Printer-friendly pageThursday, May 11, 2006
Sheffield Wednesday are suffering more with injuries than Saints, and Paul Sturrock had no less than 11 players out. Add loan signings Folly and Best to that because Saints said they should not be available: if we couldn't beat this outfit at home, we may as well give up now. As it was, Saints went on to complete their first double since Mr. Sturrock was in charge - the next target is to beat someone home and away under the same manager. Saints were pretty much on top for the first 35 minutes, but turning superiority into goals has been the problem all season. Then Surman was fouled on the edge of the box and Higginbotham smashed the free kick through a fragile looking wall to give home fans something to cheer at last. Rasiak was next to strike shortly after the break. There wasn't anything pretty about this goal either, but it's a bonus having someone who can get a quick shot in and on target when the ball is loose in the box. Jones headed a third goal, and you would have to say this one was impressive… if you thought that he did what he wanted to do with it. At last a satisfying afternoon at St. Mary's.
LSSC Man of the Match: Andrew Surman, edging out Rasiak whose time will come.
The passing of Charlie Wayman and Peter Osgood was marked by a minute's applause before the Coventry game. It would be trite to say that the more traditional silence followed in the next 90 minutes or so, but the memory both of these attacking players was enhanced by the rather ordinary fare on offer at St. Mary's. Southampton weren't helped when they lost Ostlund to an ankle injury quite early on, but their problem was the familiar one of troubling the visiting defence. Eventually Rasiak gave Saints a late lead when he netted with a towering header from a corner. That should certainly have been enough, and would have been had Rasiak's well taken but offside goal stood. However, Coventry fought back and we were having trouble clearing our lines before Dyer leant a hand. Poor Nathan had given a vital first goal away at Reading and now he cost us a couple of points with a unnecessary challenge on Hutchison. According to Jerome Wright on the web site, Hutchison is was not the best of players for a forward to try to tackle in the box, as he collapsed spectacularly and duly put away the penalty. Maybe it wasn't quite the worst of games, but there was very little else to report upon.
LSSC Man of the Match: Grzegoz Rasiak for the goal (and as promised in last week's report).
For Southampton's first League visit to Crewe Blackstock was the latest to partner Rasiak while Madsen had a run in a wide right position. Although clearly short of pace, his intelligence paid dividends and for once we were able to bring an orthodox overlapping full back into the game (Baird, standing in for Ostlund). Rasiak hit the bar with a spectacular shot as Saints dominated the opening minutes but they needed Smith to sort out a defensive mess and from then on we were always aware that Crewe could be dangerous on the break. Nevertheless, 0-0 at half time was disappointing - so on 55 minutes, Kosowski replaced Blackstock, allowing Madsen to move to the middle. It soon paid off with Madsen scoring his first for the club from a low Rasiak cross. Crewe continued to threaten on the break, but it was still a surprise when they equalised with time beginning to run out. Rodgers beat the offside trap and ran on to shoot inside Smith's near post as Higginbotham ran back down the middle with his hand in the air. The Alex then threw men forward for what could have been an unlikely and priceless win, but (unusually) Saints held firm.
LSSC Man of the Match: Jerome Wright, just edging out Baird.
George Burley's first game in charge of the Saints was at Watford, so the return fixture gave an opportunity to judge how things have progressed. He would prefer that we hadn't tried. Without Lundekvam, the defence was a shambles and once the usual messy attempts to clear had presented Mahon with the opportunity to put the visitors ahead in the third minute, there was only going to be one winner (actually, when is there ever more than one?). Madsen accompanied Rasiak in an orthodox twin striker formation, and despite the goal at Crewe I'd have thought we would have realised by now that it isn't a very effective. Watford improved their goal difference when more poor defending gave Henderson a tap in chance on 67 minutes, and then some really atrocious play let him head their third on 72 minutes. Still a lot of football to play, but many of a 19,000 crowd (and that includes season ticket no-shows: you know who you are) didn't stay to witness it. Had they hung around until the last 5 minutes they would have seen the best bit as a Surman shot hit the bar on the way over and then substitute Kosowski lobbed in a nice cross for the unmarked Madsen to score. Watford's joy at 3 points for their promotion push may be short lived as Saints next travel to Sheffield United, and they can expect a swift return to form.
LSSC Man of the Match: Chris Baird. I'm told he and Surman at least seemed to show a bit of interest, but I don't think any of them were that special.
Sheffield United's recent slump came to an abrupt end when they met Southampton, just as every visiting fan would have prophesised. Lundekvam returned to give some temporary stability at the back, and Saints enjoyed a promising beginning when a determined run by Jones ended with a shot well saved by Kenny. When Jones puts his mind to it, he can be a very awkward opponent, but something seems to be preventing him fulfilling his potential. Perhaps he's worrying about a pre-World Cup injury, but someone who is not a regular in this ropy Saints line up will be lucky to make the trip anyway. By half time Saints had lost the game, as yet more sloppy defending conceded two goals in the last few minutes before the break. Jagielka fired the first and Ifill added a second in injury time, but on each occasion Saints had plenty of people in a position to cover, and not succeeding. What's more, any side that concedes a goal from a long throw isn't defending well enough. United were content not to let their opponents have a sniff at getting back into the game in the second half, and only managed to add one to their lead. Just as in the previous game, Saints left two players unmarked at the far post; this time they had a chance to clear, but Brennan and Higginbotham combined managed to shoot against their own post before Shipperley put an end to the confusion. Once again, many of Southampton's followers disappeared towards the local bars as soon as the third went in.
