1998–99 Southampton F.C. season
# 1998–99 Southampton F.C. season

During the 1998–99 English football season, Southampton Football Club competed in the FA Premier League.

## Season summary

An embarrassing 5–0 defeat at the hands of Premiership debutants Charlton Athletic at The Valley in Southampton's second league game prompted a horrendous start to which would set the tone for a long season for The Saints, seeing them lose their first five games and gaining just two points from their first nine games and winning just three out of their first 20 games, picking up just 14 points from a possible 60. Form gradually improved from mid-December but was ultimately inconsistent and they would not lose again at home after their 2–0 home defeat by Chelsea on Boxing Day. However, their away form continued to be poor; this meant that - in addition to not being helped by their poor start - they were in the relegation zone all season long until April, when a late run of good form saw the Saints draw two and win their final three games and saved them from relegation at the expense of Charlton Athletic. Winning their final game of the season was a double delight, not only because they had attained survival, but because it meant that they would be able to press ahead with a move to a new 32,000-seat stadium on the banks of the River Itchen, knowing that they would only have to play two more seasons at their dilapidated century-old Dell before making the long-awaited move to a capacious new home.

## Final league table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 15 | Coventry City | 38 | 11 | 9 | 18 | 39 | 51 | −12 | 42 | |
| 16 | Wimbledon | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 40 | 63 | −23 | 42 | |
| 17 | Southampton | 38 | 11 | 8 | 19 | 37 | 64 | −27 | 41 | |
| 18 | Charlton Athletic (R) | 38 | 8 | 12 | 18 | 41 | 56 | −15 | 36 | Relegation to Football League First Division |
| 19 | Blackburn Rovers (R) | 38 | 7 | 14 | 17 | 38 | 52 | −14 | 35 | Relegation to Football League First Division |

### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |

Source: 1998-99 FA Premier League table

### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Ground | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | H |
| Result | L | L | L | L | L | D | L | L | D | W | D | D | L | W | L | L | L | W | L | D | W | L | W | L | W | L | L | W | L | W | D | L | L | D | D | W | W | W |
| Position | 17 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 18 | 18 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 19 | 17 | 17 | 17 |

