Saints hit back to see off County

Notts County 1, Saints 3
Butterfield celebrated his second LSSC Man of the Match award by pulling out injured from the next match, away to Notts County. Belatedly, then, Frazer Richardson made his Saints debut, with Barnard partnering Lambert and Guly left on the bench. After a bright start, County soon began to cause Saints problems and they took the lead in the 8th minute when Edwards headed home a corner. Davis led a chase of players protesting to referee Waugh and although it was hard to see why at the time, TV replays showed a home forward stood in front of the goalkeeper in his attempt to make a save. However, it was indisputably an onside position so, sorry Kelvin, I can’t see that there was any offence.
Saints proceeded to frustrate a large following by failing to create many clear openings beyond a Lambert free kick that was brilliantly saved, while there was always the danger that County would grab a second. They may well have done so had ace poacher Lee Hughes not been suspended, as the loose ball from several corners could have been converted by more alert forwards.
The match turned on 68 minutes when Barnard was brought down as he was about to pull the trigger and Mr. Waugh showed a red card to Thompson as well as awarding a penalty. Lambert shot past Burch’s dive as Nigel prepared to go through with a double substitution despite the change in the game’s dynamics. It was the right thing to do as the Saints XI got well on top of their outnumbered opponents and they grabbed a second goal when Barnard stabbed in Lambert’s low cross.
Four minutes of added time didn’t look like denying Saints as they played some effective keep-ball near the corner flag until Lallana became bored with it all and curled a fine shot past Burch. The Saints web site described this as our “first win on the road since the end of August.” Those of us paying attention to the result at Hillsborough on 25th September know better.

LSSC Man of the Match: Adam Lallana, with the LSSC travellers clearly judging that his overall contribution outweighed Barnard’s two crucial interventions. Fair enough… but try explaining it to Barnard, who continues to wear strapping around his fist as a reminder to those who might cross him.

01 Davis
02 Richardson
03 Harding
06 Fonte
19 Seaborne
04 Schneiderlin (Chaplow 69)
10 Puncheon (Oxlade-Chamberlain 69)
14 Hammond
20 Lallana
07 Lambert
09 Barnard (Bignall 82)