgrove's loan spell atBarnsley was extended until the end of the season.[35] In addition, young goalkeeper Harry Isted was released.[36]
Senegalese forwardSadio Mané finished the 2015–16 season as Southampton's top scorer, with 15 goals in all competitions; Mané and Italian strikerGraziano Pellè finished as joint top scorers in the Premier League, with 11 goals each. Irish strikerShane Long won the fan-votedSouthampton F.C. Player of the Season award presented by theSouthern Daily Echo,[37] while Dutch defenderVirgil van Dijk won the Fans' and Players' Player of the Season awards presented by the club.[38] Saints managerRonald Koeman won thePremier League Manager of the Month award in January 2016,[39] while goalkeeperFraser Forster won thePremier League Player of the Month award in February 2016.[40]
Southampton began their pre-season preparations in Austria with a friendly against German sideRB Leipzig on 8 July 2015, which they lost 5–4.[41] New signingsJuanmi andCédric Soares scored their first goals for the club, whileJay Rodriguez returned from a long-term injury to strike twice in the game.[41] Three days later, the club competed in theAudi Quattro Cup semi-final against Spanish clubValencia, losing 1–0 thanks to a goal scored byPablo Piatti.[42] BothSadio Mané andJosé Fonte hit the crossbar during the game, but Valencia advanced to the final.[42] In the third-place playoff match against hostsRed Bull Salzburg, the Saints lost 2–0, thus finishing fourth in the tournament.[43]
On 15 July, Southampton facedBrighton & Hove Albion in a private match at the Staplewood training ground.[44] The Saints won the game 1–0, withSam McQueen scoring the only goal in the final minute.[44] Three days later, they beat Dutch clubFC Groningen 3–0 thanks to goals from captain Fonte, Mané andGraziano Pellè.[45] They later beatQuick '20 10–0 on 21 July, with goals including hat-tricks from Pellè and Rodriguez.[46] The Saints won their last match in the Netherlands on 23 July, beatingFeyenoord 3–0 with goals from Pellè,Maya Yoshida and Juanmi.[47]
The club finished their pre-season preparations atSt Mary's Stadium against Spanish sideRCD Espanyol on 2 August.[48] The hosts went 1–0 down early on through a goal bySalva Sevilla, but equalised through Rodriguez in the last five minutes to finish the game 1–1.[48]
| 8 July 2015Friendly | RB Leipzig | 5–4 | Southampton | Bischofshofen,Austria |
| 18:00CEST | Quaschner 24'Mauer 55'Sebastian 59'Kalmár 66'Strauß 75' | Report | Juanmi 25' Rodriguez 53',90'Soares 79' | Stadium:Sportklub Bischofshofen |
| 11 July 2015Audi Quattro Cup Semi-Final | Valencia | 1–0 | Southampton | Salzburg,Austria |
| 15:00BST | Piatti 23' | Report | Stadium:Red Bull Arena Attendance: 10,832 |
| 11 July 2015Audi Quattro Cup Third-Place Playoff | Red Bull Salzburg | 2–0 | Southampton | Salzburg,Austria |
| 17:10BST | Nielsen 19' Oberlin 23' | Report | Stadium:Red Bull Arena Attendance: 10,832 |
| 15 July 2015Friendly | Southampton | 1–0 | Brighton & Hove Albion | Southampton |
| 14:00BST | McQueen 89' | Report | Stadium:Staplewood |
| 18 July 2015Friendly | Groningen | 0–3 | Southampton | Groningen,Netherlands |
| 13:30BST | Report | Fonte 24' Mané 52'Pellè 72' | Stadium:Euroborg Attendance: 12,176 |
| 21 July 2015Friendly | Quick '20 | 0–10 | Southampton | Oldenzaal,Netherlands |
| 18:00BST | Report | Davis 1',39' Pellè 12',28',42'Rodriguez 15',27',87'Turnbull 51'Juanmi 61' | Stadium:Sportpark Vondersweijde |
| 23 July 2015Friendly | Feyenoord | 0–3 | Southampton | Rotterdam,Netherlands |
| 19:00BST | Report | Pellè 41' Yoshida 61'Juanmi 83' | Stadium:De Kuip |
| 2 August 2015Friendly | Southampton | 1–1 | RCD Espanyol | Southampton |
| 15:00BST | Rodriguez 85' | Report | Sevilla 11' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 14,730 Referee: Michael Jones |
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Southampton began their2015–16 Premier League campaign atNewcastle United, drawing 2–2.[49]Graziano Pellè opened the scoring for the Saints, beforePapiss Cissé equalised for the hosts just before half-time.[49] Newcastle scored again shortly after the break throughGeorginio Wijnaldum, butShane Long equalised for the visitors in the 79th minute.[49] The following week they lost 3–0 at home toEverton, thanks to two goals fromRomelu Lukaku and one fromRoss Barkley.[50] The slow start to the season continued, as the Saints drew with recently promotedWatford on 23 August,[51] before they won their first game on at the end of the month by beatingNorwich City 3–0.[52] Goals came from Pellè and two fromDušan Tadić.[52]
Two weeks later, Southampton travelled to faceWest Bromwich Albion, which ended in another goalless draw.[53] The club next facedManchester United at St Mary's Stadium on 20 September, losing 3–2 to drop to 16th in the league.[54] Pellè opened the scoring early on, beforeAnthony Martial equalised for the visitors shortly before half-time.[54] A second goal from Pellè was not enough for the Saints to beat United, who scored two more through a Martial second and aJuan Mata winner.[54] The club picked up their second win of the season againstSwansea City on 26 September, winning 3–1 with goals fromVirgil van Dijk (his first for the club), Tadić andSadio Mané.[55]
