What Ryan Fraser told Oli McBurnie speaks volumes for Southampton’s current struggles

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Southampton’s winless run under Will Still continued on Saturday, with Hull City striker Oli McBurnie bringing the Saints’ frustrations to light.

Hull City beat Southampton 3-1 at the weekend, courtesy of goals from Kyle Joseph, John Lundstram and Oli McBurnie.

The Saints brought one back in injury-time with a consolation goal from Adam Armstrong as Hull recorded consecutive victories over Southampton for the first time in 74 years.

Southampton sit 19th in the table, and have failed to record a Championship win under Will Still since their last-minute comeback victory against Wrexham on the opening weekend.

Hull were ruthless in attack as McBurnie continued his impressive run of form, and the Tigers striker revealed where the frustrations of one Southampton player lie.

• READ MORE: Southampton loanee wins accolade with Championship rivals while Will Still’s side struggle to click

Ryan Fraser wants Southampton forwards to win headers from his crosses

Southampton scored their inconsequential late goal at the MKM Stadium after the Tigers failed to clear a cross from Caspar Jander, with the headed clearance falling to Ryan Fraser, who teed up Adam Armstrong inside the box.

Throughout the game, Fraser was one of the few Southampton stars who looked close to carving out an opening, with the small-statured Scotsman creating the most chances (three) of any player on the pitch.

However, each of Fraser’s eight crosses was deemed inaccurate as the Southampton forwards failed to beat the resolute Hull defenders in the air.

As a result, the Southern Daily Echo report that Hull goalscorer “McBurnie revealed that Fraser told him that he wished he had a player capable of winning headers from his crosses.”

Damion Downs started for Southampton but was wasteful in attack, with Still introducing Cameron Archer, Armstrong and Ross Stewart from the bench, but to no avail.

Fraser is partially to blame for his crossing inaccuracy against Hull, but the answer to the winger’s grievances at Southampton should be obvious to Still.

• READ MORE: Phil Parkinson hails Championship’s ‘best striker’ after Wrexham beat Norwich City

Will Still must start Ross Stewart for Southampton to appease Ryan Fraser

Former Sunderland goal-machine Stewart is facing his last chance at Southampton, with the injury-prone striker’s Saints contract set to expire in the summer.

After his complaints came to light, Fraser will be hoping Still starts his countryman going forward to assert some aerial dominance in their attack.

During his breakout in English football, Scotsman Stewart scored 40 goals in just 80 appearances for the Black Cats before moving to Southampton, with 11 of those coming with his head.

The 6’2″ centre-forward is an exceptional target man striker, highlighted by the fact that he scored 27.5% of his Sunderland goals with his head.

Still admits that Southampton are struggling to score, and that he wants “someone to stick their hand up and just take a bit of responsibility and get it in the back of the net.”

In fact, Stewart’s only goal to date for Southampton was scored with his head during the 2-1 defeat against Arsenal back in May.

Therefore, Stewart’s physical presence and eye for goal with his head and feet could be the remedy to Southampton’s struggles in the final third going forward for Still.