West Bromwich Albion Away Drew 1 – 1
Next up for Saints was a trip to West Bromwich, starting three successive fixtures against Football League founding members (not quite the coincidence it sounds as 8 of the original 12 find themselves in this season’s Championship). Worrying news beforehand saw us start without Jander, Larin or Scienza, so just as well that Downes was able to start again. Southampton were first to show but were soon being pegged back by the Baggies, without any serious threat to either goal. The status quo came to an abrupt end on 22 minutes when Nzingoula ran at Stephens who conceded a penalty, which looked a fair enough decision to me, and, having seen replays, dissenters may now agree that the skipper was just too late in getting his leg out of the way. Price converted with the sort of finish that suggests he doesn’t miss many from the spot, so we were grateful that he was off target when he got the better of the back line. The home side had the measure of Southampton for the second quarter of the match and you wondered whether we might have to forego the luxury of two wide players (Matsuki and Edozie) to shore up the midfield. Tonda thought otherwise but he must have done something in the interval, either tactically or psychologically, as we were suddenly on top and went on to equalise with a close range finish by Edozie when the unlikely figure of Matsuki headed Manning’s deep cross back across goal. Hopes that we might continue the good work in front of the visiting fans were wildly optimistic as Albion responded with their best short spell of the match and it took desperate clearances by Bree and Stephens and a save by Peretz to keep the scores level. Dobbin for Mubama was our first change, on 71 minutes, and Dobbin could and should have been the hero when Azaz sent him clear but his shot went wide off goalkeeper O’Leary’s foot – Dobbin now nought for two in these situations. Downes too had had a great opportunity when O’Leary was caught in possession when playing around at the back, but things remained hairy down the other end, although not as intensely so as immediately after the equaliser. A draw that saw both sides slip back a place seemed a fair result.
Become a Member
Become a member of London Saints from as little as £6.