Month: April 2013

Southampton 0-3 West Brom

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SFC

West Brom took Saints to pieces in a lively game which saw three players sent off.

For me however the game finished 2-0, with only Gaston Ramirez embarking on the walk of shame. “What do you mean?” I here you ask. Well I arrived 15 minutes late, missing the first goal. I saw Lukaku’s goal, I saw Gaston’s elbow on Shane Long but missed Fortune’s slap in the face of Ramirez, and the following red card. There third goal hit the back of the net, and we were up and out, missing everyone’s least favourite scotsman’s lunge at that bloke who sometimes does MOTD.

Joking aside, this was by far the worst performance under MOPO’s reign. It was the old Saints, and raised questions from the most pessimistic of footy fans about the Saints premier league status. (even though we all now there’s no way were going down.) Speaking of Premier League status’s, this was the weekend when poor Nige was sent back down to the Championship with a helpless Reading who’s fate was already decided before he arrived, along with QPR and  “Arry”, who will no doubt ditch them when the first opportunity arises.

From the whistle, it was clear it was gonna be a long day for the men in red and white, and  one that will be remembered for years by the Baggies fans, who I must say were excellent for the full 90 minutes, and they had reason to be. There first goal came after just 6 minutes.

Dorrans swung in the corner Olsson knocked it into the danger zone, Lukaku flicked it through to Fortune, who saw his first shot blocked by the legs of Boruc but he got a second bite of the cherrie and didn’t waste it.

Saint’s first chance came after patient build up from SRL curled a cross in for Jay-Rod, but the in-form striker couldn’t get his headed shot on target.

Lukaku had a chance to double the Baggies lead but was thwarted by “The Holy Goalie”. As the break approached it was The Albion who had more of the ball but that couldn’t stop Clyne from making a surging run into the box after Lambert misplaced his cross but the shot was weak.

West Brom were the happier team at the break, but Saints started brighter with Clyne finding  himself in a similar position and almost scoring his second goal in red and white but only to be denied by Ben Fosters crossbar.

The Baggies doubled there lead after Saints pressed high up the pitch after a wave of attacks leaving Romelu Lukaku too much space, and boy did he punish us. Fortune played it into space and he went past a scrambling Artur Boruc with ease.

Both sides were reduced down to ten when Gaston went on a exciting run, He beat Shane Long    but the nippy Irishman didn’t give up, producing a ridiculous piece of shirt pulling. Ramirez replied with a blatant elbow, and Fortune couldn’t help himself from given Gaston a slap in the face and Premier League new boy Rob Madley responded by showing the offending pair a red card.

The Drama didn’t stop there though. Lukaku topped of a great afternoon for him by sending Long through and he expertly finished by sending the ball through the legs of Boruc. What was to happen next was very predictable. A Danny Fox error. a pass goes out to him on the left who is back on his heels and not concentrating.  He then decides to go for it, gets beaten to it by Reid and then pulls out a god awful two-footed lunge and the red card was almost out before he landed.

Poch, does the right thing and settles for a 3-0 defeat as Jose Fonte comes on for Sir Rickie with Big Jos going to left back.  We are treated to one run and surprisingly decent cross from Big Jos but the game can’t end soon enough and thank God it has.  What a complete and utter load of rubbish and totally outplayed from start to finish by a very good side that made us look completely ordinary.  Champions League… oh my sides.

Talking of Europe theres a rumour that we may play in the Europa League next season due to the “FairPlay” table, in which we are fifth, bizarrely behind Liverpool who’s star player is a cannibal.

So the relegation picture looks like this; Reading and QPR are officially down. Wigan sit in the final relegation spot with 32 points after a draw against Bale United but crucially have a game  in hand. Newcastle sit in 17th with 37, but a heavy 6-0 loss at home to Liverpool won’t be great for the G.D. Villa sit in 16th with 37 again, but a huge win against Sunderland will have given there confidence a big boost, and the Black Cats themselves lead the 37 points brigade but as I said, were dealt a heavy defeat by Villa at the weekend. Norwich sit in 14th with 38 and then its us on 39. If we can get 4 points from the last three games then theres no way were going down, but it seems we’ve wrecked the top ten target with some really poor football

Next up Bale United, Good Luck Saints.

