Millwall 2 Southampton 3 - Post Match Reaction

[RobM]

Have to wonder, what the **** is that guy doing ?

 

It does make you wonder what's going through his mind, to make him think that was a good idea!

[markr27]

Have to wonder, what the **** is that guy doing ?

 

Probably the same thing that the Carlisle CB was thinking about in the JPT Final!

Is that Lambert behind Guly? (the legs)

[saint si]

He's taking it off Hooiveld's head... at least I'm assuming it's Hooiveld. From the angle of his body, you can see he's steaming in to bullet header it.

[krissyboy31]

Have to wonder, what the **** is that guy doing ?

Probably thought, what is really going to **** Moose off?!!

[Lighthouse]

Just back from the game. Wow pretty much sums that up. It's a good job the OB kept us in the ground for 20 minutes, stopped anyone leaving early and missing the fun. Our play was dreadful for most of the game. We got sucked into Millwall's 'style' of football and they beat us on experience. At the time I thought the first penalty was cast iron, but honnestly didn't see the handball for the second. The first I knew about it was Jos Hooiveld staring right at me and screaming with delighted. I wondered what he was so happy about, then I looked at the ref. I think Rickie was a bit nervy for the second penalty, sending it low down the middle. Can't say I blame him, after a performance like that, a last minute winner seemed too good to be true.

 

Chaplow and Hammond were a long way off the pace. Poor touches and second to everything. Lallana and Morgan were competant, but rarely dangerous or creative. the fullbacks both sprayed a few wayway passes around. Lambert did well up front with limited service, won a lot of headers and held it up well. Guly was pretty hit and miss. Nowhere first half, better second half but vanished when he dropped into midfield. Please don't jump on his back, he was far from our worst player. Jos was at fault for a goal again, not closing his man doing and letting him turn inside... again. Generally though him and Fonte were fairly good, appart from the 2 goals we conceded which were dreadful from a team point of view.

 

De Ridder should start the next game. He was always looking lively, taking his man on, giving us width and won a handful of corners. Unlucky not to score too, with a header off the line.

 

Overall, we did just enough. Somehow. It wasn't pretty and we will lose 9/10 games we play like that, but you can't fault the team for not giving up.

[Chez]

football, bloody hell.

Not quite 99 champions league final, but somehow when the first pen went in you knew there'd be a chance for a winner and what do you know, a ref that has given us **** all all day long gives us two pens within a matter of minutes. Jesus the fans went mental, right up there with the 2 goal come back at Fulham from a few years back. So nice to shove it back down the Millwall fans throats, especially after the last minute cup defeat that some of us had to suffer.

 

Not a good display today, far, far too many misplaced passes, too many long balls to no one and simple passes forcing the receiver to work very hard to control it. Richardson, Fox, Guly, Hammond and even Morgan were very much to blame. Lallana does so much good stuff but one or two to many eye of the needle balls for me. If he was Guly he'd have had fans all over him in the second half for giving it away when we were moving into good positions. We started well, but our defending was a little shoddy for thre goals and our quality was just not there when chasing the game.

 

Didn't think either pens were pens at the time. I thought Ricky dived, possibly, but I was right behind the goal so I may not have had the best view. Didn't see the handball at all, but it was a very busy box. Look forward to seeing both incidents again. Handball pen certainly looks a pen from the pics.

 

Davis - 7 - Didn't have too much to do, 2 shots 2 goals, and a decent save from Bouzza too.

Richardson - 6 - Got forward initially, but that didn't last. Some poor passing, no lots of poor passing.

Jos - 7 - Strong as ever, but we opened up for the first

Fonte - 7 - Decent game, but the second goal required a CB to make a clearing header instead of a the limp header that we did. Not sure if it was Fonte, but it was ****

Fox - 5 - Just after his best games to date he goes back to his hollywood ****e. Far too many passes straight into touch. Set pieces much better though.

Chaplow - 4 - miles off the pace

Morgan - 7 - Always tried to get the ball down and play, but not his best game. Went missing a little bit at times

Hammond - 5 - Before the season started my concern was his lack of pace to cover the ground, it hasn't been a problem, but today it was. Second best throughout. Thought Cork should have come on. Adkins seems to have lost faith in him.

