Arsenal Home Lost 1 – 2 We Have a Record
Walker-Peters’ illness ruled him out of the final game, against Arsenal, prompting speculation that it was of the sort that medical science cannot cure, and the same was being said of Bednarek’s injury, while it was clear when he limped off at Goodison that Harwood-Bellis wouldn’t be available. There were other options but, in front of his successor, Simon Rusk chose to parade Sugawara, Wood, Taylor and Welington as our only recognised defenders. Of course it was everybody’s job to get behind the ball anyway whenever the Gunners had it, i.e. 62% of the time. The extras in the cast included a first start for Robinson and a place for Stewart, with Sulemana having a more suitable role on the wing. It wasn’t the opposition’s first team either, with ‘reserves’ like Sterling included and the Saints XI did have their moments and neither referee nor his VAR equivalent saw anything wrong with Rice’s ‘handy’ block despite the fact that he shaped up with hands behind back before moving them to commit a possible offence. Then Martinelli ran through the gap between our centre backs and was only denied by Ramsdale; two corners ensued and from the second Tierney turned in White’s low cross. There was still time before the break for Sulemana to see a shot blocked and then miss the target from the rebound, which was a better opportunity. There was to be a Southampton goal though! Like Arsenal’s opener, it came from a corner, this one headed in directly by Stewart for his first for the club. The visitors went to their bench to introduce international players in Trossard, Lewis-Skelly, Saka, Havertz and Ødegaard, while we had Onuachu, Archer, Smallbone and Sanda, only the last one being enforced as Ugochukwu could hardly walk. Why do we do it, when the fresh legs belong to players not good enough to start for nearly the worst team in Premier League history? You can guess what happened: Archer was unlucky when his attempted interception fell to Ødegaard but the key moment came when he then sidestepped Smallbone far too easily before shooting into the corner for a 90th minute winner. It secured a record breaking 30th league defeat of the season, but that is only eight fewer that Spurs, and they’re in the Champions League. Inevitably the stadium emptied at the end, but the players went through the ritual of a lap of appreciation without first seeking the refuge of the dressing room. Well done to them, all you can ask is that they do their best, as they usually did (most of them anyway!).
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates for you to choose from:
4. Flynn Downes. It’s taken him a while to come to terms with the PL – who knows if someone will give him the chance to continue his career there?
21. Charlie Taylor. Always like to include someone who does better than expected.
26. Lesley Ugochukwu who finally ran out of legs at the end of a tough shift.
Become a Member
Become a member of London Saints from as little as £5.