Printer-friendly pageFriday, August 11, 2006
The team that played most of the opening second half started against Coventry but the Sky Blues were first into their stride, forcing a number of early corners and hitting the post through Adebola.
Saints, however, may have got off to a good start themselves, but Wright-Phillips shot wide - in fact there was very little to choose between the two sides, and both looked more than capable of scoring. After the interval Coventry probably didn't create quite as much, while Saints eventually had a chance to use their surprise new attacking weapon: the Gareth Bale free kick.
The teenager's effort in the 61st minute was from considerably further out than Sunday's goal and was even more precise in its execution. Coventry protested (with some justification) about the late penalty converted by Rasiak to secure all 3 points, but things may still have become desperate in injury time after an awful backpass by Viafara. Fortunately John's poor finish was outmatched by Davies's excellent save.
LSSC Man of the Match: Jerome Wright. There's nothing complicated about Southampton's formation, with the creative midfielders (Belmadi and Skacel) wide, and the engine room manned by Wright and Viafara. Both had their good moments, but Viafara had a fair few bad ones as well.