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On 3 October, the Saints travelled to face Premier League championsChelsea, picking up their third win of the season.[56] The hosts took an early lead throughWillian, before midfielderSteven Davis equalised just before half-time.[56]Sadio Mané took advantage of a defensive error to put Southampton in the lead on 60 minutes, beforeGraziano Pellè scored his fifth of the campaign to make it 3–1 for the visitors.[56] On 17 October, the team hostedLeicester City, drawing 2–2 and moving up to eighth in the table.[57] Southampton scored both goals in the first half, courtesy of defendersJosé Fonte and Virgil van Dijk, beforeJamie Vardy scored two goals in the final 30 minutes of the match to give Leicester a point.[57] On 25 October, Southampton travelled at Anfield to faceLiverpool. A goal from Sadio Mané with four minutes left of regulation time cancelled out aChristian Benteke strike and resulted in a 1–1 draw.[58]
To begin November, Southampton hosted local rivalsAFC Bournemouth in the first top-flight meeting between the two South Coast sides. Two first half goals in quick succession from Steven Davis and Graziano Pellè secured the 2–0 win, moving Southampton up in the table to seventh.[59] The following week, the Saints traveled north to faceSunderland, where a Dušan Tadić penalty in the 69th minute (afterRyan Bertrand was taken down byYann M'Vila) ensured the team claimed all three points, after strong efforts from Steven Davis andJosé Fonte were cleared from the line.[60] After a week's break, Southampton hostedStoke City on 21 November but lost 1–0.[61] With only one shot on target, the Saints could not cancel out the early goal fromBojan, slipping down to eighth in the table.[61] Southampton picked up a second consecutive loss the following week against title contendersManchester City, who won relatively comfortably thanks to goals fromKevin De Bruyne,Fabian Delph andAleksandar Kolarov.[62]Shane Long scored a consolation for the visitors.[62]
Southampton's first game in December againstAston Villa ended in a 1–1 draw to see the Saints slip further down the table into 12th.[63]Joleon Lescott opened for Villa on the verge of half time, beforeOriol Romeu equalised for the hosts later in the game.[63] The following week, they went a fourth game without a win as they lost 1–0 toCrystal Palace.[64]Yohan Cabaye scored the only goal of the game shortly before the break, with the Saints failing to pressurise Palace for long periods of the match.[64] The Saints lost another game the following week at home toTottenham Hotspur, who won 2–0 thanks to goals fromHarry Kane andDele Alli, both within the last five minutes of the first half.[65]
On Boxing Day the Saints beat second-placedArsenal 4–0 at St Mary's.[66]Cuco Martina opened the scoring on his first league start for the club, Shane Long scored the second ten minutes after half time, captain José Fonte scored his second of the season and Long scored a second in injury time to complete the win.[66] Two days later, Southampton lost 2–1 atWest Ham United, missing out on the chance to move up to ninth in the table.[67] The Saints opened the scoring within 15 minutes thanks to aCarl Jenkinson own goal, but former Southampton loaneeMichail Antonio andAndy Carroll scored for the hosts in the final third of the game to pick up the win.[67]
In their first game of 2016, Southampton lost 1–0 to Norwich City, dropping to 13th in the Premier League table.[68]Alexander Tettey scored the only goal of the match late in the second half, shortly afterVictor Wanyama was sent off for the Saints.[68] On 13 January, Southampton beatWatford 2–0 at home to move back up to 12th in the table.[69] Shane Long headed in the opener in the 17th minute from aMatt Targett delivery, before substitute Dušan Tadić secured the win in the second half with a close range effort.[69] Three days later the Saints beat West Brom 3–0 with two goals fromJames Ward-Prowse and one from Dušan Tadić to move up to tenth in the table.[70] The following week, Southampton picked up their third consecutive league win, over Manchester United atOld Trafford.[71] The only goal in the game came just before full-time courtesy of new signingCharlie Austin.[71]
On 2 February, Southampton travelled to theEmirates Stadium to face Arsenal, which ended in a goalless draw.[72] GoalkeeperFraser Forster was named the man of the match, after making a string of impressive saves to keep a clean sheet for the visitors.[72] The club beat West Ham 1–0 later in the week, extending their run of consecutive clean sheets to five games, with defender Maya Yoshida scoring the only goal of the game within the first ten minutes.[73] On 13 February, Southampton travelled to face Swansea, winning 1–0 and advancing to sixth in the Premier League table.[74] Shane Long scored the only goal of the game in the second half, levelling Graziano Pellè as the season's top scorer.[74] Two weeks later, the Saints lost their first game in almost two months when Chelsea won 2–1 at St Mary's.[75] Shane Long opened the scoring in the first half, beforeCesc Fàbregas andBranislav Ivanović scored late on for the win.[75]
