Printer-friendly page
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Saturday 26th August Saints 1, Preston 1
Lallana kept his place after a promising start against hapless Yeovil, but the whole team found things more difficult against last year's play-off contenders, Preston. The visitors were well organised, and despite a lack of ambition they created plenty of problems for Southampton's back line. Our own creative play looked laboured in comparison, but there was enough of it for Saints to be shading the game on points. Just before the interval, the prospect of three actual points was increased when Surman headed on a corner for Rasiak to guide his own header past Nash. The game had tended to pass Lallana by, and the introduction of a not fully fit Wright helped Saints establish a bit more control after the break. Unfortunately things went rather pear shaped early in the second half as Davis had a 'Sunderland moment' and fumbled Whaley's free kick over the line. Saints mucked around with their formation and brought on Jones and Dyer, but the final ball was never good enough. The team remains unbeaten, but that may be thanks to Agyemang who turned in Nugent's cross from an offside position in the 85th minute - some say the ball was likely to beat Davis anyway for what would have been another soft goal.
LSSC Man of the Match: Grzegorz Rasiak, but what do I know - he was substituted after 72 minutes. It didn't seem to be the right time to take off our leading scorer, somehow.
Wednesday 23rd August Saints 5, Yeovil 2
At this time of year I usually have a moan about the League Cup: only the sponsor's name ever changes. With even Championship teams fielding weakened sides and attendances matching, the competition is on its last legs anyway - but not at St. Mary's! You always felt that our reduced prices were just right, and even George's team selection struck a nice balance between pragmatism and the will to progress. The 20,000+ attendance was boosted by a large turnout from Yeovil but there were a lot paying on the day, and there may have been more given better weather. They were well rewarded, once Saints had gone ahead. The move was set up nicely by Lallana and continued by Surman whose shot was saved; then it got a bit ugly, with an attempted clearance ricocheting off Kalala for an own goal. Southampton promptly conceded a daft goal at the other end: Pele was at full stretch heading clear, but Viafara wasn't paying attention and when the ball bounced back into danger, Gray scored. Immediately Saints won a free kick and for once Bale took it short for Skacel to open his account with a shot that was worth the £10 admission on its own. A third before half time ended the contest when Wright-Phillips scored with a cross shot. Lallana had shown some sublime touches and it was a shame that he was the first to be substituted.
The disappointment was short-lived as replacement Dyer fired in and then Fuller, also off the bench, set up Jones for a tap in and a double-summersault celebration. Yeovil were hardly competing by now, while dodgy keeper Mildenhall must have been regretting his conspicuous purple kit. However they gained some consolation with the last action of the match when Baird and Pele seemed to have given up playing and Harrold headed home.
LSSC Man of the Match: John Viafara. Surprisingly, no-one stood out in a big win but Saints dominated because they found it so easy to regain possession.
Several visiting players seemed to be scared of Viafara, so he gets the vote despite contributing to Yeovil's first goal.
Sat 19th August Barnsley 2, Saints 2
With Belmadi injured and Skacel patently not match fit, Saints started against Barnsley with Dyer and Surman occupying the wide positions. It didn't prevent the habitual slow start and the home side were only kept at bay by good goalkeeping. Southampton have the classier players, though, and Rasiak had an early opportunity as well, while several times loose balls in the danger area just would not fall to a yellow shirt. Barnsley went ahead in the very last seconds of first half injury time, with Devaney maybe fractionally onside as he broke down the right, while Richards must also have been on the edge of offside as he converted the cross. The lead was short-lived in terms of playing time when a corner was headed back by Baird and this time the ball did favour Saints, with Rasiak providing a neat finish. By now Skacel had replaced Dyer and Makin was on for Bale, who had been clattered by Devaney, earning the home player a booking. In fact referee Dean's Premiership experience was showing, and Southampton themselves were experienced enough to take advantage of Premiership interpretations, winning free kicks in dangerous positions - no Bale, though. Then Ostlund got into a mess dealing with a bouncing ball and was adjudged to have handled: Hayes scored from the spot. Again the lead was short lived, with Kay's 67th minute handball more clear-cut but still debatable. Rasiak converted from the spot, but there was no chance of a second opportunity when Wright Phillips dived outrageously when well placed.
On the other hand, an edge of box challenge by Davies could easily have been interpreted as a foul, but the score remained 2-2, and Barnsley remained a point clear of Saints. Probably not what we expected for this stage.
LSSC Man of the Match: Kelvin Davis. Some of his saves were regulation, but with a couple of stops well worthy of note. That late challenge did scare me, though.