Lallana - 6 - Great first half, dribbling, touch the works, garbage second.

Guly - 6 - The usual mix bag, worked hard, but never he looked like he'd win a header, controlled it well, but then a short pass would be head height, held it up, but then stood still.

Lambert - 8 - Decent penalties, Maik looked like Shilton 1990 world cup, old. Won his headers, good flick ons, almost a wondergoal. Just didn't have a partner to match him.

Subs:

De Ridder - 7 - Made an impact as he always does, started brightly but tailed off a bit as didnt get the ball too much out wide, but still a threat.

Sharp - 5 - Didn't really have a major effect on the game. If I'm honest we had less threat up front than any point during the season. Not really an impact sub, but he did make the pass for the goal

Cork spot on when he came on. Should have come on earlier

Edited 17 March, 2012 by Chez

[Thedelldays]

Didn't think either pens were pens. I

 

 

eerm, have peek at the pictures

 

[ottery st mary]

Robinson makes an intentional movement of his foot to trip the hurdling Lambert ..who is going for the ball.

 

The movement of Robinson is quite clear to see in the highlights....he is not going for the ball. The ref is spot on for both pens..

 

WELL DONE THE REF...

[saints-cris]

https://twitter.com/#!/jordansibley/status/181034426216611841/photo/1

[mulletsaint]

Great result today. Couldn't believe it, first I knew we'd got something out of the game was when my dad texted me "left that late", when I thought we'd lost 2-1. I'll claim an assist though as the reason I wasn't fully focused on the game, was that I was inside a church for the first time in years at my daughter's 5th birthday party. Someone up there must have thought I deserved it.

 

Oh and on the subject of millwall fans, yes they have a fair few idiots supporting them (from what some on here post I'd wager they're not alone in that), but having lived in east London for over a decade, I can vouch for the fact that a fair number are thoroughly decent chaps.

[Chez]

eerm, have peek at the pictures

 

yeah, I should have said "at the time". Corrected my post. Not sure how I missed the handball, it was right in front of me,

[Thedelldays]

yeah, I should have said "at the time". Corrected my post. Not sure how I missed the handball, it was right in front of me,

to be fair.....the radio and sky sports were saying it was jos who handled it and the ref got it very wrong........

[Chez]

Just back from the game. Wow pretty much sums that up. It's a good job the OB kept us in the ground for 20 minutes, stopped anyone leaving early and missing the fun. Our play was dreadful for most of the game. We got sucked into Millwall's 'style' of football and they beat us on experience. At the time I thought the first penalty was cast iron, but honnestly didn't see the handball for the second. The first I knew about it was Jos Hooiveld staring right at me and screaming with delighted. I wondered what he was so happy about, then I looked at the ref. I think Rickie was a bit nervy for the second penalty, sending it low down the middle. Can't say I blame him, after a performance like that, a last minute winner seemed too good to be true.

 

Chaplow and Hammond were a long way off the pace. Poor touches and second to everything. Lallana and Morgan were competant, but rarely dangerous or creative. the fullbacks both sprayed a few wayway passes around. Lambert did well up front with limited service, won a lot of headers and held it up well. Guly was pretty hit and miss. Nowhere first half, better second half but vanished when he dropped into midfield. Please don't jump on his back, he was far from our worst player. Jos was at fault for a goal again, not closing his man doing and letting him turn inside... again. Generally though him and Fonte were fairly good, appart from the 2 goals we conceded which were dreadful from a team point of view.

 

De Ridder should start the next game. He was always looking lively, taking his man on, giving us width and won a handful of corners. Unlucky not to score too, with a header off the line.

 

Overall, we did just enough. Somehow. It wasn't pretty and we will lose 9/10 games we play like that, but you can't fault the team for not giving up.

decent account.

[JustinR]

Just back from the knuckle draggers stadium- what an ordeal that was.

 

Having said that a cracking atmosphere throughout.

 

Started well, just about deserved the lead- great work by schneiderlin in the build up.