On 1 March, Southampton lost 2–0 to local rivals AFC Bournemouth.[76] Charlie Austin had the best chance for the Saints, but the Cherries won through goals fromSteve Cook andBenik Afobe.[76] Later in the week, the Saints hosted Sunderland and drew 1–1.[77] Captain José Fonte was sent off during the game for a foul, beforeJermain Defoe put the visitors ahead in the 85th minute.[77] During injury time, Virgil van Dijk scored his third goal of the season to seal a point for the hosts.[77] The Saints returned to winning ways the following week, beating Stoke to move up to seventh in the league.[78] Graziano Pellè scored a brace in the first half to put Southampton ahead, and althoughMarko Arnautović brought one back for the hosts, they were unable to turn the game in their favour and it finished 2–1.[78] Sadio Mané was sent off late in the game,[78] although the red card was quickly overturned on appeal.[79][80]
On 20 March, Southampton came from two goals down to beat Liverpool at home and remain seventh in the league.[81] The visitors went 2–0 up within the first 25 minutes throughPhilippe Coutinho andDaniel Sturridge, before a third goal fromJoe Allen was disallowed for offside in the 33rd minute.[81] Shortly after the break, substitute Sadio Mané saw a penalty saved bySimon Mignolet, before the striker scored a first for the hosts. in the 64th minute.[81] In the final ten minutes, the Saints scored two in three minutes through Graziano Pellè and Mané to seal victory.[81] Two weeks later, the Saints lost 1–0 to league leaders Leicester.[82]Wes Morgan scored the only goal of the game late in the first half to give Southampton their first loss in four matches.[82] On 9 April, the club beat Newcastle 3–1 at home.[83] Shane Long opened the scoring in the fourth minute, Graziano Pellè doubled the lead before half time, Victor Wanyama scored the third ten minutes after the break, andAndros Townsend scored for the visitors ten minutes later.[83]
Southampton travelled to face Everton on 16 April, which ended in a 1–1 draw.[84] After a goalless first half,Ramiro Funes Mori opened the scoring for the hosts in the 68th minute, before Sadio Mané equalised for the Saints less than ten minutes later.[84] The following week, Southampton beat Aston Villa atVilla Park 4–2.[85] Shane Long and Dušan Tadić put the Saints two up in the first half, althoughAshley Westwood pulled one back for the hosts on the stroke of half time.[85] Tadić and Westwood each scored their second goals after the break, before Sadio Mané secured the win for the visitors in injury time.[85] On 1 May, Southampton beat Manchester City 4–2 at home to move up to seventh in the league table.[86] Shane Long opened the scoring for the hosts, before Sadio Mané scored a hat trick to make it four.[86]Kelechi Iheanacho scored both of the goals for the visitors.[86] The following week, Southampton beat Tottenham 2–1, with both goals being scored by Steven Davis.[87]
On 15 May 2016, in their final game of the season, Southampton beat Crystal Palace 4–1 at St Mary's Stadium.[88] Sadio Mané opened the scoring with his 15th goal in all competitions just before half time to put the Saints 1–0 at the break.[88] Graziano Pellè came on as a substitute in the second half and doubled the scoreline in the 61st minute, before former Southampton midfielderJason Puncheon pulled one back for Palace.[88] Defender Ryan Bertrand scored his only goal of the season in a penalty kick in the 75th minute, before Steven Davis finished the scoring in the final five minutes of normal time to complete the win.[88] The win, as well as results in other matches, saw Southampton move up to fifth in the Premier League table and secure a return to theUEFA Europa League the following season.[88] Manchester United later won their final rescheduled fixture 3–1 against AFC Bournemouth at Old Trafford two days, finalising Southampton's league position for the 2015–16 Premier League season at a club-record sixth.[89]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Manchester City | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 71 | 41 | +30 | 66 | Qualification for theChampions League play-off round |
| 5 | Manchester United | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | 49 | 35 | +14 | 66 | Qualification for theEuropa League group stage[a] |
| 6 | Southampton | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 59 | 41 | +18 | 63 | |
| 7 | West Ham United | 38 | 16 | 14 | 8 | 65 | 51 | +14 | 62 | Qualification for theEuropa League third qualifying round[b] |
| 8 | Liverpool | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 63 | 50 | +13 | 60 |
| Overall | Home | Away | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 59 | 41 | +18 | 63 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 39 | 22 | +17 | 7 | 6 | 6 | 20 | 19 | +1 |
Last updated: 15 May 2016.