LSSC Man of the Match: Chris Baird, for the second game running. But you don't have to be very special to be man of the match they way we are playing.
Just when you thought the current season couldn't get more bizarre, we go and drop our goalkeeper in favour of some tubby bloke who's retired once. Still, Kevin Miller must have thought of himself as a lucky omen at a soggy Turf Moor as Burnley's Phil Bardsley obligingly put Ostlund's cross through his own goal in the very first minute. However, Miller will know enough about Southampton's recent defending to be not just afraid, but very afraid. It didn't take long before Kenton failed to deal with a long ball and Gray was left with only Miller to beat. Fortunately the keeper's belly flop lunge failed to make contact with the player (the ball had long gone) but unfortunately Gray wisely steadied himself in the tricky conditions and just managed to stroke the ball home before Lundekvam arrived. Chaplow should have restored Southampton's lead, but he produced an air shot when faced with an open goal. A reasonable first half following some dismal displays, but Burnley had the better of the second period. In conditions that were difficult, but certainly playable, more goals always looked likely, especially at the far end. Mahon came closest with a shot that was certainly not going to give the 37 year old goalie a chance, but the ball clipped the bar. Miller was more able to block successfully and caught the eye with some brave stops towards the end.
LSSC Man of the Match: Kevin Miller. This is crazy; he's nowhere near fit enough to be playing at this level, and he was never that brilliant in the first place. But Miller was the story of the night, and he gets the award on merit.
Mr. Burley professed himself pleased with the effort shown in the last game, at Burnley; the improvement continued against Cardiff City, but might not be extended to Ricardo Fuller on his return from loan. It seemed to me that here was a man who didn't want to play for the club, especially after a lengthy 1st half delay for an injury. Otherwise, Saints were doing OK in what was a very important fixture, but I would have substituted the striker at half time. It was down to the unlikely figure of Claus Lundekvam to open the scoring shortly after the interval. That's something you don't see every day, although Cardiff boss Dave Jones may be thinking otherwise - he was in charge of Wolves when Claus scored his only other competitive goal in the UK. Kevin Miller has presumably been chosen because George likes his goalkeepers to at least attempt to claim crosses, but he was struggling with a corner that led to an almighty scramble in which Cardiff hit the bar at least twice. It was clear that at some point the ball had crossed the line, and someone has managed to credit the goal to Jerome. Fuller was still on the pitch, and he played a decisive part in the remainder of the game. First, a crossfield run into the box was ended by a left foot shot that went inside the near post for Fuller's first Saints goal since October. Lundekvam and Fuller scoring in the same match! Then, blow-me-down, the forward goes and does it again, with a second-effort volley. At 3-1 Saints were coasting but in injury time Purse headed in the game's 4th goal from corners and we then conceded a last gasp free kick. Happily Koumas's shot was saved easily.
LSSC Man of the Match: Claus Lundekvam. It wasn't going to be Ricardo Fuller after a pretty feeble first half. In my humble opinion, of course.
Fortunately, our visit to Brighton was on a nice, sunny day. By all accounts soggy Withdean was a pretty miserable place to be watching football last time out, and even in pleasant conditions it left a lot to be desired. The new away supporters' stand was at the opposite end to the goal Southampton attacked in the first half, which meant we didn't have the best of views of what was very likely the finest 45 minutes Saints have produced on their travels this season. Not to have been ahead would have been a waste, but the rejuvenated Fuller did oblige. It was a messy effort as Brighton struggled to clear their lines, but it did take a nice presence of mind for the forward to take an extra touch before volleying in from close range. The local press down here in Sussex say Brighton changed their formation at the interval, and played well as a result. They certainly caused more problems, but for the most part, a Saints defence without Higginbotham and with Ostlund at left back were equal to the threat. However on 60 minutes Kazim-Richards broke clear and Miller just managed to get a touch as the tentative forward tried to take it round him. Saints needed a second goal as a cushion and it came soon afterwards; Belmadi did well to pass across goal instead of lobbing in another cross, and Chaplow scored with a low first time shot. A happy day out, for once.
LSSC Man of the Match: Richard Chaplow. He worked as hard as usual and at last was rewarded with a goal.
