Stoke Home Lost 1 – 2
One league win, one league draw… we should have known what would come next. We do know what formation manager Still will send out, but not necessarily who, especially in the back three; to take on Stoke, he took note of Quarshie’s less than adequate performance at Ipswich, but it was a surprise to see Wood step in to take his place. Scoring goals looks to be the bigger problem, and all too often possession ended with a cross towards Armstrong who was always going to come off second best against a unit built to handle a more physical threat – there will be plenty more like that in the Championship – and Armstrong was to be replaced by Downs at the break. The first half was nearing its end before the expected goal figure was seriously disturbed, but Robinson could scarcely have come closer with a right foot shot against the post, and then a follow-up with his left that hit the same darned post. That was promising and the team had another good effort soon after the restart with Harwood-Bellis’s header from a corner kept out by an excellent save by Johansson. We were well settled into a battle to somehow achieve a 1-0 win when it all went wrong – from a free kick to Saints! The ball was played back to Harwood-Bellis then forward to Downes who was quickly overwhelmed and Thomas went clear; Southampton’s luck was truly out for this move as Manhoef’s eventual shot was half-blocked forcing Bazunu into a difficult save, only for Baker to smash in the rebound. Just five minutes later, Mubama was given a chance to put his side further ahead but his unconvincing simulation after putting the ball past Bazunu earned his second yellow card, and an early bath. We’d already bought on Manning for injured Welington, plus Downs of course, so Will waited until 67 minutes before introducing Stewart, who soon missed a close range chance, but an even better one fell to Downes who was nowhere near the target with what looked an easy header. Stewart was on for Wood and the rearranged defence was all at sea when Johansson’s throw out left Thomas up against Stephens who forced his man wide only for the eventual shot to find the net; a low effort beating Bazunu’s left hand is a familiar story, but this time it was more a case of the keeper getting his angles wrong. A situation that was redeemable against ten men was now critical so on came Archer and Roerslev Rasmussen, on debut. Immediately Saints were back in the game, although the subs did not contribute to Harwood-Bellis heading in Fernandes’ corner. That, though, was the end of the scoring and, to be honest, it was a bit too easy for a ten-man team to hold on.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from:
3. Ryan Manning, the better of our wing backs (while the rest of midfield and the forwards weren’t that great).
5. Jack Stephens who did his best to stop the second goal when let down by those in front and behind.
6. Taylor Harwood-Bellis. A goal and actually the most likely source of more – but that pass to Downes was not a good moment/
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