Bristol City 3-1 Saints - Match Thread

[Saint NL]

Totally off the pace. Well beaten.

It had to happen some time, just seems a shame to lose after such a poor performance. 

It'll be a big job to raise the players for Friday, Russ needs to earn his salary now...

[Smirking_Saint]

Just now, Saint NL said:

Totally off the pace. Well beaten.

It had to happen some time, just seems a shame to lose after such a poor performance. 

It'll be a big job to raise the players for Friday, Russ needs to earn his salary now...

This is laughable 

[Captain Jack]

As poor as we were, I think we have to concede that Bristol City played very well. Full of energy from start to finish, and were very quick on the break. True, we made it easy for them by giving the ball away too often, but credit where it is due. 

[redkeith]

Put SAA on the bench instead of Sulemama,  he had been shocking.  Kwp to ledtback , Stephens RB. Brooks can't start I Downes isn't playing as he doesn't defend.

 

Not looking forward to Friday.

[Jimmy_D]

Ah well, there it is, tonight doesn’t go for us and the longest unbeaten run in Saints history is set at 25.

It’s still in our own hands, but Leeds can say that again now too. All about how we react and bounce back against West Brom now.

 

[skintsaint]

Wake up call, hopefully we see the response v WBA.

[Winnersaint]

8 minutes ago, Convict Colony said:

Wont be laughing at the leeds forum tonight

Why would you do that anyway? They’ve been saying for weeks this would happen. Maybe they’re not bad judges of RMs flat track bullies. The Graeme Hick of Championship. Seriously though, this defines us from here on in. Monkey off our back or blueprint for the rest of the season? Over to you RM.

 

  

[sfc4prem]

Just now, obelisk said:

That needs to be the last defeat of the season otherwise we'll be beaten in the play-offs.

Take it easy. Stop catastrophising. We might end up in the play-offs, true. Keep the faith until top two mathematically ruled out.

[woodsaint1]

Commentators cant contain their excitement with the 'run is over' bollocks

[badgerx16]

Midfield too weak, too many passes went awry, too easy to get behind our FBs, generally too slow to get players forward.

 

At least I haven't seen posts blaming Baz for the goals.

[lambtiss]

26 minutes ago, Sir Ralph said:

Put fing sulemana on

I don't get the fascination for Sulemana. In 33 matches he has scored twice for Saints and none at all this season. 

[Turkish]

The bird interviewing the Bristol City players is horrific 🤣🤣

[Mr X]

Just now, BotleySaint said:

Sulemana has absolutely no track record of being a decent player before he signed. Absolutely clueless football. Always off the pace. Can't pass. Can't shoot.

It's like we got rid of dejenepo than signed his clone! 

[Chez]

1 minute ago, Harry_SFC said:

The Brooks sub was odd, arguably our best player. 

every time him and Edozie got it they made something happen. We just didn't get it to them enough or quickly enough. Brooks didn't get back one time. Maybe that was a sign of tiredness or lack of effort and RM hauled him off. 

Their replacements (Fraser and AA) did fuck all. Sulemena was utter gash. Nothing he did went right.

 

[hasper57saint]

Leicester will trip up soon so too will Leeds. Can’t win em all but I look forward to the Baggies on Friday. COYS 

[Saint Marky]

Fucking bollocks, put it to bed, back in second Friday night and never look back. In Russ we trust.

 

[Convict Colony]

Anyway back to my failsafe tactic.

Go to bed, don't read about sport tomorrow and pretend it never happened.

[tdmickey3]

Poor tonight but  it had to end sooner or later and despite some utter bellend comments on here it’s not over by a long shot

We must bounce back strong on Friday 

COYS

[AlexLaw76]

Not a surprise now a very easy set of fixtures is over. Crap by most of the players

our away form is a concern for the goals we want to achieve.

Anyone still think we can catch Leicester?

[Micky]

Well that was a shit show from start to finish, not a single positive to take out out that.   Didn't think any of the players played well and more worrying there was a lot of arm waving and shoulder shrugging when things went wrong.   Not too sure this is a blip either, getting to the business end of the season where we need to handle the pressure, but we never looked like doing that today. Woeful performance, we got what we deserved, spanked. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

Just now, Captain Jack said:

As poor as we were, I think we have to concede that Bristol City played very well. Full of energy from start to finish, and were very quick on the break. True, we made it easy for them by giving the ball away too often, but credit where it is due. 

 

1 minute ago, woodsaint1 said:

Commentators cant contain their excitement with the 'run is over' bollocks

They/ve been wanking over Leeds all fuckin match

[obelisk]

Just now, sfc4prem said:

Take it easy. Stop catastrophising. We might end up in the play-offs, true. Keep the faith until top two mathematically ruled out.

