Saints 2 Posh 1

[influx]

I hope we dont call the players first names out again, it made us look like a bunch of idiots. Other fans will think we are complete mongs

 

Most fans are complete mongs. When I look around me at the footy i wonder if any of my fellow supporters understand the term self-respect

[doggface]

Just back and v happy and relieved we won (ugly wins are good) but somehow I feel it was not a great victory to savour. I fancy had they kept 11 men on the pitch we would have won easily but all of a sudden we didn't know how to penetrate 10 men and we became too elaborate.

Least enjoyable game at SMS so far this season but the fact we got 3 points speaks volumes so that is a positive in itself. Negatives? Where was everyone - a nice autumn evening, and yet only 21000+ - are the armchair fans - you know who you are - getting a little too cosy?

 

Would loved to have been there but along way to travel! How's things?

[SuperMikey]

Just back from the game (and the pub). Great to go 2-0 up within 20 minutes, but after that I think we switched off. When they went down to 10 men, they got everyone behind the ball and frustrated us. It didn't help that we were making mistakes as well. I think we weren't involving the midfield in the build up play as much in the second half, the ball tended to switch from flank to flank or from the defence up to Rickie. Something to improve on, because we didn't use our possession very well in the 2nd half.

[shurlock]

Nervy but straightforward win - don't bemoan the tactics in the 2nd half. We controlled possession, sometimes got behind them (albeit predictably - usually via the long-ball to Lambert and flicks to Chappers) and strangled the pace of the game. With Cork and Fox rested and the early substitutions of Guly and Lallana, there shouldn't be any repeat of Reading after tonight's relative canter.

 

Would have been nice to take Lambert off who looked cream-crackered but we dont have any cover for him; similarly Chappers put in another marathon shift, so hopefully he's bang up for Sturday.

 

Thought we were a bit ponderous in possession at times and the game reminded me why I don't really like Morgan and Deano as a midfield partnership. Both fullbacks looked a tad rusty, though Harding got better as the game went on. And we got done all too easily for pace for the goal.

 

Didn't mind the Schteve schtick not least because it didn't sound like people were chanting his name - it was more drawn out, more like a roar (as well the Dutch thing). Other names don't work in same way and it started getting moronic when other players were getting the same treatment.

Edited 2 November, 2011 by shurlock

[Saint J 77]

http://twitter.com/#!/Rchap04/status/131500472119988224

 

Goal and the win means Chaplow gets back at Fergie

 

haha I was worried how Chaplow would play tonight knowing their history, I did wonder if he would have a rush of blood and do something silly. So I was and really glad he got that goal. Fergie Junior is very easy to dislike. He was very unprofessional in the 4 all game last year. Showing his dislike for chappers by grabbing him by the throat at one point. I bet that goal meant alot to him but the victory probably made it even sweeter

[SaintBobby]

Significant, and although Boro win only confirms our great result on Saturday. How many points do we need for 17th ?

 

Genuine question.

 

What is your prediction is for our finishing position now?

 

I'm not trying to prove a point.

 

At the start of the season I said 10th. My Mrs said auto promotion - prob 2nd.

 

She's now saying she was pessimistic!!!

[petermcpete]

there was about 10 of us singing for all we were worth in the Itchen South, could you hear us? Battered and loving life.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Another home win. Fantastic run. We are a machine.

[sammysaint]

Great win cant wait to go to another game, missed last nite the massive debate i have every week is play football myself or go watch the saints !!

 

5 points clear as well lets try and get a further gap between us and 2nd/3rd.

[John B]

We are five points clear a home win two excellent goals West Ham drew but for some reason felt a little dissappointed as there seemed little urgency in the team and no player seemed to play very well.

[Professor]

I don't feel pleased that we lost by 1-0 against 10 men in 55 minutes of football. If playing with 10 against 11 somehow gives the 10 men an advantage, why not take a player off at the start of the game? Of course, not. If teams are equal in skill, 11 should beat 10, and we didn't. I do think it was a mistake to go 4-5-1. Adkins should have brought Connolly on at half time and they should have gone all out for the third goal.

