Saints 4 Southend 1

Sunday, May 6, 2007

Saints started against Southend in the coveted 6th place, and were given an early boost when news of early goals for QPR (against Stoke) and Leicester (against Wolves) filtered down.

The latter moved us up to 5th, but only until a surprise and apparently uncharacteristic volley from centre back Barrett put the visitors ahead. That still left us in a play-off position, and with practically everyone in the crowd aware of the fact, panic didn't set in.

Normal service was resumed when Bale beat his man easily and delivered the perfect cross for Jones to score. We should have had a great opportunity to go ahead when Lundekvam was quite obviously held back when about to shoot from close range: with Claus you could hardly call it a sending off offence on the grounds that a clear goalscoring opportunity was prevented, but a penalty would have been handy, and it would also have avoided the serious injury to Lundekvam a few moments later that has probably ended his season.

Jones has the ability to dominate most Championship defenders, and it was hardly a contest when he went up against diminutive goalkeeper Flahavan as well. The ball was drifting goalwards until Barrett cleared off the line, but he made such a hash of it that Best was suddenly presented with the ball at his feet on the goal-line. 2-1 up, but as the afternoon progressed, our rivals were upping their games as well and the lead was now critical.

Then Bale showed his class with another fine run and cross which Best converted and we hardly had time to look at the clock before Southend were cut open by a passing move that ended with Best upended by Flahavan but Jones putting away the loose ball.

We're hardly going about getting promotion the easy way, but at least the end of the regular season didn't turn out to be as nervy as feared.

Man of the Match: Kenwyne Jones. Bale was back to his best as well, but Jones had a part in three goals, and Bale only two.

Southampton: Bialkowski, Ostlund, Baird, Lundekvam (Viafara 45), Bale, Belmadi (Skacel 69), Pele, Guthrie, Surman, Jones (Rasiak 85), Best.
Subs Not Used: Davis, Wright-Phillips.

Goals: Jones 29, Best 48, 80, Jones 81.

Southend: Flahavan, Francis, Clarke, Barrett, Hammell, Hooper (Harrold 68), McCormack, Moussa, Campbell-Ryce, Foran, Bradbury.
Subs Not Used: Collis, Hunt, Prior, Ademeno.

Booked: McCormack, Bradbury.

Goals: Barrett 13.

Att: 32,008.

Ref: N Miller (Co Durham).