Nah. That's two games on the trot and maybe more if I'm honest, where the defence and midfield has been cut wide open. Forget automatic promotion.

[VectisSaint]

3 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

The Brooks sub was odd, arguably our best player. 

He was clearly injured when he clattered into the post,  it wasn't odd at all. Wouldn't be surprised if he is out next game, lucky boy not to have suffered some serious damage.

[trousers]

So, just a blip or is the tide starting to turn?

Time will tell.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

17 minutes ago, sifter said:

Manning has struggled tonight - looks like Bristol targetting that side.

You're right and I think half way through the second half he switched with KWP and Bristol switched their attacking side.

Think more clubs will be doing the same.

[badgerx16]

5 minutes ago, Harry_SFC said:

The Brooks sub was odd, arguably our best player. 

Wasn't it him who smashed into the post early in the second half ? Maybe he was feeling the effect.

[trousers]

1 minute ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Anyone still think we can catch Leicester?

No. Good rhetorical question though...

Edited 13 February, 2024 by trousers

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

every time him and Edozie got it they made something happen. We just didn't get it to them enough or quickly enough. Brooks didn't get back one time. Maybe that was a sign of tiredness or lack of effort and RM hauled him off. 

Their replacements (Fraser and AA) did fuck all. Sulemena was utter gash. Nothing he did went right.

 

Yeah those two were decent, but like you say the balls through the middle to find them were too slow/too late. The problem tonight was that central area, just not strong enough.

There were a couple of occasions where THB gave the ball away, and ditto KWP - but that was only because Charles wasn't where he was meant to be. He killed us dead in that first half with his on the ball and off the ball work.

[Sheaf Saint]

Just now, badgerx16 said:

Wasn't it him who smashed into the post early in the second half ? Maybe he was feeling the effect.

Yes it was.

[woodsaint1]

Just now, obelisk said:

Nah. That's two games on the trot and maybe more if I'm honest, where the defence and midfield has been cut wide open. Forget automatic promotion.

We'll sure we've known since September that automatic was gone, tell us something new

[Cabrone]

The signs that were there against Huddersfield continued this evening.

If we are serious about top 2 then we must get something at WBA.

[Harry_SFC]

1 minute ago, badgerx16 said:

Wasn't it him who smashed into the post early in the second half ? Maybe he was feeling the effect.

I thought he'd recovered but maybe not.

[saintant]

Where to start after such a weak capitulation. We were second best all over the pitch in terms of commitment and skill. Where was the crisp passing and clever running to create space and cause chaos? Where was the desire to win the ball back quickly after losing it - and we lost it an awful lot tonight? Quite simply we were dire from front to back. Before the game someone suggested none of their players would get into our team - by the end of it most of them would. The drop off in midfield without Downes was very worrying. It's been a good run and it had to end but not in the meek manner of tonight against an average side. It's a huge momentum swing to Leeds who did their bit by demolishing Swansea while we hardly laid a glove on Brizzle City. That was a hugely demoralising display and RM must drag them up by the bootlaces for a potentially tougher challenge against West Brom.

[Suhari]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

The bird interviewing the Bristol City players is horrific 🤣🤣

I've had worse.

[Turkish]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

So, just a blip or is the tide starting to turn?

Time will tell.

Warning signs have been there. We’ve not been great since the first half at Swansea. Brilliant in first half of that game but for no where near that level since. Crap in the second half, poor at Watford away and in the first halves of the last two home games. We’ve got away with it but came unstuck tonight. When teams are compact and hit us on the break with pace we can’t cope. 

Edited 13 February, 2024 by Turkish

[Winnersaint]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

The bird interviewing the Bristol City players is horrific 🤣🤣

What’s she got a beard and three tits or something?

[Smirking_Saint]

A terrible terrible night and genuinely one to forget

Bednarek and KWP maybe the only ones with any credit, Brooks looked ok, he tried

We have significant depth in many positions but CF and DM we struggle behind Downes and an in form Adams

Charles was poor tonight, but not THAT bad, everyone else was misplacing passes too, we just look so weak with Smallbone in the 6, he’s looked lost every time he’s played there

Armstrong, unfortunately cannot lead the line, he’s fantastic at RW, but not ST

Manning… Ive said it all year, Danny Fox MK II… great on the ball, awful defensively 

We looked tired though tonight, as we did at the weekend, a big recovery job needed Friday. No need to panic yet, but we need a reaction

[S-Clarke]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

Where to start after such a weak capitulation. We were second best all over the pitch in terms of commitment and skill. Where was the crisp passing and clever running to create space and cause chaos? Where was the desire to win the ball back quickly after losing it - and we lost it an awful lot tonight? Quite simply we were dire from front to back. Before the game someone suggested none of their players would get into our team - by the end of it most of them would. The drop off in midfield without Downes was very worrying. It's been a good run and it had to end but not in the meek manner of tonight against an average side. It's a huge momentum swing to Leeds who did their bit by demolishing Swansea while we hardly laid a glove on Brizzle City. That was a hugely demoralising display and RM must drag them up by the bootlaces for a potentially tougher challenge against West Brom.

