Tough on Saints

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Nigel Pearson is still looking for his first win as Saints boss after promotion hopefuls Ipswich came from behind to earn a point at St Mary's.

New centre back Pearce pulled out of his scheduled home debut against Ipswich with (guess what?) an injury. Well, it makes him feel a real part of the squad now.

Also out was Surman, again due to injury although form would have been just as plausible, so Licka came in to play on the left. That move looked particularly good in the first period as the Czech linked well with Vignal - which is promising, as long as no-one asks Vignal to defend. Still, it was a welcome return for a player who has been curiously overlooked in a season when we've seemed to have tried every other combination.

The Saints left flank played its part in a first half when both sides moved the ball around nicely but failed to create clear cut chances - something that is symptomatic of Southampton's better days and, I suspect, of Ipswich's poor away results. So when John was given space and time to control Viafara's shot and shoot into the top corner, hopes were high that one would prove enough. In fact the lead lasted only a few minutes as Town's recent signing and former Burley target Norris shot an equaliser inside Davis's near post, although the goalkeeper would have been disappointed by the lack of cover.

Saints brought McGoldrick on for Saganowski, who again failed to impress, and then Baseya made a bizarre and touch-less debut deep into injury time. We will have to wait to see whether one point from an entertaining but even game proves sufficient.

LSSC Man of the Match: Youssef Safri. We look a better side when he plays, but there's only one person to blame for his missing the last four matches.

Saints: Davis, Wright, Thomas, Davies, Vignal, Viafara, Idiakez, Safri, Licka, Saganowski (McGoldrick), John (Baseya ).

Ipswich: Bywater, Wright, Naylor, De Vos, Harding, Norris, Miller (Garvan) Sumulikoski, Walters, Lee, Counago (Haynes)

Referee M Russell

Attendance 23,299