 

Then somehow we were behind, poor defending for the 2nd- unlike Saints recently.

 

Others feel it was a smash and grab, disgree with that. Felt we shaded it over the 90 minutes, particularly dominant in the last quarter. Felt both were penalties, the second one even more so IMO.

 

Davis. Few decent saves, but not massive amounts to do. 7

Frazer. His form is still not what it was. Too many hospital passes and not getting forward with as much confidence. 6

Jos. Dominant, altho got turned inside out for the first goal. 7

Fonte. Compliments Jos so well. Was influential going forward too. 7

Fox. Decent game, decent deliveries. 7

Guly. Only Lamberts hatrick prevented him getting MOM for me. Put himself about, held ball up well, excellent link up play. 8

Hammond. Not as dynamic as Cork or Morgan, but tidy enough in the main. Only gave the ball away once that I remember. 7.

Morgan. Maintaining his high standards of the past few months. Good assist for the first. 8

Lallana. A threat, but not his dominant best. 7

Chaplow. Off the pace. Rightly subbed at half time. 6

Lambert. Strange, not his best game. Some good link up play, but nothing seemed to stick all day. But you can't argue with a hatrick. 8.5 MOM

 

Subs:

De Ridder. Definate impact, stretching their defence as they were trying to keep in compact. Was wondering if he could have played the Chung "role" in his adsence, he has the pace. 7

Sharp. Fell over a fair bit, but helped win the 2nd pen. 7

Cork. Not on long enough, kept it tight.

[stockbridge_saint]

Girlfriend took this video...

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9TpZeD1wT4&context=C4e914adADvjVQa1PpcFO6jMtuehcjkNzRUqHcOWkyMqtVmM0GAVM=

[bubblyone]

Phewwwwwwwwwwwwww

What a afternoon.

Wish I had been at the match, tho' I'd have needed brown trousers after the game.

Robbing Millwall then getting home afterwards must havee been interesting!

 

Walking back to our car, some bloke threatened to stab my 65 yr old father.....Pondlife!

[saintscottofthenortham]

No question of the handball...

 

[pedg]

No question of the handball...

 

 

Though it would be good to see the same point in time from 90 degrees to this shot as it not clear his hand is touching the ball or is just behind it.

[jampot]

Just back, fair play to the ref for giving the pens. Impressed by Guly today. What happened re Davis using his hands outside the penatly area and offside etc?

[sfc4prem]

Back from the game.

 

First 20 mins it looked like we'd stroll it. Millwall were terrible and we were coasting at 1-0. Out of nowhere we,re 2-1 down. Two poor pieces of defending. After that we were terrible, all the way through to the 80th minute. Biggest culprits were Chaplow and Hammond, both completely off the pace and scared to show for the ball. However the whole team looked void of ideas, aimless long balls to Ricky that didn't stick.

 

SDR showed flashes and Sharp worked hard in the second half. Then, when all hope was lost, two pens (both soft) changed everything. So satisfying to rub it in to the Millwall fans, they really are pondlife.

 

An absolute robbery of a result, but it couldn't have happened to a more deserving set of fans in Millwall.

 

Agree with most of this, however we had chances and I wouldn't say it was robbery, a draw would've been fair on the basis of the whole game. Chaplow and Hammond were woeful, really poor. De Ridder was indeed lively and probably our most direct threat. Sharp was good when he came on, strong and clever, with a reasonable pace when set through and great vision to set up Lambert for him to get tripped for the first penalty. Guly was really good, held the ball up so, so well and worked really hard for the team. Fox was quality too, though our defence fell asleep for the two goals, uncharacteristically.

 

Absolutely loved rubbing it in the faces of the Millwall fans. So confident in Rickie that each time the pen was given we all celebrated like we'd already scored. Such composure to take two penalties in quick succession and score both easily.

 

[mancsaint]

Totally agree re Hammond - very ineffectual today and come to think of it, most days.

[mancsaint]

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9597780.Adkins_reveals_dug_out_drama_at_Millwall/r/?ref=twt&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

 

Sitting in the home end (front row upper) I did see a pound coin winging it's way towards Davis in the second half. Fell short - luckily.