Swansea 0-0 Southampton

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Saints swansea splits

Saints battled hard today to extend their unbeaten run to six after a forgettable goal less draw in South Wales.

MOPO’s side now can finally consider themselves all but safe. Now sitting eight points clear of the drop zone it would take a miracle for anyone to catch them.

MALA’s side however will have been disappointed not to have taken the 3 points, after having what they feel the better of the chances.

You have to be devoted to travel 175 miles and I’d like to start by congratulating all 2076      fans, how can we not be the best fans in England?

However even if we are the best fans in England, we couldn’t prevent a very shaky start from The Saints.

Both teams made moves which were easy on the eye, but it was the Swans who carried the greater threat in the opening exchanges, with Michu unable to make the most of a composed
break forward, as the Spaniard’s shot was charged down by Jos Hooiveld.
On 10 minutes, Luke Moore flung himself at a cross from Dyer on the right side, but Artur Boruc was out smartly to collect the ball, as he was again moments later when Dyer this time broke through the middle.
Pochettino’s men grew into the game, and in the 14th minute, a burst down the right from Nathaniel Clyne created the opportunity via Morgan Schneiderlin, for Jack Cork to strike form distance, but the midfielder’s rising effort was held by Michel Vorm in the home side’s goal.
After weathering another storm inside their own half, Saints took aim from range again when Steven Davis fed the ball into the path of Jay Rodriguez, who curled a high shot over the bar form the edge of the area.
A more patient approach from the visitors drew a free-kick when Adam Lallana was shoved to ground by Swansea skipper Ashley Williams on the right side of the hosts’ area.
Lambert stepped up to deliver the set piece, but his strike came back off the wall, much to the relief of Michael Laudrup’s men.
On 27, another relaxed move down the right flank saw Clyne and Davis combine once more, this time for Rodriguez, who hit a controlled volley low to Vorm’s right, where the ‘keeper was able to pounce on it without too much trouble.
A period of midfield possession for both teams followed until Lallana was brought down by Chico Flores just outside of the area. Lambert again stepped up, but his dead ball hit was expertly tipped away by Vorm who leapt across to push it over.
The resulting corner was taken by Steven Davis and pushed out to the other side where Rodriguez rescued the move to float the ball back into the danger zone. Lallana went up with Vorm to tap the ball into the empty net, but the linesman nearest to the action, ruled the goal out for a push on the Swansea goalkeeper, much to the displeasure of the Saints players.
Swansea started the better in the second half as well when sub Wayne Routledge curled a cross into Michu who just couldn’t keep his header down.
Next came Swansea’s best chance to break the deadlock Dyer played a smart one-two with Michu leaving Boruc in no mans land, luckily though Maya Yoshida was on the line to clear.
Emmanuel Mayuka came on in place of Rodriguez late on in a bid to snaffle a late winner, and with three fresh attackers on the field, Saints sensed a late opportunity to steal all three points, which nearly came when Davis picked out the underplayed Zambian, but his stab towards goal was saved by Vorm’s left foot.

Swansea VS Southampton

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Saints SWANSEA

This weekend The Saints make only there second trip too The Liberty, with the chance to go level on points with The Swans.

So, another busy week on the South Coast, but unusually the TV crews didn’t have SO14 tapped in on the Sat-Nav, but our bitter rivals Pompey little over 20 miles away. Yes Saints fans, the skates have dropped yet another division taking them to the rock bottom of The Football League. Oldham beat Yeovil by one goal to nil, condemning both Pompey and Hartlepool to relegation.

As Barnet beckon for Pompey it’s Barca who beckon for Saints, having not lost since late February, The Reds are on fantastic form and make the trip to South Wales full of confidence. However it won’t be easy, as Swansea will be fired up looking to send a message out to their rivals who coincidentally have been making some noise of there own.

