Jordy Clasie praises Fraser Forster for match-winning saves

09 April 2017 12:09

Match-winner Jordy Clasie hailed team-mate Fraser Forster after Southampton's 1-0 victory at West Brom.

Goalkeeper Forster preserved victory with two late saves from Craig Dawson and Jonny Evans at The Hawthorns on Saturday.

Clasie had struck a first-half winner to settle a forgettable game which saw the Saints close the gap on the eighth-placed Baggies to four points.

Claude Puel's side have two games in hand on Albion and strengthened their grip on a top 10 finish thanks to Forster's late heroics, including a fine reaction stop from Dawson.

"It's unbelievable," said Clasie.

"The last two or three saves he made were incredible. They were so important for us, not only as defenders but the whole team.

"We have a 'keeper that can take points for us. I scored but I think you can give him the credit as well because he won us two points."

Clasie marked his first league start since January - recalled due to Oriol Romeu's suspension and Steven Davis' injury - with his first Premier League goal.

He had not scored in any league since netting for Feyenoord in the Eredivisie in April 2015.

"It was a lovely feeling," he told the club's official website.

"Every player wants to play in their career. You can have some difficult moments on the bench or not in the squad, and I've had those moments.

"Sometimes you need that little bit of luck and today was my chance, but the most important thing was to get all three points."

Defeat was Albion's second on the spin after a midweek 2-0 loss at Watford but boss Tony Pulis refused to blame his players.

He said: "There are lots of areas I'm going to look at in the summer, there's no way in a million years that I'm going to criticise this group of players. It was hot out there and in the last 20 to 25 minutes I thought they showed some great character by trying to push on and push forward.

"We're trying to win games and when it comes that way you do get they attack, we attack. We're just trying to win games, I can't fault the players."

Source: PA