Bassett has warm words for Walcott

Southampton 1 Luton 0

Walcott earned Saints their first win in a month with a sublime chip in the 23rd minute. And beaming Bassett is now hoping he will be made Southampton boss on a full-time basis.

Caretaker manager Bassett said: “Theo scored a terrific goal and on another day may even had had one or two more. Sometimes he does things that make you think he has not made the right decision but that is only to be expected from a 16-year-old.

“He is still a young lad, learning the trade, but has a good scoring ratio at a time when we need it most.

“I have no news on my own situation but hopefully I will be sitting down with the chairman in the next two or three days.”

Walcott won the game with a superb solo strike midway through the first half. Antti Niemi put a hopeful punt up-field before Walcott unleashed a superb lob over Luton goalkeeper Dean Brill from the edge of the area.

SOUTHAMPTON: Niemi, Delap, Kenton, Powell, Higginbotham, McCann, Prutton, Oakley, Kosowski (Baird 72), Walcott (Best 85), Jones (Cranie 90).

LUTON: Brill, Foley, Coyne, Underwood, Heikkinen, Edwards (Holmes 69), Nicholls, Robinson, Brkovic, Showunmi (Vine 60), Howard.

Referee: L Probert.