[Petersfield Saint]

Significant, and although Boro win only confirms our great result on Saturday. How many points do we need for 17th ?

 

Only just woken up to see the result - buzzing!

 

And lol, fair play Dalek!

[benjii]

I didn't think tonight was that nervey at all. Not like they were flying in with wave after wave of attacks and last ditch defending etc. Felt pretty comfortable throughout despite their goal.

 

Exactly.

 

All the numpties who say, "we looked nervous" are simply betraying their yellow-bellies. They were the nervous ones no doubt, but don't project it onto the players. We didn't look nervous at all. If anything we were too comfortable. Peterboro's performance after the red card was the single most defensive display of football I have ever seen in a Saints match. If you're 2-0 up and the opposition are content to stand 30 yards off your centre backs, of course you're not going to bomb forwards like loonies and give them what they want - an opportunity to counter.

 

Adkins is right that at times individual execution was poor which meant an extra touch was needed or a pass wasn't accurate enough but we did all the right things in terms of how we played.

 

And it's not as though we didn't have chances to get a third. Lambert missed a sitter, De Ridder nearly scored, Lambert and Connolly both had good chances to shoot around the box.

 

It was a comfortable win. I can understand some nerves in the crowd because it was too easy. It felt weird. Peterboro were just stood there watching us play. That's odd. But I bet you the players weren't nervous.

[doddisalegend]

Exactly.

 

All the numpties who say, "we looked nervous" are simply betraying their yellow-bellies. They were the nervous ones no doubt, but don't project it onto the players. We didn't look nervous at all. If anything we were too comfortable. Peterboro's performance after the red card was the single most defensive display of football I have ever seen in a Saints match. If you're 2-0 up and the opposition are content to stand 30 yards off your centre backs, of course you're not going to bomb forwards like loonies and give them what they want - an opportunity to counter.

 

Adkins is right that at times individual execution was poor which meant an extra touch was needed or a pass wasn't accurate enough but we did all the right things in terms of how we played.

 

And it's not as though we didn't have chances to get a third. Lambert missed a sitter, De Ridder nearly scored, Lambert and Connolly both had good chances to shoot around the box.

 

It was a comfortable win. I can understand some nerves in the crowd because it was too easy. It felt weird. Peterboro were just stood there watching us play. That's odd. But I bet you the players weren't nervous.

 

What even more than Oldham two seasons ago?

[Greenridge]

I don't feel pleased that we lost by 1-0 against 10 men in 55 minutes of football. If playing with 10 against 11 somehow gives the 10 men an advantage, why not take a player off at the start of the game? Of course, not. If teams are equal in skill, 11 should beat 10, and we didn't. I do think it was a mistake to go 4-5-1. Adkins should have brought Connolly on at half time and they should have gone all out for the third goal.

 

We went 4-4-2 when Connolly game on, we were already 4-5-1. Good win despite the pace disappearing out of the game and too much 'football' being played at times with not enough drive in to the last third. Thought both full-backs struggled especially Richardson.

[SNSUN]

Who was the MOTM? Anyone?

[doddisalegend]

Who was the MOTM? Anyone?

 

*Shrug* no one really stood out last night as good or bad it was the strangest game I've been to in a while. You know what's going on the pitch isn't very entertaining when the Chapel decide to sing:scared:

[shurlock]

Exactly.

 

All the numpties who say, "we looked nervous" are simply betraying their yellow-bellies. They were the nervous ones no doubt, but don't project it onto the players. We didn't look nervous at all. If anything we were too comfortable. Peterboro's performance after the red card was the single most defensive display of football I have ever seen in a Saints match. If you're 2-0 up and the opposition are content to stand 30 yards off your centre backs, of course you're not going to bomb forwards like loonies and give them what they want - an opportunity to counter.

 

Adkins is right that at times individual execution was poor which meant an extra touch was needed or a pass wasn't accurate enough but we did all the right things in terms of how we played.

 

And it's not as though we didn't have chances to get a third. Lambert missed a sitter, De Ridder nearly scored, Lambert and Connolly both had good chances to shoot around the box.

 

It was a comfortable win. I can understand some nerves in the crowd because it was too easy. It felt weird. Peterboro were just stood there watching us play. That's odd. But I bet you the players weren't nervous.

