Printer-friendly pageTuesday, April 10, 2007
Pre-match fears that the end of Davis's ban would mean the end of Bialkowski's run in the first team were unfounded, but Dyer managed to find his way into the starting line up against Sunderland. This was an odd move to many, as the visitors are probably the form team of the entire pools coupon, and the logical choice would have been to select our strongest players, physically - as it was we were already without Powell, in good form himself of late, with yet another injury.
Both sides slugged it out in a first half of high technical ability, unlike the usual Championship fare, but both also found it difficult to create the telling opportunity. As a result, the respective managers made tactical changes at the interval, with Stokes and Whitehead appearing for Sunderland, and Dyer making way for Guthrie (plus a few more moving round to accommodate him). Both moves looked to be effective, but the first clear opportunity was proving elusive, until Guthrie's cross was deflected and Saganowski continued his scoring run with a poacher's finish.
Putting games away after taking the lead has been a failing all season, but the team were working hard to keep the Mackems at bay until a moment's lack of concentration gave Edwards the chance to fire home from the edge of the box. That was after 77 minutes, and a draw would still have been a decent result after the wobbles suffered by our rivals, principally on Easter Saturday. It was not to be, though, as Leadbitter thumped in a winner in similar style to Edwards with just a few minutes remaining. A deflated Saints had no answer in the time remaining.
Man of the Match: Jhon Viafara, building on the confidence that the goal at Luton may have given him.
Saints: Bialkowski, Ostlund, Bale, Baird, Pele, Dyer (Guthrie), Wright, Viafara, Belmadi, Best (Wright-Phillips), Saganowski (Rasiak)
