Southampton suffered a miserable exit from the Europa League last night to leave Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur as England’s only representatives in the competition’s group stage.
Their stylish qualification for the competition was forgotten amid a series of long balls aimed at the head of Graziano Pellè, their forward, that rarely brought concern for Midtjylland.
Southampton signalled their intent to progress in the competition by making only three changes to the team who drew 0-0 away to Watford in the Barclays Premier League last Sunday, two of which were enforced by injury.
But even without Victor Wanyama, sidelined by a stomach infection, and Sadio Mané, who did not leave the bench because of a hip problem, they should have had enough to see off the Danish champions.
Midtjylland scored first, just as they did in the first leg in England, but they should have been behind at that point.
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José Fonte headed a bouncing ball goalwards from a corner by James Ward-Prowse but it was cleared off the line, then Jay Rodriguez hooked the ball across goal — when he should surely have shot — and saw the resulting effort by Steven Davis blocked.
Rodriguez also fired over from a cross by Cuco Martina and the forward’s evening worsened on the half-hour when he gave the ball away near his own corner flag to Kristian Bach Bak.
The right back’s cross was controlled well on the turn by Morten Rasmussen, who evaded Fonte’s challenge and drove home into the far corner.
Rodriguez was also booked for pulling the jersey of Petter Andersson as the Midtjylland player lay on the ground claiming an injury.
Early in the second half, Rasmussen headed inches wide when unmarked at a free kick from Jesper Lauridsen and soon afterwards Southampton abandoned their tactic of using three central defenders, Dusan Tadic replacing Steven Caulker.
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Tadic shot wide and the winger’s presence inspired a slight improvement. Southampton should have been awarded a penalty when Rasmussen raised an arm in the wall to block a free kick by Ward-Prowse, but otherwise they created little.
Midtjylland (4-1-4-1): J Dahlin — K Bach Bak (sub: A Romer, 83min), K Hansen, E Sviatchenko, J Lauridsen — T Sparv — P Sisto (sub: R Hassan, 68), P Andersson (sub: M Pusic, 80), K Poulsen, D Royer — M Rasmussen. Substitutes not used: M Andersen, K Olsson, P Banggaard, P Onuachu.
Southampton (3-5-2): M Stekelenburg — S Caulker (sub: D Tadic, 56), J Fonte, M Yoshida — C Martina, S Davis, J Ward-Prowse (sub: Juanmi, 83), O Romeu, M Targett — G Pellè, J Rodriguez (sub: S Long, 76). Substitutes not used: K Davis, Cédric, S Mané, H Reed. Booked: Rodriguez, Targett.
Referee: L Liany (Israel).