 

Mancsaint

[SaintsAhoy]

Guly sounded like he had one of his best games.

He didn't

[fanimal]

God Millwall is a grade A1 Sh**ole! Team was well up for it, we all kept the faith, believe in the squad! Some good noise back at London Bridge, echoed a treat around the station ha ha..

First away win of the season at the 9th attempt, TGFT! Exhausting mentally though.

[S-Clarke]

He didn't

 

The majority of the fans ratings, the commentary team, and NA disagree with you.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Still buzzing. Stayed up to 3am following the live thread. Couldn't get to sleep until about 5am afterwards! 2 away pens in 5 minutes. Unreal. And well done Rickie for slotting both. As for West Ham Fans and their 'Lambert FC' rather that than 'Vaz Te FC'. Sam's misplaced love in with him could cost them. Big time. Long way to go yet. Would take a point at Hull.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Quick message to Alps: I know exactly the dark place you come from when supporting Saints - I'm there with you most of the time. But Adkins said today 'We've got goalscorers in the team, we were on the front foot and you've just got to believe a little bit'. So I'm going to try a bit harder to do that next time we're in a tight spot. This really ain't the Saints of old.

[T.REX]

Well it seemed pretty conclusive on the football league show that the decisions were right. Not that it makes any difference but nice to see that moron abrahams proved wrong.

[Secret Site Agent]

When Rickie scored the last penalty I let out the loudest 'uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllaaaaaaaaaaaaaa' that would make Jeff Wayne from the War of the Worlds fame proud and I woke Mrs Site Agent from her slumber.

 

Great game, heart racing stuff, just watched the penalties and they are both penalties.

 

And warnock whinging about us again with a little dig.

[Lighthouse]

The majority of the fans ratings, the commentary team, and NA disagree with you.

 

He has a point. Guly was far from our worst player today, but to say this was one of Guly's better performances would be doing him a diservice IMO. We were very poor up until the 85th minute and there were few performances I'd describe as good.

[anothersaintinsouthsea]

Well it seemed pretty conclusive on the football league show that the decisions were right. Not that it makes any difference but nice to see that moron abrahams proved wrong.

 

Yep. On the Finanl Score programme Claridge was a bit doubtful about the first one but was definite about both by the time of the FL show. Both stick on pens.

[SaintBobby]

Back from the game and a few sherberts.

 

I was never in doubt about the 2nd penalty, had a great view of it from where I was...the upper tier towards the corner flag. Good spot from the ref who had a much worse view.

 

Slightly ropey performance overall, but not shocking by any means.

 

Chaplow was very poor first half. I'm a big fan of his, but he's not one of those players who is much good at 80% (whereas, say, Lallana and Lambert can be). He was 80% at best and that just meant he didn't have the bite that we need from him.

 

De Ridder really brought something to us in the first 15 mins of the 2nd half but then we seemed to forget how to use him (and/or Millwall got wise to him).

 

Lambert's composure was amazing.

 

Guly was pretty good. Busy and involved. But I was never quite sure what he was usefully doing in an attacking sense.

 

Morgan Schneiderlin was nearly faultless. An exceptional midfielder.

 

We missed Tadanari Lee.

 

Still in a state of sheer joy and relief. With five mins to go, it looked like we were potentially going to slip to, effectively, third place.

 

Must be a smack in the face to West Ham and Reading that we dug that out.

 

Huge 3 points. Bloody marvellous.

 

P.S. we are now mathematically certain to finish above 17th...what's your new prediction, Dalek? 12th? 15th?

Edited 18 March, 2012 by SaintBobby

[Sour Mash]

A very unhappy Millwall fan on Talksport, claims both penalties should not have been given !

What did you make of them?

[Sour Mash]

Just back from the game. Wow pretty much sums that up. It's a good job the OB kept us in the ground for 20 minutes, stopped anyone leaving early and missing the fun. Our play was dreadful for most of the game. We got sucked into Millwall's 'style' of football and they beat us on experience. At the time I thought the first penalty was cast iron, but honnestly didn't see the handball for the second. The first I knew about it was Jos Hooiveld staring right at me and screaming with delighted. I wondered what he was so happy about, then I looked at the ref. I think Rickie was a bit nervy for the second penalty, sending it low down the middle. Can't say I blame him, after a performance like that, a last minute winner seemed too good to be true.

