Saints held at home

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Colchester doubled Saints last season, but without our nemesis, Jamie Cureton in their ranks I suspect most home fans were confident of reversing at least the St. Mary's result. Maybe an early goal would have assisted, but Viafara shot wide from a good position and when Dyer was clattered by goalkeeper Davison, Mr. D'Urso waved play on: Dyer would not have reached the ball, but to my mind that doesn't mean a foul can't be punished.

But then the match dropped into a pattern familiar from last season, with a predictable attacking strategy foiled by unadventurous opponents - in fact Colchester would have thought that they should have been ahead at the break but Lisbie failed to punish Thomas's error.

It was Saints who broke the deadlock after the interval when Wright-Phillips turned sharply and fired inside Davison's near post. Three points should have been on their way but Skacel's reasonable effort to block Yeates's cross only resulted in it sneaking into the net with Davis already committed.

In the end Southampton's play got scrappier and some were even thankful for the point. Saganowski remained benched until injury time while Hammill got a rare outing; I was never totally convinced by Saganowski's run of spectacular finishes last season, but the circumstances in this game cried out for him to have been given more time on the pitch.

LSSC Man of the Match: Nathan Dyer, who thus picks up back-to-back awards.

Southampton: Davis, Wright, Thomas, Makin, Skacel (Ostlund 77), Dyer, Viafara, Safri, Surman (Hammill 73), Rasiak, Wright-Phillips (Saganowski 90).
Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, John.

Booked: Safri, Rasiak.

Goals: Wright-Phillips 52.

Colchester: Davison, Duguid, Virgo, Baldwin, Elokobi, Yeates, Izzet, Jackson, McLeod (Granville 88), Platt, Lisbie.
Subs Not Used: Gerken, Guttridge, Guy, White.

Booked: Virgo, Granville.

Goals: Skacel 58 og.

Att: 18,773

Ref: Andy D'Urso (Essex).