Derby Away Drew 1 – 1
After a midweek win on the road, everyone was still on a high at Derby, despite travel difficulties caused by Storm Amy, but manager Still recognised problems with his team’s first half performance at Bramall Lane – out went Fellows and Azaz who had both been withdrawn at half time, giving starts for Fraser and Scienza, who hadn’t featured at all in Sheffield. Saints started on the front foot and were in full control when they took a 7th minute lead when Armstrong shrugged off some half-hearted tackles and drilled the ball past Zetterström. Derby almost replied straight from the kick off with their first meaningful attack and McCarthy was called upon to save from Weimann while Morris was off target with his follow-up. The home side now sensed that they had the measure of Southampton’s back line and Weimann should have tested McCarthy more with another effort, although their own defence always looked to have their own problems. Zetterström made a full length save from Stewart’s header but just when you thought we were developing a decent partnership up front, the inevitable happened: Stewart had managed to injure himself in making that header, so that was the end of his game, replaced by Fellows. On 40 minutes, Manning refused to believe that he’d conceded a throw and with his attention on an argument with the assistant, he allowed Weimann to put in a deep cross that found Agyemang too big and too strong for Edwards. That was the end of the scoring, thanks only to the two goalkeepers who must have been in both sides’ short lists for Man of the Match. Fellows was having his most impressive Southampton game so far, but his presence rather left Scienza without a role and the Brazilian was replaced on the hour by Damian Downs, now nicknamed Donkey Downs (and not without reason, it has to be said). Azaz also made an appearance in a bid to take all the points in a fixture that Saints surely had high hopes of winning; in the end, though, Zetterström and his mates denied them, although McCarthy had to match his opposite number at the other end.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
1. Alex McCarthy. Whether Bazunu would have made those saves, we’ll never know – but I’m glad he didn’t have the opportunity.
9. Adam Armstrong. A well-taken goal, and a few other decent efforts – I’m glad Archer didn’t get the start instead.
18. Tom Fellows, although only for around an hour’s pitch time.
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