 

Chaplow and Hammond were a long way off the pace. Poor touches and second to everything. Lallana and Morgan were competant, but rarely dangerous or creative. the fullbacks both sprayed a few wayway passes around. Lambert did well up front with limited service, won a lot of headers and held it up well. Guly was pretty hit and miss. Nowhere first half, better second half but vanished when he dropped into midfield. Please don't jump on his back, he was far from our worst player. Jos was at fault for a goal again, not closing his man doing and letting him turn inside... again. Generally though him and Fonte were fairly good, appart from the 2 goals we conceded which were dreadful from a team point of view.

 

De Ridder should start the next game. He was always looking lively, taking his man on, giving us width and won a handful of corners. Unlucky not to score too, with a header off the line.

 

Overall, we did just enough. Somehow. It wasn't pretty and we will lose 9/10 games we play like that, but you can't fault the team for not giving up.

If "wow" pretty much "summed that up", why did you go on to write five more paragraphs?

[ThreeSixty]

Went to work at 2-1 down. Next time i had chance to check my phone was 3-2. Couldn't believe it.

[St_Tel49]

Though it would be good to see the same point in time from 90 degrees to this shot as it not clear his hand is touching the ball or is just behind it.

Whatever - but what the hell is it doing up there anyway?

[jam]

Though it would be good to see the same point in time from 90 degrees to this shot as it not clear his hand is touching the ball or is just behind it.

 

Is this internet humour? You can see his little finger in front of the ball...

[Jack]

F*ck me i'm p*ssed!! Just got in. Don't think I've gone that mental since Derby away in the playoffs. What a day!

 

5 of us had a fiver each on Lambert hat-trick. Just £650 then. That has mostly been spent on beer.

 

I want to have Rickie's children. Fact.

Edited 18 March, 2012 by Jack

[saintbob40]

"That has mostly been spent on beer and whores."

 

........the rest we just wasted.

[Draino76]

I can pinpoint the time where my Sarurday started to improve.

 

Always nice to hug a Saints fan. Even ones I don't know !

[Draino76]

Where am I???

 

I'm in the bloody midlands. Weird

[shurlock]

Anyone know what happened with the offside/KD's handball outside the box? Was it definitely offside? Looked ominous at the time and thought we dodged a bullet TBH.

[Fitzhugh Fella]

My opinion for what it is worth

 

After Saints' last away game (at Leeds) the West Yorkshire Post likened our

back-to-the-wall smash-and-grab victory to one of highwayman **** Turpin's

hold ups - and it went on to say that he had at least had the decency to

wear a mask. It was a fair view nicely made.

 

Well after another smash and grab raid, this time in East London yesterday,

Gawd knows how the South Bermondsey Gazette is going to handle the match

report. Unlike the Leeds game, where at times our defending was heroic, this

was nothing of the sort and most of us at the New Den would have, after an

hour's play, snatched a hand off had it offered us a point.

 

We started brightly and were very dominant and I could see another Watford

type performance where we had cruised to a fine routine win but no. After

Lambert's opener which looked way too easy, we suddenly and inexplicably

retreated into our shells and let Millwall take the game by the scruff of

the neck. They scored two goals through sloppy defending and harried us into

making a succession of errors all over the pitch.

 

Chaplow was at "sixes and sevens" and I think Adkins's decision to rest him

after Leeds was a wrong one - he needed games not rest and his rustiness was

so evident in the first 45mins it was inevitable he would make way for De

Ridder, who did at least give us the pace we had so lacked in the opening

half. But the second period was basically more of the same with Richardson

back to his worst, frustratingly over hitting cross after cross and Fox not

doing much better. Hammond was woeful too and I was pleased to see the

rotund Sharp come on after an hour, but he has flattered to deceive so far

in a red and white shirt and did nothing to excite yesterday. Lee was being

missed!

