If you're a Liverpool or Chelsea supporter disappointed with the season, just remember it could always be a lot, lot worse — you could be a Southampton fan.
The Saints are at the bottom of the Premier League table with only 18 points from 24 matches. They had Nathan Jones as manager for three months. They somehow managed to reach the Carabao Cup semifinals before losing to Newcastle, but the lasting memory there is Jacob Murphy waving off Duje Ćaleta-Car after the defender's red card.
Newcastle United's Jacob Murphy waved goodbye to Ćaleta-Car after he got sent off pic.twitter.com/LEyC5wZK3J
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) January 24, 2023
But Southampton was still alive in the FA Cup, and on Wednesday night they welcomed fourth tier Grimsby Town (the lowest-ranked side remaining in the competition) to St Mary's Stadium with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.
Just before halftime, a Grimsby cross into the box at no one in particular should've been easily cleared by Lyanco, but the Southampton defender got his attempted header all wrong and the ball instead struck his outstretched arm. Gavan Holohan converted the penalty for the visitors.
Then, five minutes into the second half, Ćaleta-Car gave away another incredibly stupid penalty for slapping Danilo Orsi in the back. Orsi used the dark arts to ensure that the VAR spotted the infringement (if he would've stayed on his feet there's no way this is given), and the ref had no choice but to give another pen.
Orsi also shoved Ćaleta-Car beforehand (after Ćaleta-Car was horse-collaring Orsi), so it's really just a comedic bit of shithousery.
Ćaleta-Car would pull one back for Southampton but the equalizer never arrived. League Two Grimsby Town is through to the quarters where they'll play Brighton.