Source:Premier League
| 9 August 20151 | Newcastle United | 2–2 | Southampton | Newcastle upon Tyne |
| 13:30BST | Cissé 42' Wijnaldum 48' | Report | Pellè 24' Long 79' | Stadium:St James' Park Attendance: 49,019 Referee:Craig Pawson |
| 15 August 20152 | Southampton | 0–3 | Everton | Southampton |
| 12:30BST | Report | Lukaku 22',45' Barkley 84' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 30,966 Referee:Michael Oliver |
| 23 August 20153 | Watford | 0–0 | Southampton | Watford |
| 16:00BST | Report | Stadium:Vicarage Road Attendance: 20,166 Referee:Andre Marriner |
| 30 August 20154 | Southampton | 3–0 | Norwich City | Southampton |
| 13:30BST | Pellè 45' Tadić 64',67' | Report | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 29,573 Referee:Jonathan Moss |
| 12 September 20155 | West Bromwich Albion | 0–0 | Southampton | West Bromwich |
| 15:00BST | Report | Stadium:The Hawthorns Attendance: 24,265 Referee:Stuart Attwell |
| 20 September 20156 | Southampton | 2–3 | Manchester United | Southampton |
| 16:00BST | Pellè 13',86' | Report | Martial 34',50' Mata 68' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,588 Referee:Mark Clattenburg |
| 26 September 20157 | Southampton | 3–1 | Swansea City | Southampton |
| 15:00BST | Van Dijk 11' Ki 54' (o.g.)Mané 61' | Report | Sigurðsson 83' (pen.) | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 30,704 Referee:Roger East |
| 3 October 20158 | Chelsea | 1–3 | Southampton | London |
| 17:30BST | Willian 10' | Report | S. Davis 43' Mané 60'Pellè 72' | Stadium:Stamford Bridge Attendance: 41,642 Referee:Robert Madley |
| 17 October 20159 | Southampton | 2–2 | Leicester City | Southampton |
| 15:00BST | Fonte 21' Van Dijk 37' | Report | Vardy 66',90+1' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 30,966 Referee:Paul Tierney |
| 25 October 201510 | Liverpool | 1–1 | Southampton | Liverpool |
| 16:15GMT | Benteke 77' | Report | Mané 86' | Stadium:Anfield Attendance: 44,171 Referee:Andre Marriner |
| 1 November 201511 | Southampton | 2–0 | AFC Bournemouth | Southampton |
| 16:00GMT | S. Davis 31' Pellè 36' | Report | Stadium:St. Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,229 Referee:Craig Pawson |
| 7 November 201512 | Sunderland | 0–1 | Southampton | Sunderland |
| 15:00GMT | Report | Tadić 69' (pen.) | Stadium:Stadium of Light Attendance: 41,781 Referee:Mike Jones |
| 21 November 201513 | Southampton | 0–1 | Stoke City | Southampton |
| 15:00GMT | Report | Bojan 10' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 30,039 Referee:Lee Mason |
| 28 November 201514 | Manchester City | 3–1 | Southampton | Manchester |
| 15:00GMT | De Bruyne 9' Delph 20'Kolarov 69' | Report | Long 49' | Stadium:City of Manchester Stadium Attendance: 54,102 Referee:Roger East |
| 5 December 201515 | Southampton | 1–1 | Aston Villa | Southampton |
| 15:00GMT | Romeu 73' | Report | Lescott 44' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 29,645 Referee:Anthony Taylor |
| 12 December 201516 | Crystal Palace | 1–0 | Southampton | London |
| 15:00GMT | Cabaye 38' | Report | Stadium:Selhurst Park Attendance: 24,914 Referee:Mike Dean |
| 19 December 201517 | Southampton | 0–2 | Tottenham Hotspur | Southampton |
| 15:00GMT | Report | Kane 40' Alli 43' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,636 Referee:Kevin Friend |
| 26 December 201518 | Southampton | 4–0 | Arsenal | Southampton |
| 19:45GMT | Martina 19' Long 55',90+2'Fonte 69' | Report | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,669 Referee:Jonathan Moss |
| 28 December 201519 | West Ham United | 2–1 | Southampton | London |
| 17:30GMT | Antonio 69' Carroll 79' | Report | Jenkinson 13' (o.g.) | Stadium:Boleyn Ground Attendance: 34,977 Referee:Michael Oliver |
| 2 January 201620 | Norwich City | 1–0 | Southampton | Norwich |
| 15:00GMT | Tettey 76' | Report | Stadium:Carrow Road Attendance: 27,022 Referee:Mark Clattenburg |
| 13 January 201621 | Southampton | 2–0 | Watford | Southampton |
| 19:45GMT | Long 17' Tadić 73' | Report | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 28,399 Referee:Craig Pawson |
| 16 January 201622 | Southampton | 3–0 | West Bromwich Albion | Southampton |
