obelisk

Perhaps he wouldn't have been caught fannying around with the ball inside his own half just before Reading broke away for their 2nd. Or if he had he'd have chopped his opponent down and taken a yellow for the team. Possibly!

This is what I keep trying to remind myself of. It's a sort of que sera sera thing I guess because there's pretty much nothing those of us that witter on here can do about it other than offer absolute support for the remaining 3 games. As long as the players are seen to offer us their best (and try to be better) then I'm cool with that. I'm pretty sure that there are highs and lows yet to come and if Saints end up outside the top two for the first time on the last day then I'll probably be yelling "bottlers" too - until I calm down and move on to the play-offs. The post mortems and exchange of opinions is all part of why we love the game isn't it? Sure I'll be gutted if Saints screw up after all the good work this season but I shall attempt to keep it all in perspective. It's better for my health. One hundred years ago more than 500 Southampton residents had a truly dreadful day. At least we have next season.

The whole team performance has been somewhat lacking since November. Admittedly we're still in the sort of position I'd have dreamed of at the start of the season but after the performances up 'til that time I'm somewhat disappointed to not already be celebrating promotion.

Unless they score a hatful and Saints concede more than 1 or 2. Not likely but not impossible.

If we weren't chasing the game then I suppose you could say he did well enough in parts. Average at best I'd say given the circumstances and the job he was given.

Sums it up well enough. Jos's finishing is currently dreadful. I expect him to bury any clear headers he gets on Tuesday.

Perhaps it was the haircut. Has he got time to grow a moustache?

I've been saying that for weeks. Just shows what I know.

I had assumed that Fonte had been nudged under the ball. Hard to see in any of the camera angles but you have to say it was a clinical finish. If only Jos had been that clinical.

After getting that equaliser I assumed Saints would go for it and for a few minutes they did. Reading looked worried they might get overrun and with some calmer finishing things might have gone Saints way. But Saints returned to the laboured slow build up, never really got behind them and took to lumping it into the box. Thinking about it, I can't really remember too much that Federici had to worry about from then on. Even at 1-2 with 15 minutes left there didn't seem to be anything in the way of urgency. It feels like a mugging but is it really? Reading were quick on the break and absolutely clinical in punishing individual mistakes. Perhaps Saints will do the business in the next 2 away matches but recent omens make me slightly perturbed. Let's see what happens at Upton Park tomorrow.

If Saints had the composure to finish like Reading then we'd have been out of sight. I fancy this could be a struggle for 2nd now.

That is a lesson in finishing.

What the fuk!!!

Where's the urgency?

Saints just don't defend the edge of the area.

Just what I feared.

****s!

That's what we wanted! Yesss!

Just get one early in the 2nd half and I reckon the game's there for the winning. If it goes on at 0-1 for long I anticipate another from them on the break.

Reading have been riding their luck of late. This is just more of the same. If Fox hadn't decided to give the ball away Reading wouldn't have had a sniff.

Poor old Chappers is having one of those days. He should be replaced before the ref decides to send him on his way.

Stupid free kick given away

Stupid loose pass

Saints need to calm down a bit.

Reading are fairly resilient and that showed last night but really they're far from unbeatable. Even 10 man Leeds could have had them if they weren't so interested in having a punch up. Saints record at home against the top teams this season is pretty good and I'd be expecting nothing less than a win against a Reading team that are due to concede a few. Our lads will create chances and some nice composure in front of goal will hopefully see us through. Oh yes, and do NOT concede any sort of free kick within 25 yards of our goal.