 

As I said, it was straightforward but nervy. The second half was a relaxing stroll but they hit one speculative ball over the top and seconds later its 2-1. All our chances came before their goal; after they scored, our play became disjointed and I'm surprised they didn't have a go given their attacking instincts (2nd top scorers and all that). Still they probably found it hard to change gear having spent most of the game standing there and watching us play.

Edited 2 November, 2011 by shurlock

[Saints foreva]

Good win, wasn't really our best performance but it didn't need to be.

 

Shame about the minute silence didn't happen, think the clapping started from The Chapel end?

[doddisalegend]

Good win, wasn't really our best performance but it didn't need to be.

 

Shame about the minute silence didn't happen, think the clapping started from The Chapel end?

 

Forgot about that was a right balls up. I think when the ref blew the whistle to call the players over some people thought that was the whistle to start the silence, when the ref blew the whistle to actually start people thought that was the end of the silence so started clapping so we end up doing a miniute of clapping instead of silence....

[jamesb]

Great win cant wait to go to another game, missed last nite the massive debate i have every week is play football myself or go watch the saints !!

 

5 points clear as well lets try and get a further gap between us and 2nd/3rd.

 

This is my problem too! Isnt it a nightmare??? Though did get to West Ham last week, felt as knackered after watching that game to be fair! Very winnable game saturday. Will be immense to go into another intl break top of the league!

[Saint J 77]

Whatever happens Saturday we will still go into the international break top of the league. I feel Saturday presents us with a very good chance of taking 3 more points. I just hope the players turn in a clinical performance and give nothing away.

[Ken Tone]

Forgot about that was a right balls up. I think when the ref blew the whistle to call the players over some people thought that was the whistle to start the silence, when the ref blew the whistle to actually start people thought that was the end of the silence so started clapping so we end up doing a miniute of clapping instead of silence....

 

Exactly ...plus the announcer said "minute's silence" just before the ref's first whistle, so most people did indeed think that was the start, even though the players were still running to get in position. The ref was stupid to blow that first time. It was unnecessary and caused the confusion.

[Colinjb]

are the armchair fans - you know who you are - getting a little too cosy?

 

No, i'm stuck in the midlands during the week with work, but thanks for asking.

[sidthesquid]

Exactly.

 

All the numpties who say, "we looked nervous" are simply betraying their yellow-bellies. They were the nervous ones no doubt, but don't project it onto the players. We didn't look nervous at all. If anything we were too comfortable. Peterboro's performance after the red card was the single most defensive display of football I have ever seen in a Saints match. If you're 2-0 up and the opposition are content to stand 30 yards off your centre backs, of course you're not going to bomb forwards like loonies and give them what they want - an opportunity to counter.

 

Adkins is right that at times individual execution was poor which meant an extra touch was needed or a pass wasn't accurate enough but we did all the right things in terms of how we played.

 

And it's not as though we didn't have chances to get a third. Lambert missed a sitter, De Ridder nearly scored, Lambert and Connolly both had good chances to shoot around the box.

 

It was a comfortable win. I can understand some nerves in the crowd because it was too easy. It felt weird. Peterboro were just stood there watching us play. That's odd. But I bet you the players weren't nervous.

 

It was one of the weirdest games I've ever watched. Peterborough played with ten/nine men back for the whole game & damage limitation seemed to be their motivation. We barely got out of second gear throughout and most of the second half was about as exciting as a testimonial. Even after they scored - with their only meaningful chance of the game - they retreated backwards again & didn't get another chance. The crowd was flat, too. Just a weird evening alround, but ultimately it was 'Job done & move on.'

[Gordon Mockles]

It was f******g ctingeworthy. Grown men in their 40s and 50s continuously cracking up at shouting a player's first name. Sad t**ts.

 

F*ck me! You must be a hit at parties with your surgically removed sense of humour! I thought it mildly funny and it lightened the mood when the match went a bit stale second half. The crowd were in great spirits...other than the dark rain cloud that seemingly hovers above your head. Lighten up. Don't berate others just because you lack charisma. Sour indeed!