 

But then a small miracle. In the 84th minute, when all seemed lost, Sharp

was found in a good position and had half a chance to get in a shot, but

perhaps lacking confidence he squared the ball back to the onrushing Lambert

who managed to get himself tripped up for a pen. While he dusted himself off

it was a nervous wait for us fans behind the goal facing him, as we knew

this would probably be our only chance of a point we frankly did not

deserve. Rickie has got to miss a pen one day but thank God this time was

not to be it, as he placed it well away from the ex-Saints goalie, Maik

Taylor. Could we hold on for this unexpected and undeserved point?

 

In the 88th minute we had a corner and as Fox lumped the ball across

Hooiveld jumped and missed but there was a hand waving in the air and when

the ball hit it, the referee (who had started the game as linesman only to

take over when the originally ref picked up an injury) had no hesitation in

pointing to the spot. Cue Millwall players and fans uniting in uproar. The

opinion around me was split as to whose hand it was - some said it was

Hooiveld's but I thought it was a hand that was sticking out of a dark blue

shirt (why do Millwall now play in dark blue) and the ref had got it right.

Again there was some nervous few seconds as Lambert composed himself and

this time he hit the ball centrally, but had persuaded Taylor to dive out of

the way. The Saints' fans were ecstatic especially as news had just come

through that West Ham had fallen behind at Elland Road. The home supporters

were gutted and very irate as can be imagined and I wouldn't have liked to

have encountered any of the ones that were mocked and jeered as they

departed by the delighted Saints fans at the final whistle. Not that there

was much chance of that as the route back to the train station is a bit like

the Berlin tunnel and is about as heavily guarded. We had found a brilliant

little real ale pub in Borough Market called the Rake before the game and,

over a post-match pint, opinion was we had just got out of gaol.

 

It is good to win dirty and it is a sign that maybe the Gods are smiling on

us but I would be more confident if we were looking a bit more cohesive as

we approach the final run in. Yesterday not one player was better than

average (perhaps Lambert and Do Prado should be excused any criticism) and

most were below par. We will not get away with such an under par performance

at Hull.

[Chez]

the referee (who had started the game as linesman only to

take over when the originally ref picked up an injury)

another decent report, but it was the linesman that got injured and was `subbed' not the ref.

[trousers]

My opinion for what it is worth

 

After Saints' last away game (at Leeds) the West Yorkshire Post likened our

back-to-the-wall smash-and-grab victory to one of highwayman **** Turpin's

hold ups - and it went on to say that he had at least had the decency to

wear a mask. It was a fair view nicely made.

 

Well after another smash and grab raid, this time in East London yesterday,

Gawd knows how the South Bermondsey Gazette is going to handle the match

report. Unlike the Leeds game, where at times our defending was heroic, this

was nothing of the sort and most of us at the New Den would have, after an

hour's play, snatched a hand off had it offered us a point.

 

We started brightly and were very dominant and I could see another Watford

type performance where we had cruised to a fine routine win but no. After

Lambert's opener which looked way too easy, we suddenly and inexplicably

retreated into our shells and let Millwall take the game by the scruff of

the neck. They scored two goals through sloppy defending and harried us into

making a succession of errors all over the pitch.

 

Chaplow was at "sixes and sevens" and I think Adkins's decision to rest him

after Leeds was a wrong one - he needed games not rest and his rustiness was

so evident in the first 45mins it was inevitable he would make way for De

Ridder, who did at least give us the pace we had so lacked in the opening

half. But the second period was basically more of the same with Richardson

back to his worst, frustratingly over hitting cross after cross and Fox not

doing much better. Hammond was woeful too and I was pleased to see the

rotund Sharp come on after an hour, but he has flattered to deceive so far

in a red and white shirt and did nothing to excite yesterday. Lee was being

missed!

 

But then a small miracle. In the 84th minute, when all seemed lost, Sharp

was found in a good position and had half a chance to get in a shot, but

perhaps lacking confidence he squared the ball back to the onrushing Lambert

who managed to get himself tripped up for a pen. While he dusted himself off

it was a nervous wait for us fans behind the goal facing him, as we knew

this would probably be our only chance of a point we frankly did not

deserve. Rickie has got to miss a pen one day but thank God this time was

not to be it, as he placed it well away from the ex-Saints goalie, Maik

Taylor. Could we hold on for this unexpected and undeserved point?

