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Saturday, November 11, 2006
At far-off Sunderland a variable (but always cold) wind made for difficult conditions which suited a Southampton formation better designed for stopping the opposition than creativity.
Wright and Pele provided the midfield engines, while we had one-and-a-half men up front in Jones and Dyer - in terms of both stature and tactical positions. There's nothing wrong with any of that, especially away from home, and Sunderland were made to look very ordinary for pretty well all of the match.
However, on the hour mark, they were awarded a dubious free kick on the edge of the box, and Wallace converted. Saints had noticeably failed to close down Wallace's long distance opportunity in the first half, and it was also unfortunate that they did not recognise his abilities by putting a man on the post - as the home side had done to frustrate Bale from a similar position.
It seemed doubtful that the game would offer a further goal, and Saints fans would have been more convinced by that view when Ward reacted superbly to touch Pele's header onto the post. However Saints did get their first away goal in 4 games when Bale did well to keep his shot into a crowded goalmouth low, and the deflection off a defender did the rest.
A team that was overdue a bit of fortune celebrated with gusto; the clock showed 90 when they eventually lined up, but we still had 5 minutes added time. Enough for Wright-Phillips almost to embarrass Ward from distance, but a late, late winner was not to be.
Man of the Match: Pele; tackled like a defender, passed like a midfielder and nearly finished like a striker.