[The Kraken]

It was one of the weirdest games I've ever watched. Peterborough played with ten/nine men back for the whole game & damage limitation seemed to be their motivation. We barely got out of second gear throughout and most of the second half was about as exciting as a testimonial. Even after they scored - with their only meaningful chance of the game - they retreated backwards again & didn't get another chance. The crowd was flat, too. Just a weird evening alround, but ultimately it was 'Job done & move on.'

 

The game itself reminded me of some games in League 1 where we were a couple of goals up fairly early on and you just knew the other team weren't going to get back into it. Dagenham & Redbridge springs immediately to mind. The crowd lost focus and got bored, hence the sh*tty chanting. The team were very much safety first and looked to stay comfortable in posession rather than play at a high tempo and really make the most of the extra man to find the gaps.

 

I think de Ridder is going to be a bit of an enigma, he may just be one of those players who are dreadful in one game and then totally unplayable in the next. His surging run and ball across that Lambert should have scored from summed up the damage he can do, but all too often he failed or chose not to do the simple things and keep the ball moving.

[West Stand]

Exactly ...plus the announcer said "minute's silence" just before the ref's first whistle, so most people did indeed think that was the start, even though the players were still running to get in position. The ref was stupid to blow that first time. It was unnecessary and caused the confusion.

 

.... and that wasn't the last blast on his whistle, during the evening, which was confusing!!!!

[hasper57saint]

I said in the 'build-up' 2 - 1 to Saints as I thought we did get a little to laid back.

We should just about grab a win on saturday and go into the International break still at the top.

[Chez]

Once in front it was a stroll and only some poor finishing prevented it from being 3 or 4. Far too many Saints fans projecting their own nervousness onto the players. For me it was the least nervous I have been watching Saints since the JPT final.

[trousers]

17 minutes of highlights now up on Saints Player: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/20111102/all-angles-covered-saints-2-1-peterborough_2264122_2503329/0,,10280~2503329~1,00.html

[trousers]

17 minutes of highlights now up on Saints Player: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk/articles/20111102/all-angles-covered-saints-2-1-peterborough_2264122_2503329/0,,10280~2503329~1,00.html

 

Just watched it. How we didn't win that game by 3 or 4 clear goals I'll never know.

 

De Ridder looked classy.

[corsacar saint]

We won,at the end of the season these 3 points could be very important.[i did not particularly enjoy the game,but in general the football we have seen at St Marys this

season,has been magnificent].

[Wade Garrett]

We overplayed in the attacking third. A little bit like we were taking the mickey. I reckon Nigel gave them a bit of a talking to after the game.

 

Fonte spent all night trying to play Hollywood balls to Lambert, losing us quite a bit of posession in the process.

 

That said, a win is a win. Well done lads, no easy games in this league as proved by West Ham only drawing at home to Bristol City.

 

The league table looks the b*llocks at the moment.

[Legod Third Coming]

Anyone who thinks that was nervy needs a slap.

 

1. We would have won that game 4-0+ if they'd kept 11 players on the park.

 

2. It was so easy it looked like a training game and that's how the players treated it.

 

3. Kelvin Davies made NO (that's zero saves). We switched off for one minute and they got a goal we should have defended. After the goal they didn't mount another attack apart from one poor free kick - for a foul that did not exist.

 

4. The manager called this 100% right on Solent. We were too slow with our passes - because it was too easy. There was no crispness from the moment their player was sent off.

 

We won that game not in second gear, nor even in first gear. We were in neutral.

 

Bring on a stiff challenge.

[doddisalegend]

Anyone who thinks that was nervy needs a slap.

 

1. We would have won that game 4-0+ if they'd kept 11 players on the park.

 

2. It was so easy it looked like a training game and that's how the players treated it.

 

3. Kelvin Davies made NO (that's zero saves). We switched off for one minute and they got a goal we should have defended. After the goal they didn't mount another attack apart from one poor free kick - for a foul that did not exist.

 

4. The manager called this 100% right on Solent. We were too slow with our passes - because it was too easy. There was no crispness from the moment their player was sent off.

 

We won that game not in second gear, nor even in first gear. We were in neutral.

