madruss

I had exactly the same problem. Please fix it

Two of the best goals I've ever seen at SMS. Still absolutely gutting to lose the two points at the death, but that goal from Norris was almost a carbon copy of the MLT equaliser against Newcastle at the Dell (1997 maybe?). Absolutely stunning volley. The first goal was a total belter as well, never seen anyone put it in the top left corner from that angle before...unbelievable. As for Saints, they looked tense today and lacked the bravery and composure to play the normal passing game. The same lack of composure affected SDR and Lallana when they went through on goal. Good news is, we've got a game straight away to get the disappointment out of our system. If we raise our game and beat Reading on Friday, we will go up. Very fine margins now. Squeaky. Bum. Time.

Second that, they were fantastic. Singing the fire drill chant to oppo fans when 3-0 down was a particular highlight!

Yeah, he's rubbish. It's the 18 goals and assists I object to. What's your major guly gripe?

3-1 is so last season, we're a 2-0 team now!!

It's a pretty awesome football club, I completely agree (more than a bit biased with it!)

If carlsberg did grumpy buggers..

Josh da bosssshhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great start! Keep it going Saints, no repeat of (the first 80) of Saturday please

Totally agree, he's always been a class act but now he's finally got some consistency going with his performances.

Agree with this, except I think we should have been 3 up at half-time. Two of Lallana's chances and Guly's header would be goals 9 times out of 10. Win on Saturday and that's 7 points from the week, over 2 points per game and promotion form

This. People can sing what the hell they want at the footy. I'd rather a load of 'naff' songs were being sung at SMS than nothing at all. If anything it helps drown out the miserable b*stards moaning about Guly all match long

IMO, a Cardiff win would be the best result for us. There would surely be a sense of 'job done' for their players, which would be hard to shake off and re-motivate themselves for the final push for auto promotion. Wishful thinking though!

Now THAT is quality :lol:

Agreed, he's like a ginger Ming the Merciless

If Lambert AND lallana stay fit for the majority of the remainder, we will win the league

Just back from the match. It really was an easy victory, Derby offered nothing except a couple of decent set-piece deliveries. Saints' tempo and passing was superb, totally dominated midfield and the combination of the strikers and the joining midfield players was breathtaking at times. First half should have been 3 or 4 up, and then once we got the 2nd goal it was always going to be a case of how many we scored. Morgan was absolutely outstanding today, and my MOTM. A superb display of presence, one touch passing, tackling, reading the game and moving the ball quickly and effectively, thereby making the midfield tick, just outstanding. Oh, and Tadanari's goal...best I've seen at SMS for a long time Player ratings. Kelvin 6 - had to deal with some hospital back passes, and generally his distribution was ok. Only had one save to make the whole game, and that was comfortable. Harding 7 - Thankfully was more like his Forest performance at RB, as opposed to the Leicester disaster. Defended well, but quite wasteful going forward. Fonte 8 - Assured performance at the back, passing was generally good, but seemed more comfortable with Jos as a partner than Martin Hooiveld 8 - Shame he went off, it was almost embarrassing at times how easily he was dealing with Nathan Tyson, another good goal from a corner too Fox 8 - Starting to settle down as a consistent performer at LB. Great defensively and offensively. 3 assists today shows his worth to the team. Morgan 10 - Just outstanding. If he played like this consistently, we'd have trouble keeping the top European sides from signing him. Granted Derby gave him a lot of space, but a lot of the time he created that space for himself with clever movement or an excellent first touch. His tackling was also spot on, which is a side of his game that has improved so much since he joined. Cork 8 -Thankfully put his West Ham shocker behind him with a typical quality performance both at CM and on the right of the diamond in the second half. Lallana 9 - Could have scored a hat-trick today, he really is back to top form and is an absolute joy to watch. Great goal, started the move in his own half with a one-two with Tadanari, and finished well. Chaplow 7 - His touch was a bit heavy at times, but he looks as fit as he did back in November and made lots of his usual lung-busting runs to close the opposition down and to make some vital clearances and interceptions during Derby's only good spell towards the end of the 1st half. Lambert 8 - Typical RL performance, dominated their CB and held the ball up superbly. Unlucky not to score with a cracking free-kick, but really should have scored when free at the back post. Sharp 7 - Like Lambert, held the ball up well and was involved with some excellent passing moves. Like Tadanari, he's excellent at pulling away from the last defender and with some decent through balls will create some good opportunities. Lee 8 - Really good 45 minutes, sharp intelligent movement and linked up well with Rickie. After today he's surely given Adkins something to think about when he picks his starting XI for Vicarage Road, and also WHAT. A. STRIKE. Martin 7 - Not as convincing as Jos, but made some excellent tackles and interceptions combined with some dodgy passes and clearances. Puncheon 6 - Did a job, but wasn't really on long enough to make much of a difference, and the game was won by then.

Really good report and pretty much how I saw the game (although you were a bit harsh on Billy IMO). I think more credit should be given to Faye, he was an absolute beast of a defender and I haven't seen Lambert dominated like that in a long time. In fact West Ham's defending all round was excellent, they made it incredibly hard for us to break them down.

He even had time to take a touch!! I still can't believe it!

I thought guly played ok tonight, got himself into good positions, but too often wasn't picked out. Puncheon was a marked improvement though and has overtaken him in the pecking order imo

Lallana for me. Back to his brilliant best

Back on the bingo bus. Frustrating yet encouraging evening. Totally dominated the ten men, but at times almost had too much possession and too much time to think. The key moment was billy's miss in the first half, it wasn't a good save it was a simple tap in and I really think we would have won the game if it's 1-1 at half time. Player ratings. Kelvin 8 two stunning saves and quick distribution. Richardson 7 bombed on down the right but his crosses weren't up to their usual high standards. Hooiveld 9 imperious display at the back, dealt with the fouling lump that is Cole, and mopped up all of the hammers hoofs Fonte 7 solid, made some good runs forward to create space. Fox 7 good outlet down the left and used the ball well, but poor delivery from open play let him down. Morgan 8 excelled in the 'quarter back' role that he takes on when we play against 10 Cork 6 not his best game, too many wayward passes and unnecessary fouls Guly 6 some decent touches and movement, but not direct enough to affect the game Lallana 9 Motm, just outstanding in the first half. Ran the show, and 3 times set sharp up where he should've done better. Lambert 6 not his best game, but then faye was fantastic and had him in his pocket Sharp 6 good shift, and makes things happen, but THAT miss will haunt him for a while. Give him a few games, and he'll be a massive player for this club. Puncheon 7 made an impact with positive running and passing/movement. Needs to start on Saturday. Connolly 6 didn't affect the game

Really looking forward to this one, and think we've got a great chance of coming away with 3 points. Our squad looks so strong now, amazing to think that just over a month ago we had a bench of Bart, Reeves, Holmes, Forte, Fox! I predict 2-1, with a nervy last 5 minutes of dealing with a bombardment of hoofs (much like when they came to SMS)

What an awesome starting XI!

Puncheon first half, cork second half, with lallana a close second behind cork