Saints make there first trip to The Liberty since 2008, where they were easily beaten 3-0.The two managers Pochettino and Laudrup last met in Spain, however when they were in charge of Espanyol and Real Mallorca respectively. That match which came a month before Laudrup resigned  finished 1-0 to Mallorca, with current Swans player Jonathan De Guzman scoring a 62nd minute winner.

Another potential reunions our leading scorer Ricky Lambert and Swansea Captain Ashley Williams, Who Played together at stockport almost a decade ago.

Fast forward to the present day, and both teams have drawn plaudits for their attractive styles of football which are set to grace the Premier League again next season. Saints currently have 38 points from 33 games played, and sit in twelfth place after last Saturday’s hard-fought 1-1 draw with West Ham at St Mary’s. Swansea sit 3 places and 3 points better off in 9th, but with a game in hand.

Team News

Luke Shaw, Jay Rod and Jason Puncheon could all return after missing out with illness, but Kelvin Davis and Guly are doubts due to that nifty sick bug and illness respectively.

Stats

  • Swansea and Southampton have met only three times in the last 30 years. Before they drew 1-1 earlier in the season, the last time they met was in the 2008-09 season in the Championship where Swansea took four points off the Saints, winning 3-0 at home and drawing 2-2 away.
  • Southampton have not won at Swansea since a 1-0 victory in 1962 in the old Division Two.
  • This is the 60th meeting between the sides. Southampton have won 27 times, Swansea 18 and there have been 14 draws.
  • Swansea have picked up only four points from five Premier League games since winning the Capital One Cup.
  • Swansea have won just four of their last 17 league matches.
  • Swansea City are yet to win in the Premier League this season when they have fallen behind (D7, L11).
  • Leon Britton could make his 400th league appearance.
  • The Saints are undefeated in their last five league matches.
  • They have scored the opening goal 18 times this season – only Manchester United (19), Chelsea (20) and Tottenham Hotspur (20) have done so more often.
  • Southampton have thrown away more points (29) from winning positions this season than any other team in the top flight.
  • Rickie Lambert is the top-scoring Englishman in the division this season with 14 goals.

Southampton 1-1 West Ham United

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Lambert goal?

The Saints battled hard to get a well-earned draw against a solid West Ham side taking another huge step towards confirming their Premier League status.

Ricky Lambert came close to opening the scoring before Jussi Jaaskelainen somehow clawed it of the line, while Hammers striker Andy Carroll (Who was humorously dubbed “The Horse” by the attending Saints fans) thumped his volley wide from close range.

Lambert again caught the Hammer fans with their hearts in their mouths after good work from Jack Cork on the wing managed to curl an appetising ball into the leading english goal scorer who placed his header inches wide on the stroke of half time.

It was Saints who struck first though, after the ball fell kindly to Gaston Ramirez who took no prisoner’s with a scorching finish from inside the box. Having seen his initial shot blocked by James Collins he found himself through on goal finishing fiercely past a helpless Jaaskelainen

This kicked the Hammers into action, however they needed a deflected free kick to get past a wrong footed  Artur Boruc in the Saints goal. After the game Jos Hoovield questioned Mike Deans decision to award the free kick and replays showed the centre back had a point.

This prompted Mauricio Pochettino to bring on the inform Jay Rodriguez who had been demoted to the bench due to a sickness bug doing the rounds in the Saints camp. He immediately made an impact on the game showing off his pace and ability to beat defenders and came tantalizingly close to providing the vital goal the men in red and white so desperately wanted. The young striker hit the ball sweetly after a direct run only to be denied by the outstretched left arm of Jaaskelainen

From the off it was obvious to see the men with “the accents” were going to play a direct and physical game, which the men “from the coast” on the whole dealt with well sticking to their game plan for the full 90 minutes and where arguably the better of two sides, even though the horrendous conditions much favoured the away team

Last season this was a championship fixture, However now due to a run of form from The Saints and it has to be said a strong season all round from The Hammers, this now is classed as a mid-table fixture.

Saints are surely now a couple of wins away from confirming there premier league status for next season while the top 10 is starting to become a real possibility.