 

In the 88th minute we had a corner and as Fox lumped the ball across

Hooiveld jumped and missed but there was a hand waving in the air and when

the ball hit it, the referee (who had started the game as linesman only to

take over when the originally ref picked up an injury) had no hesitation in

pointing to the spot. Cue Millwall players and fans uniting in uproar. The

opinion around me was split as to whose hand it was - some said it was

Hooiveld's but I thought it was a hand that was sticking out of a dark blue

shirt (why do Millwall now play in dark blue) and the ref had got it right.

Again there was some nervous few seconds as Lambert composed himself and

this time he hit the ball centrally, but had persuaded Taylor to dive out of

the way. The Saints' fans were ecstatic especially as news had just come

through that West Ham had fallen behind at Elland Road. The home supporters

were gutted and very irate as can be imagined and I wouldn't have liked to

have encountered any of the ones that were mocked and jeered as they

departed by the delighted Saints fans at the final whistle. Not that there

was much chance of that as the route back to the train station is a bit like

the Berlin tunnel and is about as heavily guarded. We had found a brilliant

little real ale pub in Borough Market called the Rake before the game and,

over a post-match pint, opinion was we had just got out of gaol.

 

It is good to win dirty and it is a sign that maybe the Gods are smiling on

us but I would be more confident if we were looking a bit more cohesive as

we approach the final run in. Yesterday not one player was better than

average (perhaps Lambert and Do Prado should be excused any criticism) and

most were below par. We will not get away with such an under par performance

at Hull.

 

Cheers for that FF. A good read.

 

P.s. whereabouts in borough market is The Rake? Worked down that way for 15 years but not heard of that one. Must be new-ish

[ericofarabia]

"That has mostly been spent on beer and whores."

 

........the rest we just wasted.

 

With respect to George Best of course!!

[Fan The Flames]

another decent report, but it was the linesman that got injured and was `subbed' not the ref.

 

No it was the ref that went off; the linesman came on for the injured ref and the sub lino took over the line. Possibly the best substitution all game.

[Legod Third Coming]

Don't let the result paper over the cracks of this shocking performance!

 

Yes, it was incredible to be there. But our midfield after the first ten minutes was woeful - it lacked any semblence of control. I don't think the pitch helped but there was none of the patient, sensible build up that has been the hallmark of our season. Most passes were received at chest height and nearly no balls were played in front of the receiving players.

 

Hammond simply does not work with Morgan. Lallana and Fox did not link up effectively - they looked like strangers for most of the game. Both full backs failed to overlap sufficiently to create any width. And the final delivery was again hopeless on most occasions.

 

It seems it won't matter because someone up there wants us to go up. Thank God they do!

 

Two more things:

 

1. Thank you again Kelvin for the TWO saves at 2-1 that kept us in it - even though they only showed the second on the telly.

 

2. Billy Sharp - buy some STUDS son!

[colehillsaint]

Don't let the result paper over the cracks of this shocking performance!

 

Yes, it was incredible to be there. But our midfield after the first ten minutes was woeful - it lacked any semblence of control. I don't think the pitch helped but there was none of the patient, sensible build up that has been the hallmark of our season. Most passes were received at chest height and nearly no balls were played in front of the receiving players.

 

Tbf we made very hard work of Millwall at SMS, even when we were right on form. Our style may just not work on the way they are set up. Hopefully that bodes well for Tuesday night.

[Legod Third Coming]

Tbf we made very hard work of Millwall at SMS, even when we were right on form. Our style may just not work on the way they are set up. Hopefully that bodes well for Tuesday night.

 

I'm more confident about Tuesday because Hull play football under Barmby, although I'm sure their pitch will be equally bobbly!

What I hope bodes well is that we are now a BIG club in this league at the top of the table - and, as we know from history, the bigger clubs get a better rub of the green!