Just back from the game thread.

[Colinjb]

Fantastic, finally I have bragging rights up here!

 

First Half we battered them, Cov had nothing, second half they went for it, deserved to be level but we picked them off superbly!!!

 

MOTM: Morgan, he ran the show.

 

And wtf is that SCHTEEEEVVVEEEE chant about!? I love it!!!!

[yamms_schmitz]

Just on the a34. A memorable away day. I thought we had lost it when the momentum swung to coventry. Guly was class. His holding play was key. We are a joy to watch.

[sperm_john]

you have been waiting all season for this havent you?! lol

[Colinjb]

you have been waiting all season for this havent you?! lol

 

Too f@@king right!!!!

[JustinR]

Guly MOM for me. Excellent hold up Play, assist and quality header for third

 

Passing from the back executed to perfection.

 

Should have done better from the corner but we were unlucky for their 2nd, it came off someone's back side.

 

At times we ripped them apart. Loved it when after they had been singing "top of the league you're having a laugh " and we scored our third... Top of the league, we're having a laugh!!!!

[saint cozza]

Just got back to my Uni Halls in Coventry. Morgan and Guly just class great turnout from Saints fans didn't even hear the Cov fans sing when they scored. But some of the saints play was just a joy to watch although a few missplaced passes too many from the full backs only negative on what was a great game.

[View From The Top]

Just back myself from what I thought was an effortless win. Yes, they got back into it but this team is mentally and physically tough and the win was never really in doubt IMHO.

 

Their support was the worst I've ever seen/heard and I mean ever!

[saintrich]

Guly MOTM.

[View From The Top]

Guly, Lamber and Morgan were all excellent.

 

Best thing is that we are winning without Lallana firing on all cylinders!

[beavis17]

Guly, Lamber and Morgan were all excellent.

 

Best thing is that we are winning without Lallana firing on all cylinders!

 

Not forgetting four different goalscorers and Lambert not getting any of them. Brilliant team.

[B Rabbit]

Guly, Lamber and Morgan were all excellent.

 

Best thing is that we are winning without Lallana firing on all cylinders!

 

....and Lambert seems to not be finding the net (since Derby, i think!). Obviously he is setting up chances..

 

Hopefully with the international break AL will be fully fit and Lambert will find his scoring touch again and will smash our way through to January =)

[up and away]

Fantastic, finally I have bragging rights up here!

 

First Half we battered them, Cov had nothing, second half they went for it, deserved to be level but we picked them off superbly!!!

 

MOTM: Morgan, he ran the show.

 

And wtf is that SCHTEEEEVVVEEEE chant about!? I love it!!!!

 

you go, even though De Ridder is Belgian. And no this was not a David Brent voice over!

[View From The Top]

Lambert causes teams so many problems and his link up play is awesome.

[corky morris]

Morgan MOM for me . He ouzes class.

Good win. Poor defending for their goals - 3points, 4 goals - Excellent!!!

[aintforever]

It's a good sign when you survive a team pulling back 2 goals and then still smash them, shows that as well as having class the team has character.

 

This is the first Saints team I have ever known to not have a f*ck off big panic button.

[Saint Troy]

For me Morgan mom, very efficient with the ball and a few good ball wins as well. Lambert is used so differently to pardew days, link up play is excellent, would like to see him scoring but the many others scoring at the mo have him to thank. Jos excellent in first half and guly excellent throughout

[david in sweden]

and.....two assists and one goal from Guly

[Lallana's Left Peg]

Schneiderlin MOTM for me. Game was far more interesting than it needed to be. Which we would deal with the long ball in a more assured manner - but that was only negative. Passed the ball well and used our quality when it mattered and crowd stayed behind the team. Delighted to see Adkins make the right decisions with the subs as well. Nice two week break now to recharge the batteries and push on.

[dazzlesfc]

Thought Danny Fox had a great game, better defensively today rarely gave it away and has a real quality left foot too.Helped loads Lallana wasn't his usual self on the left today. Great turnout aswell considering amount of games we had over last few weeks.

[Sold To The Man @ The Bar]

Just got in ... Good day all in all. 1st half, we passed the ball well, but with little end product in the first 20 mins. Morgan was at the top of his game today and while Gully has flashes of madness with his choices he is always a threat. Lambo looked injured at the end of the 1st half and I was shocked when he came back out. They must of had the bollocking of their lives at half time, as at the end of the 1st they looked at the ball as a hot potato and no-one wanted it, they came out so fired up !!

