Hull Home Lost 1 – 2 (two gift goals)
Tonda reverted to his favourite set-up in the selection to face Hull, although Bragg was unavailable and Bazunu was now at Stoke. Saints usually start well and this game was no exception, only Armstrong and Azaz couldn’t take advantage when twice played into promising positions down what we used to call the inside right channel. What we do when an early goal doesn’t arrive is more problematic and it doesn’t help when a fragile defence manage to give a goal away. That was certainly true in this game, and it was a spectacular error that set the visitors on their way: Quarshie passed to Manning and Manning passed back in the general direction of Quarshie, but too close to McBurnie who intercepted; both players were at fault but on a good day they would have been rescued by Peretz’s valiant attempt to save, only this wasn’t a good day and the loose ball fell to Joseph who finally scored. The goalkeeper had earlier made a good save (albeit one for the cameras) but he didn’t cover himself in glory as Hull scored a soft second. This was from a corner where Hughes won a far post header over Wood far too easily and somehow the ball gently found its way into the net. Our centre backs seem more effective at scoring from our corners than keeping out the opposition at their end: Hardwood-Bellis had earlier bundled the ball against the post from a set piece. When an almighty scramble had ensued from another deep cross surely one of our players should have taken advantage? We know how our team play, and a lot of fans don’t like it, especially wanting a bit more urgency when we’re behind – which only means that perhaps the most impatient and intolerant bunch of supporters around get on the players’ backs. They were given some hope with the introduction of Stewart, and maybe a reversion to an orthodox back four helped. We did get a goal as well, neatly turned in by Stewart from Scienza’s cross-cum-shot, and there was plenty of time to get a second against injury hit opponents who surely didn’t have much left on the bench. Alas, though, you knew the game was up when we were reduced to bringing on Archer.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
4. Flynn Downes. Reliable enough, which is always going to get him on the short list in a game like this.
13. Léo Scienza. At least he now gets to play the full 90 minutes.
18. Tom Fellows. His substitution prompted shouts of ‘you don’t know what you’re doing,’ but we can’t play with twelve.
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