Saints held by Sky Blues

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Another low St.Mary's crowd for the return fixture with Coventry was actually smaller than recorded because of season ticket no-shows: you know who you are! Those missing avoided a vastly improved performance from a Saints team that recalled Euell and Thompson, but judging by the game at the Ricoh Stadium, the absence of Tabb and McKenzie from the visitors' line-up was more telling.

However, you can only play against the team that turns up and the youngsters (plus Wotton, Skacel and Euell!) produced some attractive football in the first half, although the coach's message to go for goal more frequently was taken to extremes: Schneiderlin's 40 yard shot was the most ambitious. It was a shame that Westwood dived to keep out Euell's header down by the post and that Cork didn't do better with his header after a ‘total football’ moment when he joined the attack.

If anything the quality of our football improved after the break, but the final glory was still missing until McGoldrick finished off James's cross in the 68th minute. Unfortunately that was as good as it got as Saints never looked comfortable defending the lead, with Coventry stung into more urgent action than occasional long throw ploy as seen at the Ricoh game (memo to Saints management: wouldn't it be a jolly wheeze to move the pitchside advertising in a few yards when playing such a team?).

In the 75th minute Morrison made the most of a sharp opportunity, and Saints had it all to do again. There's a more desperate air to Mr. Poortvliet's tactics these days, and the introduction of Peckhart and Smith rather took away from the excellent shape Saints had held for most of the match. I found myself settling for a point in the closing stages as the visitors kept threatening to catch Saints on the break, but on another day Peckhart's well struck shot wouldn't have been blocked and Southampton would have got what they deserved.

LSSC Man of the Match: Jake Thomson. At age 20 he is a bit older than he looks, but he's now one of the least experienced 1st team squad members. I was impressed with the way he stuck to his role, which in turn helped the struggling Lloyd James behind him at full back.

Jan Poortvliet:
"I was pleased with the boys and the way they played tonight but not with the result.
"As a team we played very well and created the chances but just could not put them away.
"At the moment a draw is not good enough for us and we want to win games. I am disappointed with the result but not with the performance."

Southampton: Davis, James, Wotton, Cork, Skacel, Thomson (Smith 77), Schneiderlin, Euell, Surman (Wright-Phillips 90), Lallana (Pekhart 82), McGoldrick. Subs Not Used: Bialkowski, Gobern.

Booked: Schneiderlin, Wotton, James.

Goals: McGoldrick 68.

Coventry: Westwood, Osbourne, Dann, Ward, Fox, Beuzelin, Doyle (Simpson 72), Gunnarsson, Mifsud, Eastwood (Best 69), Morrison. Subs Not Used: Hall, Marshall, Turner.

Goals: Morrison 75.

Att: 14,226

Ref: Fred Graham (Essex).