 

2 easy goals got them back in it, but this was just a false dawn as we never looked like getting beat. Steeeeevvvvvvee scored with his first touch, and looked very much the poacher we need. 2.4 was about right but may flatter them.

 

Great support again from us, theirs was as bad as I have seen in a long time, on a par with MK Dons …. Yes that bad !!

[hypochondriac]

Just home. We were fantastic first half but Coventry were also rubbish and gave us so much time. Second half we took our foot off the gas and totally let them back in it. It was like Peterborough all over again. At 2-2 we decided to start playing again and beat them easily.

 

Fonte was rubbish (what has happened to him? He doesn't pass like most of the other players and gives the ball away too much.) Gully and Schneiderlin were awesome but Guly was MOTM for some classy touches and a great goal.

[Huffton]

Strange game, should have been out of sight by half time, but in time honoured Saints tradition we let them back in it just after half time. Happily though in new Saints tradition we then went and smashed them for the last 20 mins. Guly MOM for me. Was my six year olds first away match, think I'll let him come again!

[SouthportSaint]

Just back to Southport. Nice video of De Ridder goal courtesy of my son Matt.

[Lighthouse]

Just back from the game too. Christ on a bike we're not making this easy for ourselves are we. Still, can't complain. Apart from the 25 minutes between half time and their second goal we were awesome and took them to pieces. At half time they showed the highlights on the big screen and litterally all of them were Saints. Coventry didn't have a sniff, other than 2 long range efforts which were as close to the corner flag as Kelvins left post. At 2-2 I was certain there were more goals to come. Coventry were just far too bad defensively, it was all about whether Saints would collapse or wake up and kill them off. Happily, this team is made of strong stuff and it was the latter.

 

Not sure why we wobbled so badly. We came out after the break and just didn't turn up for the first 5 minutes. They could have had 3. After that we were just second to everything and didn't seem to challenge for any 50/50s. Odd and very frustrating to watch after a brilliant first half.

 

Morgan was excellent. Guly took his goal well and looked pretty useful, but he was a bit lazy at times. Hooiveld was also excellent and won everything in the air. Both full backs supported well. Thought Fonte looked a bit shaky at times and Cork was a bit hit and miss. Neither of them was what I'd call bad though. Lallana still nowhere near his best, but took his goal well. De Ridder was class when he came on and that goal was an excellent opportunistic poach. Thought he should have gone on earlier at 2-1. Can we drop the "Steeeeeve chant is punting him off his game" line now please. Clearly isn't effecting him.

[sidthesquid]

Just back to Southport. Nice video of De Ridder goal courtesy of my son Matt.

 

Looks like the ground was empty (except our bit, obviously)

[Saint Malc]

Guly needs to learn the offside rule and when he does…… WOW! My man/men of the match was Fox or Morgan.

[hypochondriac]

Looks like the ground was empty (except our bit, obviously)

 

Was the quietest I have ever seen a stadium. Was like a morgue.

[Tamesaint]

Did they ever get into our 6 yard box during the first half?? They once had an opportunity when Fox & Jos both went for the same ball & left a Covebntry player in a loy of space but he chose to shoot from long range, I think that was the nearest they got to us in the first half.

[Lighthouse]

Was the quietest I have ever seen a stadium. Was like a morgue.

 

Wasn't great was it. I actually thought the guys to our right under the score board tried to make a decent fist of it. Problem was they were so few, so spread out and in a soulless ground watching a really sh*t team. They just seemed to give up (appart from the 7 minutes between Platt and Guly's goals). In the 5 minutes following De Ridder's goal, most of them flooded for the exits. By the time we were into injury time, I'd say Saints genuinely out numbered Coventry. What an awful club to be a fan of, I just couldn't do it.

[The Cat]

Made it hard for ourselves (especially with the bizarre defending for their second goal) but fully deserved the win.

 

Glad Lambert is ok, he was hobbling quite badly before half time. Thought Fox played well and put in a beautiful cross for Guly's header.

[Lighthouse]

This was BEFORE De Ridder's goal when they all went home.