 

Bring on a stiff challenge.

 

Nervy no. A bit bored? ..........yes

[um pahars]

Have to concur with many of the sentiments on here in that:

 

a) Wasn't ever that nervy, even when they pulled a goal back. Always thought we were going to win.

 

b) We took our foot off the gas once we were two up and never seemed to get going again.

 

c) Substitutions seemed to disrupt us (not that we were that fluent before)

 

d) Had the feel of a training match, which increased once they went down to ten men.

 

e) Attendance was poor (midweek and unattractive opposition aside, I did expect more).

 

f) Winning ugly earned us the same points as the great Saturday performance (next!!!!!)

[Legod Third Coming]

Nervy no. A bit bored? ..........yes

 

A bit??!!!

 

Hammond knitted me a new bobble hat, Morgan gave me the first chapter of his autobiography to translate and Lallana updated his Facebook profile during the second half...

[teamsaint]

I am going to assume that NA is keeping Corky for the toughest games.

 

possibly explains some of the lacklustre passing last night.

[Charlie Wayman]

If you change a winning team every week this is what you get. It also seemed to me that Nigel switched tactics around so often that our players lost the plot a bit and didn't know where to play or what was expected of them. I saw him do the diamond hand signal a couple of times (to win the football back - he says) and then the 4/4/2 and then goodness knows what towards the end.

 

Sure it's good to change tactics but to do that the team needed to be playing like a well-oiled machine in automatic and it just wasn't doing that last night.

 

I hear all the stuff about "the squad" which is great if you are ManUre or ManCy or Gooners with at east two first teams but we aren't yet so for heaven's sake let's play our best XI and it's up to the other's to fight their way in or bugger off if they don't like it.

[saints_is_the_south]

Just watched the highlights on Saints Player, if only one of Lambert's 3 or 4 chances had gone in I think the flood gates would have oppened. Likewise had they actually kept 11 men on the pitch I think we'd have scored more as they played extremley open, you can see why they concede so many as every time they went forward before the sending off they had 7 or 8 men pouring forward, leaving 3 at the back and a huge space inbetween defence and midfield.

 

The game did have a bit of a training exercise feel to it, but I felt we never really had to get out of 1st gear. Don't agree with the above post, thought it was good to see a couple of changes last night to give Harding, Richardson, Morgan...etc a chance, and we won so it went well.

[saint si]

http://eurorivals.net/southampton:peterborough-united-highlights-goals-video_20111102.html

[doddisalegend]

I see blackpool have put 10 man leeds to the sword 5-0 tonight that was kind of what I was hoping for last night I know winning 2-1 is as good as winning 5-0 but it would have been nice ....oh well bring on coventry.

[pedg]

What is it about our stadium that every report has to start with a panning shot of it??

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/15564007.stm

[Lazlo78]

Anyone who thinks that was nervy needs a slap.

 

1. We would have won that game 4-0+ if they'd kept 11 players on the park.

 

2. It was so easy it looked like a training game and that's how the players treated it.

 

3. Kelvin Davies made NO (that's zero saves). We switched off for one minute and they got a goal we should have defended. After the goal they didn't mount another attack apart from one poor free kick - for a foul that did not exist.

 

4. The manager called this 100% right on Solent. We were too slow with our passes - because it was too easy. There was no crispness from the moment their player was sent off.

 

We won that game not in second gear, nor even in first gear. We were in neutral.

 

Bring on a stiff challenge.

 

Having seen the extended highlights I completely agree. We were in control of the game for 90 minutes and on any other day, we could have won by a much larger margin. de Ridder looks class in the highlights, but actually Guly looks like he was at the centre of everything interesting in the first half. MotM for the Brazilian?

[Legod Third Coming]

If you change a winning team every week this is what you get. It also seemed to me that Nigel switched tactics around so often that our players lost the plot a bit and didn't know where to play or what was expected of them. I saw him do the diamond hand signal a couple of times (to win the football back - he says) and then the 4/4/2 and then goodness knows what towards the end.

 

Sure it's good to change tactics but to do that the team needed to be playing like a well-oiled machine in automatic and it just wasn't doing that last night.