## Results

Southampton's score comes first

### Legend

| Win | Draw | Loss |
| - | - | - |

### FA Premier League

| Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 16 August 1998 | Liverpool | H | 1–2 | 15,202 | Østenstad |
| 22 August 1998 | Charlton Athletic | A | 0–5 | 16,488 | |
| 29 August 1998 | Nottingham Forest | H | 1–2 | 14,942 | Le Tissier (pen) |
| 8 September 1998 | Leeds United | A | 0–3 | 30,637 | |
| 12 September 1998 | Newcastle United | A | 0–4 | 36,454 | |
| 19 September 1998 | Tottenham Hotspur | H | 1–1 | 15,204 | Le Tissier |
| 28 September 1998 | West Ham United | A | 0–1 | 23,153 | |
| 3 October 1998 | Manchester United | H | 0–3 | 15,251 | |
| 17 October 1998 | Arsenal | A | 1–1 | 38,027 | Howells |
| 24 October 1998 | Coventry City | H | 2–1 | 15,152 | Le Tissier, Østenstad |
| 31 October 1998 | Sheffield Wednesday | A | 0–0 | 30,078 | |
| 7 November 1998 | Middlesbrough | H | 3–3 | 15,202 | Monkou, Beattie, Østenstad |
| 14 November 1998 | Aston Villa | H | 1–4 | 15,242 | Le Tissier |
| 21 November 1998 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2–0 | 22,812 | Oakley, Basham |
| 28 November 1998 | Derby County | H | 0–1 | 14,762 | |
| 5 December 1998 | Leicester City | A | 0–2 | 18,423 | |
| 12 December 1998 | Everton | A | 0–1 | 32,073 | |
| 19 December 1998 | Wimbledon | H | 3–1 | 14,354 | Østenstad (2), Kachloul |
| 26 December 1998 | Chelsea | H | 0–2 | 15,253 | |
| 28 December 1998 | Nottingham Forest | A | 1–1 | 23,456 | Kachloul |
| 9 January 1999 | Charlton Athletic | H | 3–1 | 15,222 | Kachloul, Colleter, Beattie |
| 16 January 1999 | Liverpool | A | 1–7 | 44,011 | Østenstad |
| 30 January 1999 | Leeds United | H | 3–0 | 15,236 | Kachloul, Oakley, Østenstad |
| 6 February 1999 | Chelsea | A | 0–1 | 34,920 | |
| 20 February 1999 | Newcastle United | H | 2–1 | 15,244 | Beattie, Dodd (pen) |
| 27 February 1999 | Manchester United | A | 1–2 | 55,316 | Le Tissier |
| 2 March 1999 | Tottenham Hotspur | A | 0–3 | 25,529 | |
| 6 March 1999 | West Ham United | H | 1–0 | 15,240 | Kachloul |
| 14 March 1999 | Middlesbrough | A | 0–3 | 33,387 | |
| 20 March 1999 | Sheffield Wednesday | H | 1–0 | 15,201 | Le Tissier |
| 3 April 1999 | Arsenal | H | 0–0 | 15,255 | |
| 5 April 1999 | Coventry City | A | 0–1 | 21,402 | |
| 10 April 1999 | Aston Villa | A | 0–3 | 32,203 | |
| 17 April 1999 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 3–3 | 15,209 | Marsden, Hughes, Pahars |
| 24 April 1999 | Derby County | A | 0–0 | 26,557 | |
| 1 May 1999 | Leicester City | H | 2–1 | 15,228 | Marsden, Beattie |
| 8 May 1999 | Wimbledon | A | 2–0 | 24,068 | Beattie, Le Tissier |
| 16 May 1999 | Everton | H | 2–0 | 15,254 | Pahars (2) |

### FA Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R3 | 2 January 1999 | Fulham | H | 1–1 | 12,549 | Østenstad |
| R3R | 13 January 1999 | Fulham | A | 0–1 | 17,448 | |

### League Cup

| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Goalscorers |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| R2 1st Leg | 15 September 1998 | Fulham | A | 1–1 | 10,222 | Beattie |
| R2 2nd Leg | 23 September 1998 | Fulham | H | 0–1 (lost 1–2 on agg) | 11,645 | |

## Squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 1 | GK | WAL | Paul Jones |
| 2 | DF | ENG | Jason Dodd |
| 3 | DF | ENG | John Beresford |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Chris Marsden |
| 5 | DF | NOR | Claus Lundekvam |
| 6 | DF | SUR | Ken Monkou |
| 7 | MF | ENG | Matt Le Tissier (captain) |
| 8 | MF | ENG | Matt Oakley |
| 9 | FW | WAL | Mark Hughes |
| 10 | FW | NOR | Egil Østenstad |
| 11 | MF | ENG | David Howells |
| 12 | DF | ENG | Richard Dryden |
| 13 | GK | ENG | Neil Moss |
| 14 | MF | ENG | Stuart Ripley |
| 15 | DF | ENG | Francis Benali |
| 16 | FW | ENG | James Beattie |
| 17 | FW | ENG | Mark Paul |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 18 | DF | ENG | Wayne Bridge |
| 19 | DF | SCO | Scott Marshall |
| 20 | GK | ENG | Scott Bevan |
| 21 | DF | WAL | Andy Williams |
| 22 | MF | WAL | David Hughes |
| 23 | DF | ENG | Scott Hiley |
| 24 | FW | ENG | Steve Basham |
| 25 | DF | ENG | Garry Monk |
| 27 | FW | ENG | David Hirst |
| 28 | MF | ENG | Kevin Gibbens |
| 29 | DF | ENG | Phil Warner |
| 30 | MF | MAR | Hassan Kachloul |
| 31 | FW | ENG | Shayne Bradley |
| 32 | GK | DEN | Michael Stensgaard |
| 33 | DF | FRA | Patrick Colleter |
| 35 | FW | LVA | Marian Pahars |
| - | MF | POR | Dani Rodrigues |

### Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| - | - | - | - |
| 4 | MF | ENG | Carlton Palmer (to Nottingham Forest) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 26 | FW | ITA | Cosimo Sarli (to Eendracht Aalst) |

## Statistics

### Appearances, goals and cards

    (Starting appearances + substitute appearances)

| No. | Pos. | Name | League | League | FA Cup | FA Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Total | Total | Discipline | Discipline |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| No. | Pos. | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | | |
| 1 | GK | Paul Jones | 31 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | DF | Jason Dodd | 27+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 31+1 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 3 | DF | John Beresford | 1+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Chris Marsden | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Carlton Palmer | 18+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21+1 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | Claus Lundekvam | 30+3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 33+4 | 0 | 3 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | Ken Monkou | 22 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| 7 | MF | Matt Le Tissier | 20+10 | 7 | 0+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22+11 | 7 | 10 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Matt Oakley | 21+1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23+1 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Mark Hughes | 32 | 1 | 1+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 35+1 | 1 | 15 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Egil Østenstad | 27+7 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 31+7 | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | David Howells | 8+1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10+1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 12 | DF | Richard Dryden | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | GK | Neil Moss | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Stuart Ripley | 16+6 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17+7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 15 | DF | Francis Benali | 19+4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 21+4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 16 | FW | James Beattie | 22+13 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 | 25+14 | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| 18 | DF | Wayne Bridge | 15+8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 16+8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 19 | DF | Scott Marshall | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 21 | DF | Andy Williams | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 22 | MF | David Hughes | 6+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6+3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Scott Hiley | 27+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 24 | FW | Steve Basham | 0+4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 25 | DF | Garry Monk | 4 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | FW | David Hirst | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Kevin Gibbens | 2+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 29 | DF | Phil Warner | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 30 | MF | Hassan Kachloul | 18+4 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20+4 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 31 | FW | Shayne Bradley | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | DF | Patrick Colleter | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| 35 | FW | Marian Pahars | 4+2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4+2 | 3 | 2 | 0 |

## Transfers

### In

| Date | Pos. | Name | From | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 14 June 1998 | MF | David Howells | Tottenham Hotspur | Free transfer |
| 6 July 1998 | MF | Stuart Ripley | Blackburn Rovers | £1,500,000 |
| 9 July 1998 | FW | Mark Paul | King's Lynn | £60,000 |
| 10 July 1998 | FW | James Beattie | Blackburn Rovers | £1,000,000 |
| 11 July 1998 | FW | Mark Hughes | Chelsea | £650,000 |
| 21 August 1998 | DF | Scott Hiley | Manchester City | Free transfer |
| 16 October 1998 | MF | Hassan Kachloul | Metz | £250,000 |
| 2 December 1998 | GK | Michael Stensgaard | Copenhagen | Free transfer |
| 24 December 1998 | DF | Patrick Colleter | Marseille | £100,000 |
| 1 February 1999 | MF | Chris Marsden | Birmingham City | £800,000 |
| 16 February 1999 | FW | Marian Pahars | Skonto | £800,000 |
| 23 February 1999 | MF | Dani Rodrigues | Feirense | £170,000 |

### Out

| Date | Pos. | Name | To | Fee |
| - | - | - | - | - |
| 1 June 1998 | FW | Kevin Davies | Blackburn Rovers | £7,500,000 |
| 1 July 1998 | MF | Duncan Spedding | Northampton Town | Free transfer |
| 15 July 1998 | MF | Kevin Richardson | Barnsley | Signed |
| 1 August 1998 | DF | Lee Todd | Bradford City | £250,000 |
| 24 August 1998 | FW | Stig Johansen | Helsingborgs | £250,000 |
| 19 January 1999 | MF | Carlton Palmer | Nottingham Forest | £1,100,000 |
| 8 February 1999 | FW | Cosimo Sarli | Eendracht Aalst | Signed |

    Transfers in: £5,330,000
    Transfers out: £9,100,000
    Total spending: £3,770,000
