Ram Raided!

Tuesday, February 6, 2007

Jones failed to recover from midweek injury to face Derby, so Saganowski came in for his debut - and what a start it almost was, when he forced Bywater into a flying save in the first minute.

Southampton's latest Pole came even closer shortly afterwards, but his shot came back off the post and the ball somehow evaded Rasiak's efforts. It really was an impressive start by Saints against the Championship leaders, and Viafara was next to hit the woodwork, while Skacel should have done better with the follow up when set up by Saganowski.

This fixture was ITV's featured match, which meant that Oakley's offside goal for Derby in amongst the home side's dominance was given more prominence than usual... and, er, it should have counted.

Derby did change things with a tactical substitution in the 35th minute, but they were the side happy with 0-0 at half time.

As long sufferers would have predicted, things took a downturn after the interval, and Pearson missed a good chance while Saints found it more difficult to create opportunities against the division's meanest defence. I don't think we deserved the reversal in the last few minutes, though. It didn't help that Baird was trying to defend with his hand in the air appealing for out of play, but he may not have been able to stop the ball reaching Jones, whose effort was blocked - but defenders and keeper were in no position to stop Howard from finishing.

Mr. Burley had brought on Dyer for Rasiak in an odd move, and it didn't much help our efforts to prevent Derby recording yet another 1-0 win.

Man of the Match: Pele, back at centre half.

George Burley admitted missed chances cost his side as they slipped to a 1-0 defeat against Derby at St Mary's.

The result, secured by a Steve Howard goal seven minutes from time, has left Saints ten points behind the league-leading Rams.

But the game should have been all over by half time with Saints playing some great football in the first period but squandering a host of good chances.

Burley said: "I don't like losing and that was the case.

"When you look at the match after 15 minutes the game could have been over.

"First half we created so many clear-cut chances but didn't take them and it can kick you in the teeth.

"Second half was a different game and they eventually got the goal. Chris Baird assures me the ball was out of play. You need a little bit of luck but we didn't get it."

Saints: Davis, Baird, Lundekvam, Pele, Bale, Wright, Idiakez, Viafara, Skacel (McGoldrick), Rasiak (Dyer), Saganowski (Wright-Phillips)