Read Eric at Eastleigh!

Monday, July 16, 2007

Southampton's new season is now underway as the team gained revenge for their shock defeat at Eastleigh last year. They were without injured Lundekvam and had Pele, Bialkowski and Viafara in various stages of international duty or recovery... where Kenwyne Jones was is a worrying mystery given transfer speculation (Ed: According to Saints website he had a slight strain but will travel to Norway).

Saints in fact fell behind early on with their back line looking dangerously square, but close range goals from McGoldrick, Hammill and Licka set up a healthy lead before a penalty that some thought generous kept the home side in the game at half time. For me, Adam Hammill was the star, looking comfortable on the ball and using it intelligently; however, he didn't show any pace or tricks and unless he's keeping them quiet, he may be best suited to a midfield role.

All outfield players changed for the second half and Dyer soon set up Wright-Phillips for the best but last goal of the game - Eastleigh tired badly and Saints were probably too embarrassed by the possession they enjoyed to try anything that could have broken down a still stubborn defence and able goalkeeper. All we learned about triallist Tamas Vasko is that he's a giant defender, while Gregory Vignal had an anonymous 45 minutes at left back-cum midfield, apart from a couple of free kicks that went just over.

The game had its casualties, with Davis going off after an early knock while Idiakez pulled up lame soon after coming on. I suspect there will be some who'd say we might not miss either of them. But we are now officially under way, as indeed are the supporters. Your Chairman and Newsletter Editor were fortunate enough to stumble upon a beer festival in the Concorde Club near the ground, much to the disappointment of other fans who had made the effort to find more adventurous routes to Stoneham in the never ending search for the perfect pint. Never mind, as I write this Mick will already be suffering Norwegian drink prices on the next pre-season leg, so we can all gloat about that.

1st half: Davis, Ostlund, Skacel, Licka, Lancashire, Powell, Llallana, McGoldrick, Rasiak, Wright, Hammill

2nd half: Poke, Hatch, Vignal, Idiakez, Makin, Vasko, Dyer, Wright-Phillips, Saganowski, James, Surman

HT: 2-3

Attendance 2,863