I wouldn't read too much into Leeds beating Swansea, I'm sure a Sunday league team could beat Swansea - they're that bad. They'll have much tougher tests and for sure they will face defeat again at some point.

[spyinthesky]

We should be good enough to make the play offs unless we now fall apart, then it is anyone's chance to get promotion.

However carry this form through to Liverpool and we could be in for a pasting
 

[Wade Garrett]

Had to come to an end eventually.  Looked second best all over the park.  A good few poor individual performances tonight. Couldn’t get our passing game  going and our movement was really poor.

Fair play to the worzels, deserved it.

[SaintInExile]

Smallbone was a disgrace in that second half. Watch it back if you can bring yourself to do it but he hid behind the Bristol City players all half. Never made himself available.

[Winnersaint]

4 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Not a surprise now a very easy set of fixtures is over. Crap by most of the players

our away form is a concern for the goals we want to achieve.

Anyone still think we can catch Leicester?

We never were. Just the musings of  12yr olds or those with12 yr old mentalities.

[Convict Colony]

1 minute ago, Smirking_Saint said:

A terrible terrible night and genuinely one to forget

Bednarek and KWP maybe the only ones with any credit, Brooks looked ok, he tried

We have significant depth in many positions but CF and DM we struggle behind Downes and an in form Adams

Charles was poor tonight, but not THAT bad, everyone else was misplacing passes too, we just look so weak with Smallbone in the 6, he’s looked lost every time he’s played there

Armstrong, unfortunately cannot lead the line, he’s fantastic at RW, but not ST

Manning… Ive said it all year, Danny Fox MK II… great on the ball, awful defensively 

We looked tired though tonight, as we did at the weekend, a big recovery job needed Friday. No need to panic yet, but we need a reaction

You missed Baz - i thought he was probably the best player for us tonight, great clearances and good hands.

[beatlesaint]

7 minutes ago, Turkish said:

The bird interviewing the Bristol City players is horrific 🤣🤣

Yeah but look how many boxes Sky are ticking by employing her !

Who the fuck is she? She can’t string a fkin sentence together let alone ask a decent question !!

[Block41 Saint]

Us spending the money we spent on Charles and Stewart in the summer is really poor business. I know Stewart has been unfortunate with his injuries but Charles has looked awful more often than not. I really hope Downes isn't out for many more games because Charles is nowhere near good enough for the top end of this league despite costing a fortune at Championship level. 

[John Boy Saint]

1 minute ago, spyinthesky said:

We should be good enough to make the play offs unless we now fall apart, then it is anyone's chance to get promotion.

However carry this form through to Liverpool and we could be in for a pasting
 

You have to wonder if they have half an eye on not getting crocked for that game

[saintant]

1 minute ago, S-Clarke said:

I wouldn't read too much into Leeds beating Swansea, I'm sure a Sunday league team could beat Swansea - they're that bad. They'll have much tougher tests and for sure they will face defeat again at some point.

They comprehensively demolished what was put in front of them - we were comprehensively outplayed and outfought. It's not a good night for us and we need to bounce back on Friday.

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, trousers said:

So, just a blip or is the tide starting to turn?

Time will tell.

a pessimist like me might wonder if maybe we aren't the championship titan our results might suggest. We have a lot of attacking quality, but defensively we are get cut to ribbons at times and have `got away with it' a lot. In the end that catches up with you. 

If we can beat WBA then that would convince me that we are the real deal as they looked a top side at SMS. We were extremely fortunate ti win that. It could easily have been a defeat.

[Long Shot]

3 minutes ago, trousers said:

So, just a blip or is the tide starting to turn?

Time will tell.

To be fair it’s been coming. We have yet to play well over 90 minutes in any match. Huddersfield proved we are a brittle side when attacked with menace. 
It will be the play offs without a doubt and despite our impressive unbeaten run that’s probably all we deserve. Leeds 4-0 away win is something we’ve never been near. 

[badgerx16]

2 minutes ago, spyinthesky said:

We should be good enough to make the play offs unless we now fall apart, ......

16 points ahead of 7th with 15 games to play, that would be one hell of a falling apart.