 

[Chez]

a deserved 3 points. Apart from a 10 minute spell when Cov got their tails up we totally dominated and were in a different league. They hardly touched the ball in the first half and we could have been 4 or 5 up easily. We toyed with them and looked to really enjoying it. A poor piece of keeping let them in and then a poor bit of defending from Fonte combined with a lucky richochet looked to have stolen 2 points from us, but we stepped up a gear and got the goals we needed. Cov will go down. They looked woeful.

Davis 5 very good distribution, but failed to command his area when one long ball had Fonte under pressure. Spilled a routine long shot that luckily went wide. They scored from the resulting corner. Totally missed a cross. That was all he had to do. Sloppy by his standards

Richardson 9 another top class display, strong and composed, great first touch and got forward well. What more could you ask of a fullback?

Fonte 6 gave too many fouls away and didn't win quite enough in the air for my liking. Some fouls were down to the striker backing in, but his hands were all over him at times. Some great positional play though and composed on the ball. Thought he was at fault for the equaliser, if a little unlucky. He looks like he is getting back to his best slowly and surely.

Jos 8 again outstanding. Dominated in the air. Don't ask me who was at fault for the first goal though. When does his loan run out?

Fox 7 very neat and tidy on the ball especially in the first half. A couple of terrible passes in the second half could have had us in trouble, a few wayward crosses too. Looks a good player though, better than Harding I think. Still not seen anyone go past him and they had no one even remotely good enough to do so today.

Morgan 9 brilliant game, reminded me of his showing at Franchise last season, he was everywhere, dominated the game, and looked quicker and stronger than anyone else in midfield. Touch goes without saying, passing immaculate. Vision was superb. Best game of the season for him. This kind if quality (especially the first touch) is why we dominate games...

Cork 8 best game for a while. Lots of strong running and touch much better.

Chaplow 8 another great game. Looks at the absolute top of his game. Great first touch, not something I regard as his strongest point, but he just never gives it away at the moment and he has the energy on top of that. I was very surprised we took him off, the result would say otherwise but I thought it was a mistake.

Lallana 7 great first half, back to his best, but faded a little in the second. He's clearly not fully fit. When he is we are going to be unbeatable. Touch was immaculate throughout and movement to give an option brilliant.

Lambert 6 poor game for him. Looked a little jaded, took a knock mind, but I thought he was a little off the pace and too slow on occasions. Link up play was still very good hence the 6 (which is a positive mark on my scale), but his standards recently have been sky high and were not matched today. Perhaps should have been subbed towards the end?

Guly 9 set up the first two goals with some tremendous play, scored the third and led the line very well. First touch under pressure was very good. On two occasions he didn't chase, but both were because he thought he had no chance of getting it (when he did in all honesty) but he more than made up for that with hard tracking back. Much more of a threat and physical presence than Connelly.

 

Hammond everything went backwards.

de ridder looked sharp, never gave it away and caused a few problems. Perfect sub.

Connelly looked sharp and ran hard to make himself available. Nearly scored, maybe should have.

[View From The Top]

Made it hard for ourselves (especially with the bizarre defending for their second goal) but fully deserved the win.

 

Glad Lambert is ok, he was hobbling quite badly before half time. Thought Fox played well and put in a beautiful cross for Guly's header.

 

Was at fault for the 2nd goal though, sloppy pass that put us on the back foot.

[saint_jas]

Guly my MOM.

Wish we can stop conceding goals just after the break, but we always looked like scoring when attacking.

 

Coventry fans = pathetic support, never seen worse.

Ours fantastic.

 

SCHTEEEEVVVEEEE

[teamsaint]

Wasn't great was it. I actually thought the guys to our right under the score board tried to make a decent fist of it. Problem was they were so few, so spread out and in a soulless ground watching a really sh*t team. They just seemed to give up (appart from the 7 minutes between Platt and Guly's goals). In the 5 minutes following De Ridder's goal, most of them flooded for the exits. By the time we were into injury time, I'd say Saints genuinely out numbered Coventry. What an awful club to be a fan of, I just couldn't do it.

 

if we had been an the championship as long as them , with as little success, and were as low down the league and as poor as them, we wouldn't be getting much over 12k turning out either, I suggest. Hopefully would make a bit more noise though.

Anyway, Guly was amazing today, AL still clearly struggling to get to his best. The great thing is we have threat everywhere..looking a bit wobbly, and up pops foxy with a gem of a cross.

