Printer-friendly pageThursday, November 30, 2006
Earlier midweek results meant that a win against Birmingham would bring Saints back to within touching distance of the early contenders, but defeat would leave them struggling to keep pace with the chasing pack.
Surprisingly George tinkered with the side again; in came Ostlund and Jones for Makin and Viafara while Pele started wide on the right. It wasn't going well for 12 minutes as the Blues showed more skills than most Championship sides.
Then Jones scored: a fine shot into the top corner. Then Jones scored again: a header from Bale's cross. Then Jones set up Skacel: a clinical finish. All of a sudden we were 3 up with less than 20 minutes played. Somewhere in amongst all this Surman and Pele had swapped places, and Birmingham were reeling.
It was important to keep that lead either side of half time, but in fact Saints looked like adding to it after the break. Bale's free kick hit the post then Jones and Rasiak seemed to contribute as much as visiting defenders to keeping the ball out in a scramble.
But things soon began to go wrong. In quick succession McSheffrey hit the bar and Larsson the post before Jerome headed in a 68th minute corner from close range. Not unexpected but you thought some intervention by the goalkeeper might have helped. Soon after, sloppy defending was punished by Bendtner and the word on everyone's mind was 'Leeds' - and not in the context of our recent win there.
Jones was substituted in a bid to turn the tide and it became a move of genius when Wright-Phillips scored with his first touch. The Birmingham taunts of winning 4-3 would no longer come true, but Saints could sneak home by that margin. Sure enough Jaidi headed home in the 93rd minute, at which Davis and Baird seemed to exchange blows.
Saints could have faced the last 90 seconds with 9 men including a rush goalie but fortunately Mr. Williamson limited himself to a lecture. Davis and Baird were in neither position nor a sensible frame of mind to deal with a final long ball which Campbell headed just over. That miss may just have saved Southampton's season.
Man of the Match: Kenwyne Jones. Even his substitution caused a goal.
Saints: Davis, Ostlund, Baird, Lundekvam, Bale, Wright, Pele, Surman (Viafara), Skacel (Licka), Jones (Wright-Phillips), Rasiak.
Attendance: 21,889