| 15:00GMT | Ward-Prowse 5',35' (pen.) Tadić 72' | Report | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 29,622 Referee:Martin Atkinson |
| 23 January 201623 | Manchester United | 0–1 | Southampton | Manchester |
| 15:00GMT | Report | Austin 87' | Stadium:Old Trafford Attendance: 75,408 Referee:Mike Jones |
| 2 February 201624 | Arsenal | 0–0 | Southampton | London |
| 19:45GMT | Report | Stadium:Emirates Stadium Attendance: 60,044 Referee:Lee Mason |
| 6 February 201625 | Southampton | 1–0 | West Ham United | Southampton |
| 17:30GMT | Yoshida 9' | Report | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 29,161 Referee:Mark Clattenburg |
| 13 February 201626 | Swansea City | 0–1 | Southampton | Swansea |
| 15:00GMT | Report | Long 69' | Stadium:Liberty Stadium Attendance: 20,890 Referee:Jonathan Moss |
| 27 February 201627 | Southampton | 1–2 | Chelsea | Southampton |
| 15:00GMT | Long 42' | Report | Fàbregas 75' Ivanović 89' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,688 Referee:Martin Atkinson |
| 1 March 201628 | AFC Bournemouth | 2–0 | Southampton | Bournemouth |
| 19:45GMT | Cook 31' Afobe 79' | Report | Stadium:Dean Court Attendance: 11,033 Referee:Mike Dean |
| 5 March 201629 | Southampton | 1–1 | Sunderland | Southampton |
| 15:00GMT | Van Dijk 90+3' | Report | Defoe 85' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,458 Referee:Neil Swarbrick |
| 12 March 201630 | Stoke City | 1–2 | Southampton | Stoke-on-Trent |
| 15:00GMT | Arnautović 52' | Report | Pellè 11',30' | Stadium:Britannia Stadium Attendance: 27,833 Referee:Lee Mason |
| 20 March 201631 | Southampton | 3–2 | Liverpool | Southampton |
| 13:30GMT | Mané 64',86' Pellè 83' | Report | Coutinho 17' Sturridge 22' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,596 Referee:Roger East |
| 3 April 201632 | Leicester City | 1–0 | Southampton | Leicester |
| 13:30BST | Morgan 38' | Report | Stadium:King Power Stadium Attendance: 32,071 Referee:Michael Oliver |
| 9 April 201633 | Southampton | 3–1 | Newcastle United | Southampton |
| 15:00BST | Long 4' Pellè 38'Wanyama 55' | Report | Townsend 65' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,542 Referee:Bobby Madley |
| 16 April 201634 | Everton | 1–1 | Southampton | Liverpool |
| 15:00BST | Funes Mori 68' | Report | Mané 76' | Stadium:Goodison Park Attendance: 36,761 Referee:Craig Pawson |
| 23 April 201635 | Aston Villa | 2–4 | Southampton | Birmingham |
| 15:00BST | Westwood 45+1',85' | Report | Long 15' Tadić 39',71'Mané 90+4' | Stadium:Villa Park Attendance: 29,729 Referee:Neil Swarbrick |
| 1 May 201636 | Southampton | 4–2 | Manchester City | Southampton |
| 16:30BST | Long 25' Mané 28',57',68' | Report | Iheanacho 44',78' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,472 Referee:Andre Marriner |
| 8 May 201637 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–2 | Southampton | London |
| 13:30BST | Son 16' | Report | S. Davis 31',72' | Stadium:White Hart Lane Attendance: 35,748 Referee:Jonathan Moss |
| 15 May 201638 | Southampton | 4–1 | Crystal Palace | Southampton |
| 15:00BST | Mané 43' Pellè 61'Bertrand 75' (pen.)S. Davis 87' | Report | Puncheon 64' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,313 Referee:Michael Oliver |
In the third round of the2015–16 FA Cup, Southampton hosted fellow Premier League sideCrystal Palace on 9 January 2016, losing the game 2–1 to exit the tournament.[7]Joel Ward opened the scoring for the visitors in the 29th minute to give Palace a 1–0 lead at half-time.[7]Oriol Romeu scored for the Saints shortly after the break, butWilfried Zaha scored a winner in the 68th minute to eliminate Southampton from the cup.[7]
| 9 January 2016Round 3 | Southampton | 1–2 | Crystal Palace | Southampton |
| 15:00GMT | Romeu 51' | Report | Ward 29' Zaha 68' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 30,763 Referee:Lee Mason |
Southampton was drawn in the third round of the2015–16 League Cup againstChampionship sideMilton Keynes Dons. The Saints won the match easily 6–0.Jay Rodriguez opened the scoring in the fifth minute,Sadio Mané doubled the lead five minutes later, and later scored a second in the 25th minute to put Southampton 3–0 up by half-time.[91] After the break, Rodriguez scored a second from a penalty, beforeShane Long scored two within seven minutes of one another to increase the visitors' tally to six.[91]