 

I hear all the stuff about "the squad" which is great if you are ManUre or ManCy or Gooners with at east two first teams but we aren't yet so for heaven's sake let's play our best XI and it's up to the other's to fight their way in or bugger off if they don't like it.

 

I agree 100%.

 

This season we have only won 75% of our games.

 

We are only five points clear of West Ham.

 

We are only the division's top scorers.

 

The manager has only won over two thirds of all games for which he has been in charge.

 

The manager is second only in success to a man who is in his third decade as manager of Manchester United.

 

The guy is a bloody joke and needs to wise up to your knowledge.

[hutch]

I thought the following write up in the Peterborough Evening Telegraph was a fair report of the game:

 

 

For 75 minutes this was as big an anti-climax as David Haye’s last fight. Two goalscoring heavyweights in action, but one of them couldn’t land a blow.

 

Posh, who had impressively kept a clean sheet for the opening 10 minutes to surpass their achievements of the previous three matches, were still 2-0 down after 16 minutes and a man down 20 minutes later.

 

Not what you need against a Southampton team rampant at the top of the Championship and chasing an astonishing 19th home win in a row. That they tried to achieve it without breaking into a trot never mind a canter was hugely disappointing, but rather helpful as far as Posh were concerned.

 

But after strolling arrogantly through a dreadful second half spectacle the Saints were stunned by an expert finish from Posh substitute Emile Sinclair following George Boyd’s fine through-ball with 15 minutes to go.

 

It didn’t exactly provoke any frantic action towards jittery goalkeeper Kevin Davis’ goal, but it was a decent reward for a determined rearguard action. It was also funny to witness the switch from supreme cockiness to obvious concern among the home fans.

 

Of course the late goal shouldn’t disguise what was in essence a very comfortable home win. The Saints are hardly a team in need of any help, but they received it anyway, both from some poor passing and terrible marking which led to the two early strikes and the latest individual masquerading as a competent referee.

 

Gavin Ward was a top-ranked assistant referee in his day, a job he should return to judging by his foul detection skills in this game.

 

There were no official complaints after three slick passes enabled Richard Chaplow to escape the Posh defence and open the scoring in the 12th minute. There should have been at least a stewards’ enquiry about the decision to award a foul on Guy Do Prado by Gaby Zakuani which led to Jos Hooiveld tapping in a second following a clever set-piece routine four minutes later.

 

A mountain to climb then and two tackles, two fouls and two yellow cards for midfielder Lee Frecklington before the half hour mark meant Posh were never likely to leave base camp.

 

That they escaped a drubbing was down as much to Saints opting to showboat and stroll as it was to any great defending, although Ryan Bennett was excellent throughout, Gaby Zakuani launched himself into some brilliant late blocks and goalkeeper Paul Jones made a couple of fine stops to thwart Rickie Lambert.

 

But to be fair even with 11 men Posh were struggling to make any inroads. Manager Darren Ferguson appeased a large part of the Posh support by keeping Sinclair off the pitch for more than half the game, but fielding an extra midfielder (Ryan Tunnicliffe played deeper than Grant McCann) did not enable Posh to keep possession.

 

Indeed the number of times Posh are pressed into conceding the ball in dangerous areas is becoming rather worrying. Lambert and Lallana both almost took advantage with further first-half goals.

 

Posh re-grouped and were re-styled in the second half. They defended soundly, but were helped by the home desire to walk the ball into the net.

 

Tommy Rowe fired just over from the edge of the penalty area and McCann forced Davis into a save from long range, but even after their goal Posh didn’t deliver another shot.

 

Southampton did, but substitute Steve De Ridder fizzed a half-volley wide. It would have been a moment of quality out of context with a thoroughly disappointing, poorly refereed, match.

 

 

A few sports editors could take note

[Mozz]

That report is bang on the money for me. Surprising given the quality of most newspaper reports. Good stuff.

[fanimal]

Boolox!! Seen that second 'tackle' it was a straight red fgs!! Muppet....

[teamsaint]

For "strolling arrogantly", read, "doing enough to win, protecting players with niggles, and keeping enough in reserve for the next game, a formula which served Saints well in League 1 and this season"