Printer-friendly pageSaturday, December 29, 2007
It was a cold, wet and windy afternoon at Barnsley and Southampton's players would have been longing for the warmth and security of their pre-match huddle after just 16 seconds.
That's how long it took for the hosts to take the lead, with Togwell hitting the loose ball past a statuesque Davies after Campbell-Ryce's cross had been partially cleared. To be fair, we didn't see too much of Barnsley's attack, but when they did get the ball, a Southampton defence with Powell replacing the injured Davis didn't seem to have much idea about how to stop them.
Odejayi missed two clear opportunities either side of the impressive Campbell-Ryce adding an inevitable second with a fine 35th minute shot.
These days the tunnel at Oakwell is at the visitors' end and Saints left the field to cries of 'earn your money' directed from our party in general, and the more specific 'Burley, sort it out'. Well, he did, with Ifill replacing Powell and then a double swap on 60 minutes that brought on Lallana and Wright-Phillips. Adam Lallana can be pleased with his contribution but it was Wright-Phillips who stole the show, first when released by Rasiak to make good his promise not to miss from a one-on-one situation. That was surely BWP's first touch and he made another huge impact by sweeping home a 70th minute equaliser, again after good work by Rasiak.
The Pole would have walked away with man-of-the-match had he converted one of two very presentable late chances, and Wright-Phillips had a hat trick shot saved by Muller. In the end we left somewhat disappointed not to have taken all three points, but just one was beyond most people's half time dreams.
LSSC Man of the Match: Bradley Wright-Phillips, although he only played 30 minutes.
Saints line up: Davis, Wright, Powell (Ifill), Thomas, Bennett, Surman, Safri, Hammill (Llallana), Rasiak, Euell, John (Wright-Phillips). Unused subs: Bialkowski, Viafara
Referee: AR Hall