In the fourth round, Southampton drew Premier League sideAston Villa at home. Two second half goals fromMaya Yoshida in the 51st minute andGraziano Pellè in the 77th minute were enough to defeat caretaker managerKevin MacDonald's side, despite an injury time penalty fromScott Sinclair that made the final score 2–1.[92]
For the fifth round,Premier League sideLiverpool visited St Mary's Stadium. After a quick opening goal from Sadio Mané in the first minute,Jürgen Klopp's side scored three goals in the first half and three goals in the second half with a brace fromDaniel Sturridge, a hat-trick byDivock Origi and one fromJordon Ibe.[8]
| 23 September 2015Round 3 | Milton Keynes Dons | 0–6 | Southampton | Denbigh, Milton Keynes |
| 19:45BST | Report | Rodriguez 5',48' (pen.) Mané 10',25'Long 68',75' | Stadium:Stadium mk Attendance: 10,189 Referee:Keith Stroud |
| 28 October 2015Round 4 | Southampton | 2–1 | Aston Villa | Southampton |
| 19:45BST | Yoshida 51' Pellè 77' | Report | Sinclair 90' (pen.) | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,314 Referee:Keith Stroud |
| 2 December 2015Round 5 | Southampton | 1–6 | Liverpool | Southampton |
| 19:45BST | Mané 1' | Report | Sturridge 25',29' Origi 45',68',86'Ibe 73' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 31,592 Referee:Robert Madley |
Southampton entered the2015–16 UEFA Europa League in the third qualifying round. Their first game took place against Dutch sideVitesse on 30 July 2015, which the Saints won 3–0 atSt Mary's Stadium.[93]Graziano Pellè found the net first in the 36th minute to put Southampton one up, beforeDušan Tadić scored a penalty just before half time.[93] SubstituteShane Long finished the scoring late in the second half to win the game for the home side.[93] In the second leg Southampton won 2–0, therefore advancing to the play-off round 5–0 on aggregate.[94] Pellè scored again to put the Saints up in the fourth minute, withSadio Mané doubling his side's lead just a minute before the end of the match.[94]
In the qualifying play-off round, Southampton facedMidtjylland. In the first leg the Saints drew 1–1 with the Danish champions, withJay Rodriguez equalising afterTim Sparv's opener on the stroke of half-time.[95] In the second leg, Midtjylland strikerMorten Rasmussen scored the only goal of the game to ensure the Danish side won 2–1 on aggregate to eliminate Southampton from the competition.[9]
| 30 July 2015Qualifying round 3 First Leg | Southampton | 3–0 | Vitesse | Southampton |
| 20:05BST | Pellè 36' Tadić 45' (pen.)Long 84' | Report | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 30,580 Referee:Jesús Gil Manzano (Spain) |
| 6 August 2015Qualifying round 3 Second Leg | Vitesse | 0–2 (0–5agg.) | Southampton | Arnhem,Netherlands |
| 19:00BST | Report | Pellè 4' Mané 89' | Stadium:GelreDome Attendance: 20,515 Referee:Ilias Spathas (Greece) |
| 20 August 2015Play-off Round First Leg | Southampton | 1–1 | Midtjylland | Southampton |
| 20:00BST | Rodriguez 56' (pen.) | Report | Sparv 45' | Stadium:St Mary's Stadium Attendance: 28,890 Referee:Clément Turpin (France) |
| 27 August 2015Play-off Round Second Leg | Midtjylland | 1–0 (2–1agg.) | Southampton | Herning,Denmark |
| 20:45CEST | Rasmussen 28' | Report | Stadium:MCH Arena Attendance: 9,481 Referee:Liran Liany (Israel) |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | Discipline | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps. | Gls. | Apps. | Gls. | Apps. | Gls. | Apps. | Gls. | Apps. | Gls. |  |  | ||||
| 1 | GK |  | Kelvin Davis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF |  | Cédric Soares | 23(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 26(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 3 | DF |  | Maya Yoshida | 10(10) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1(1) | 1 | 4 | 0 | 16(11) | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | MF |  | Jordy Clasie | 20(2) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23(2) | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 5 | DF |  | Florin Gardoș | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | DF | | José Fonte | 37 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 2 | 4 | 1 |