[Huffton]

Anyone else notice the lads holding up the SISU OUT banner near the end? Reckon we dodged a big old bullet there

[Miffy]

The Steeeeeeeevvvvvvvveeeeee chant after his goal was quality.

 

What a dump Coventry is, shan't go back in a hurry.

 

I liked the steep stands, gave a really good view. Shame the ground was half empty.

[Chez]

excellent ground, bet it is great when full.

[markr27]

Was in Block XX at the very top and despite some fears of a Brighton experience got a terrific view of the entire game.

Seems teams are learning to play Saints with a high-line in view of the perceived lack of pace, but we were passing through them time after time first half.

 

It wouldn't be Saints without a comical goal being conceeded!

 

I was not a fan of the Steeeeeeve chant before the game at ALL, but I have been converted. Superb!!!

[Berkshire Saint]

First half was like a training game. We were 2-0 up without really breaking into sweat. Third goal came somewhat against the run of play as Cov had just had a decent spell including the equaliser but that really knocked the stuffing out of them and we could have easily had five or six by the end.

 

Ricoh is a decent enough stadium but the location and poor attendance just made it feel so soulless. As a club they remind me a lot of Saints in our Championship relegation season.

[Nexstar]

First half we absolutely dominated and fully deserved our two-goal lead.

Opening 20 minutes of the second half we were shambolic, not sure what game we tried to play but it did not work. Their first was sloppy and the second was a tad unlucky.

But we changed the formation setup with Hammond and kept fighting, which was great to see. Guly's was a nice goal and Steve's was typical of how we had approached most of the game; never give up. Lost count of the number of times we closed down and intercepted passes and constantly put their players under pressure. Plenty of simple balls that went astray from the Sky Blues.

 

Guly was great, would have been better had he stayed onside a bit more first half, Morgan also had a good game. Thought Fox put in a decent shift as well as Richardson on the other side.

 

Very pleasing to see us get a first away win in over 2 months, now for a well-earned rest.

[Chez]

Adkins, like me, felt several of the offsides we incorrect. Guly's runs were excellent.

Edited 5 November, 2011 by Chez

[Gemmel]

Ive had plenty of beers today, but would need 5 times as many before I even considered beleiving there was 15000 people in that stadium (As per the announcement)

 

Don't be fooled by their two goals. They were the only two efforts on target and the second one was pure luck. Never doubted for a minute we wouldnt win.

 

Football a funny old game.....for sure. Big fan of Guly, but not today, but plenty of others have him MOM.

 

Start believing boys and girls, this team aint perfect, but they win games of football and play some lovely stuff.

 

Two nil and you ****ed it up........ even they knew that was coming back to haunt them.

 

Spoke to a few Coventry fans today,...decent bunch and I hope that all forum members get the fact that ...............There by the grace of God. It could have been us. I hope that future generations realise just how lucky we got with ML

[Chez]

full respect to every one of those Cov fans that was there. Boy have they suffered and will continue to do so for some time yet. I have to say they looked a much worse side than the one that took us down.

[Chez]

that just means they aren't playing total football and don't have the luxury of david mcgoldrick in the marco van basten role.

we were as weak as ****, but at least we passed the ball and went down trying to play, Cov haven't the ability to pass the ball but will still go down.

[Ball boy]

I thought it was sad how few Cov fans there were. I was sat in the Coventry stands and saw / spoke to a large number of Saints fans within the Coventry stands. Really a club suffering. Let's hope they turn the corner in a fortnight though.

[teamsaint]

Anyone else try to use the non existent park and ride at The Oak ?

 

good thing I was there nice and early !!

[Thorpe-le-Saint]

First half we totally domianted them, then we caught a bit of 08-09 syndrome, but once Guly put our third in it was never in doubt.

[John Boy Saint]

I had a very enjoyable Prawn sandwich ticket for today. Being sat in touching distance of Coventry fans was a bit strange. There was one Coventry fan with crutches who as our host said breathed and played every ball "the Sky Blues" played every time he had been there. He even went to give the board his 2 penneth worth.

 

Something that seems to happen when we play against teams who offer no challenge we seem to switch off as a team. Once again for me Big Jos was superb. We seem to have gotten in to a habit of stubbornly not giving up: which is bloody superb.

[Chez]

forgot to mention, "the top of the league and we're having a laugh" sung by the whole stand was quality. Massive smile on my face the whole time.