QPR Away Won 1 – 2 Saints Hold On Just
The fireworks around QPR may have had more to do with home fans celebrating Southampton’s recall for Bazunu than November 5th, while there was a return for Stephens to partner Harwood-Bellis as well. amidst rumours of ‘senior players’ complaining about Mr. Still after a bad defeat at Hull. The aforenamed, along with Fraser, were dropped for the league game following Hull… just saying… but if there is any truth in it all, then a sporting director with balls should have sacked the senior players, not the coach. Under Tonda Eckert, Saints were quick out of the blocks and were going forward in numbers for the first ten minutes. It didn’t last as Rangers forced their way back into a dull game and they ended the half on top, but with the scores level. There was to be a breakthrough ten minutes into the second period with Saints taking advantage of a couple of lucky breaks; first the recalled Robinson found the ball falling his way and then, having exchanged passes with Armstrong, his shot took a nice deflection to send it into the top corner. We’ve been here before, of course, so a second goal provided welcome relief as well as giving plenty to cheer in the shape of an excellent individual goal by Scienza – a penetrative run finished with a fine shot. A happy twenty-odd minute stroll to the final whistle beckoned but a Bazunu clean sheet comes round as often as Guy Fawkes night and there was Gavin charging off his line but failing to get to the ball before Burrell who passed into an empty net. By now Saints had introduced Roerslev, Aribo, Azaz and Downs, and Azaz led a break supported by Downs that should have ended with a scoring opportunity but Azaz’s pass was poor (no guarantee that Downs would have got a shot away, never mind scored!). Southampton’s changes left us with a more defensive shape, while Rangers’ moves had the reverse effect, so it was a siege-like ending to the game. Somehow the goal stayed intact, and the goalkeeper was playing his part. Then, with less than 30 seconds of advertised added time remaining, Bazunu held on to the ball for too long and was penalised by a corner (decent rule change by FIFA, by the way). Up went opposing keeper Nardi but Saints were able to clear and emerge victorious. Not for the first time this season, the better team lost, but at least that wasn’t us – progress of a sort, I suppose.
Three LSSC Man of the Match candidates to choose from::
4. Flynn Downes. His contribution included an important block off the line at 0-0.
13. Léo Scienza. A super goal, shame he was forced off with an injury soon after.
18. Tom Fellows. Among those restored to the team and performed well as a wing-back.
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