| 7 | FW |  | Shane Long | 23(5) | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1(1) | 2 | 0(3) | 1 | 25(9) | 13 | 3 | 0 |
| 8 | MF |  | Steven Davis | 31(3) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 2(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 37(4) | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | | Jay Rodriguez | 3(9) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2(1) | 1 | 6(10) | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 10 | FW |  | Sadio Mané | 30(7) | 11 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 36(7) | 15 | 6 | 1 |
| 11 | MF |  | Dušan Tadić | 27(7) | 7 | 0(1) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 2(1) | 1 | 30(10) | 8 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 | MF |  | Victor Wanyama | 29(1) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34(1) | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| 14 | MF |  | Oriol Romeu | 17(12) | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22(13) | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| 15 | DF |  | Cuco Martina | 11(4) | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 14(4) | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 16 | MF | | James Ward-Prowse | 14(19) | 2 | 0(1) | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 18(21) | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 | DF | | Virgil van Dijk | 34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | | Harrison Reed | 0(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0(2) | 0 | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | FW |  | Graziano Pellè | 23(7) | 11 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 29(7) | 14 | 7 | 0 |
| 20 | FW | | Juanmi | 0(12) | 0 | 0(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0(4) | 0 | 2(17) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | | Ryan Bertrand | 32 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 33(1) | 1 | 6 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | | Maarten Stekelenburg | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 25 | GK |  | Paulo Gazzaniga | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | | Charlie Austin | 2(5) | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2(5) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | | Matt Targett | 13(1) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 19(1) | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 40 | FW | | Sam Gallagher | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 44 | GK | | Fraser Forster | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players with appearances who left the club before the end of the season. | |||||||||||||||
| 26 | DF | | Steven Caulker | 1(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6(2) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players with appearances who ended the season out on loan. | |||||||||||||||
| 23 | MF |  | Gastón Ramírez | 0(3) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(1) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1(4) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strt. | Sub. | Strt. | Sub. | Strt. | Sub. | Strt. | Sub. | Strt. | Sub. | Total | ||||
| 1 | DF | | José Fonte | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 43 |
| FW | | Sadio Mané | 30 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 7 | 43 | |
| 3 | MF | | Steven Davis | 31 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 4 | 41 |
| 4 | MF | | Dušan Tadić | 27 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 10 | 40 |
| 5 | MF | | James Ward-Prowse | 14 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 18 | 21 | 39 |
| 6 | DF | | Virgil van Dijk | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 38 |
| 7 | FW | | Graziano Pellè | 23 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 29 | 7 | 36 |
| 8 | MF | | Victor Wanyama | 29 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 1 | 35 |
| MF | | Oriol Romeu | 17 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 13 | 35 | |
| 10 | DF | | Ryan Bertrand | 32 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 33 | 1 | 34 |