There was little for either side to play for at Stoke but a good following turned up for Southampton's first match at the Britannia Stadium. They were rewarded by an excellent display from a Saints side who were maybe playing for next year's contracts at wherever they may find themselves. Rasiak was the first to make a telling contribution with a run into the box that was halted by two challenges, at least one of which was foul. The Pole took the spot kick himself, scoring with a left foot shot. He also added a second when he was strong enough to be first to a free kick and volley home. The two goal lead was no more than Saints deserved after a first half when it was hard to recall any sort of threat on Miller's goal. Chaplow failed to reappear, and it was wrongly supposed that this was a political change after a poor tackle had led to Wilkinson being stretchered off. Nevertheless Saints continued to look solid at the back and dogged in midfield before an awesome late strike by Gallagher gave the home side some hope of salvaging a point. Dare I say it, but there is a new confidence and solidity about Southampton these days an 3 more points were in the bag.
LSSC Man of the Match: Grzegoz Rasiak, although his overall contribution was less than some of his colleagues.
Saints gave debuts to David McGoldrick and 16 year old Gareth Bale against Millwall, which initially appeared to be a tough ask - after all, the Lions are renown for their spirit in adversity. However, this was not the Millwall of Harry Cripps, Terry Hurlock or even Denis Wise and there was very little enthusiasm from players or fans: no-one supports them and they don't seem to care anyway. Despite having to reshape a scratch team once Powell was injured (Wright to full back, Baird to centre back, and both played well) Saints took the lead on 15 minutes when Jones was bundled over, and the World Cup hopeful ended up taking the spot kick himself - seemingly because he picked the ball up before Pahars. One did wonder how long it would take to retrieve that ball from the empty seats behind the Northam goal, but it was a sensible shot that found the net instead. Jones might have had three by half time if he'd kept his head a bit better in open play, as Millwall began to say goodbye to the Championship not with a bang but a whimper. A second goal refused to come, so Rasiak & Fuller replaced McGoldrick & Pahars, players at either end of their Saints careers. You always have a chance when only one-down but Millwall failed to take theirs, although May did hit the bar. Then came the season's most futile gesture. Millwall required 2 goals in the last 30 seconds of injury time, plus the even less likely miracle of 3 late goals by Brighton against Sheffield Wednesday, so they sent their goalkeeper up for a corner. Saints cleared the ball, and we had the amusing sight of Ricardo Fuller, dodgy knees and all, puffing and blowing as he bore down on an unguarded goal. The spectacle seemed to continue forever, but eventually the ball was slotted home for that belated second goal.
LSSC Man of the Match: Chris Baird. In this company his will to win outweighs a lack of Premiership class.
Crystal Palace charged an extraordinary £30 for the privilege of watching the Saints at Selhurst Park, but a game that had little going for it in terms of promotion or relegation still managed to come close to offering value for money. Not surprisingly youngsters McGodrick and Bale were dropped in favour of experience as Saints had the most of the first half possession and managed several clear chances. However it was the home side who forced the more desperate goalkeeping, and they seemed to have a legitimate shout for a penalty as well. The action continued after the break, and with Southampton still making the running. Surman missed the clearest chance but Palace had what this time seemed a certain penalty appeal turned down before a slip by Baird and an unlucky rebound gave Johnson a chance which he took clinically. The lead didn't last long as Fuller managed to head home a free kick despite not getting the cleanest contact with the ball. This pulsating match in spring sunshine could have had many more goals but it seemed to be heading to a one-each conclusion when all of a sudden Morrison ran through a huge gap in the Saints defence and again the finish was precise. Nine minutes plus injury time remained, but by the end Saints had very little left.
LSSC Man of the Match: Ricardo Fuller, or did I just dream that performance?
With the usual list of injuries to defenders, Bale returned for the final game, against Leicester, keeping out-of-favour Crainie on the bench - although fitness is an issue with Crainie as well. Dyer retained his place and with a shot against the post came close to scoring his first Southampton league goal after a neat move. However, when you've got Ricardo Fuller, the pressure is bound to tell in the end and the in-form striker was in the right place to score an easy goal after the ball fell nicely for him. Indeed Fuller was instrumental in a second goal a couple of minutes later; an exchange of passes with Surman led to a tap-in for the youngster. Fuller should in fact have scored again before the break, but a lack of pace allowed Henderson to dive at his feet. Leicester hadn't looked much like scoring against Saints in the two meetings at the Walker Stadium this season, but Southampton are vulnerable from set pieces so some rare corners gave the visitors some hope. By the end, though, most fans were basking in the warm glow of memories provided at half time by the reunion of our Cup winners and the season moved to a quiet conclusion with some near misses for Surman and substitute Prutton, who at last returned to first team action.
LSSC Man of the Match: Andrew Surman, more than making up for the loss of Chaplow.
So that was the Championship: did you like it? No, nor did I. Far too many games, and very few of them memorable, despite the prices. In 51 competitive matches, Saints used 41 players (including 5 goalkeepers, with Blackstock) so the stats are even less meaningful than usual, not to mention a bit like a trip down memory lane.
LSSC men of the season based on Man of the Match awards were Nigel Quashie, Claus Lundekvam and Chris Baird with 4, thanks to a late run from Baird. Wise and Surman scored 3 while ten players registered 2 and thirteen achieved 1 each. 28 different winners of MotM! I'm glad we managed to get Claus out on top (well, nearly), because he was the only one who showed any consistency.