| FW | | Shane Long | 23 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 25 | 9 | 34 | |
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gls. | Apps. | Gls. | Apps. | Gls. | Apps. | Gls. | Apps. | Gls. | Apps. | GPG | |||||
| 1 | FW | | Sadio Mané | 11 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 15 | 43 | 0.34 | |
| 2 | FW | | Graziano Pellè | 11 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 14 | 36 | 0.38 | |
| 3 | FW | | Shane Long | 10 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 34 | 0.38 | |
| 4 | MF | | Dušan Tadić | 7 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 40 | 0.20 | |
| 5 | MF | | Steven Davis | 5 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 41 | 0.12 | |
| 6 | FW | | Jay Rodriguez | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 16 | 0.18 | |
| DF | | Virgil van Dijk | 3 | 34 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 38 | 0.07 | ||
| 8 | DF | | Maya Yoshida | 1 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 27 | 0.07 | |
| MF | | Oriol Romeu | 1 | 29 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 35 | 0.05 | ||
| MF | | James Ward-Prowse | 2 | 33 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 39 | 0.05 | ||
| DF | | José Fonte | 2 | 37 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 43 | 0.04 | ||
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| Players transferred in | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date | Pos. | Name | Club | Fee | Ref. |
| 1 July 2015 | FW | Juanmi | Málaga | Undisclosed | [20] |
| 1 July 2015 | DF | Cédric Soares | Sporting CP | £4,700,000 | [21] |
| 7 July 2015 | DF | Cuco Martina | Twente | Undisclosed | [22] |
| 15 July 2015 | MF | Jordy Clasie | Feyenoord | Undisclosed | [23] |
| 12 August 2015 | MF | Oriol Romeu | Chelsea | £5,000,000 | [24] |
| 31 August 2015 | GK | Harry Lewis | Shrewsbury Town | Undisclosed | [25] |
| 1 September 2015 | DF | Virgil van Dijk |  Celtic | £13,000,000 | [14] |
| 16 January 2016 | FW | Charlie Austin | Queens Park Rangers | Undisclosed | [28] |
| Players loaned in | |||||
| Start date | Pos. | Name | Club | End date | Ref. |
| 1 July 2015 | GK | Maarten Stekelenburg | Fulham | End of season | [26] |
| 29 July 2015 | DF | Steven Caulker | Queens Park Rangers | 12 January 2016 | [27][29] |
| Players transferred out | |||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Club | Fee | Ref. |
| 1 July 2015 | DF | Nathaniel Clyne | Liverpool | £12,500,000 | [12] |
| 13 July 2015 | MF |  Morgan Schneiderlin | Manchester United | Undisclosed | [13] |
| 31 August 2015 | FW |  Emmanuel Mayuka | Metz | Undisclosed | [14] |
| Players loaned out | |||||
| Start date | Pos. | Name | Club | End date | Ref. |
| 29 July 2015 | FW | Sam Gallagher | Milton Keynes Dons | 6 January 2016 | [15][30] |
| 31 July 2015 | DF | Jack Stephens | Middlesbrough | 4 January 2016 | [16][30] |
| 3 August 2015 | DF | Jordan Turnbull | Swindon Town | End of season | [17] |
| 13 October 2015 | DF | Jason McCarthy | Wycombe Wanderers | End of season | [18][96] |
| 24 October 2015 | MF |  Lloyd Isgrove | Barnsley | End of season | [19][35] |
| 21 January 2016 | MF | Sam McQueen | Southend United | End of season | [31] |
| 26 January 2016 | MF | Gastón Ramírez | Middlesbrough | End of season | [32] |
| 29 January 2016 | FW | Ryan Seager | Crewe Alexandra | 18 February 2016 | [33] |
| 1 February 2016 | DF | Jack Stephens | Coventry City | End of season | [34] |
| Players released | |||||
| Date | Pos. | Name | Subsequent club | Join date | Ref. |
| 30 June 2015 | GK |  Artur Boruc | AFC Bournemouth | 1 July 2015 | [10] |
| 30 June 2015 | GK |  Cody Cropper | Milton Keynes Dons | 1 July 2015 | [10][97] |
| 30 June 2015 | DF | Jos Hooiveld |  AIK | 10 July 2015 | [10][98] |
| 30 June 2015 | GK | Chris Johns | Bangor | 4 September 2015 | [10][99] |
| 30 June 2015 | MF | Omar Rowe | Bishop's Stortford | 15 October 2015 | [10][100] |
| 30 June 2015 | FW | Jake Sinclair | Froome Town | 9 December 2015 | [10][101] |
| 1 July 2015 | FW | Dani Osvaldo | Porto | 5 August 2015 | [11][102] |
| 21 January 2016 | GK | Harry Isted | Stoke City | 22 January 2016 | [36] |
