Coventry v Saints Post Match

[Minty]

Jos Hooiveld on Twitter:

Good victory today, made it unnecessary hard for ourselves. Tottally lost my man first corner, gutted about that. Then a terrible lucky goal

But thank god we kept our minds on the prize and got the well deserved 3 points today,first half was amazing! Great goal @stief87 @Rchap04

Almost burried my 4th in the back of the net though, just couldn't get it down enough. Competition spilled points too! Nice.

@daveevans83 always staying critical mate, always points to improve. But for the rest I was very pleased with my performance tonight.

James Ward-Prowse on Twitter:

we are Southampton, we're TOP OF THE LEAGUE!! #SaintsFC

[acersaint]

On the way back from the game. If ever a match showed how momentum is important it was this one. We totally controlled the first half with Coventry only faintly competitive for a 10 minute spell before we went in front. They had absolutely no answer to our possession football and looked one-dimensional. In the second half they went a lot more direct and gave us a lot of trouble, but if they hadn't scored early we would have won easily. They had something to bite on after that and at 2-2 we looked wobbly. It was a shocker of an equalizer as well. However, Adkins made a great sub, sending on Hammond for Chaplow, and, as usual when Hammond's on the pitch, we got a lot tougher to play against. As soon as we went back in front we were always going to win. Man of the match was Guly though. His movement was superb and he looked a constant threat. He got a well deserved goal from a great cross from Fox. No-one was really off their game today, although a few faded in the second half. Lallana will be fully fit after the break, I reckon. Onwards though - a deserved win in the end and a great day to end the away winless run.

Ttally agree with above. Guly was awesome and Coventry couldn't deal with him. Great team spirit when 2-2 buckled down and turned it on again could have had more goals. We certainly look like a team that is top of the league. Great afternoon felt sorry for Coventry fans having to watch that every week. Also a word for the travelling fans great support well done. Cant wipe the smile off my face.

[S-Clarke]

We've been top of the league since the 18th of September. Amazing.

[Charlie Wayman]

"We are Southampton, We are top of the League"

What else do you want us to say? 12 points above 7th placed Derby County. Should amke the play-offs then?

[Dalek2003]

Can't find many Coventry fans sites and those that do exist seem dead.
Looks like the club is falling over the edge and the fans have given up. I feel a tad sorry for them as I remember they were the great escape artists of the 70's and 80's and had a fairly decent run in the top league.

[S-Clarke]

Can't find many Coventry fans sites and those that do exist seem dead.
Looks like the club is falling over the edge and the fans have given up. I feel a tad sorry for them as I remember they were the great escape artists of the 70's and 80's and had a fairly decent run in the top league.

They've prob given up after finishing bottom half in the championship for 10 seasons in a row.

What a boring club to support over the last decade.

[70's Mike]

They've prob given up after finishing bottom half in the championship for 10 seasons in a row.

What a boring club to support over the last decade.

Why restrict it to the last decade

[SNSUN]

November manager of the month already nailed on for Adkins then. :-P

Another three points, and away too. Every stat you look at about Saints at the moment is orgasmic, in fact, I want to have sex with the league table.

Can we stay top by Christmas? Can we stay top until the end of the season? The defence will seemingly be our downfall if we drop, but they way we've been playing this season, I wouldn't put it past us being champions, and I NEVER expected to be saying that before the start of the season.

If there is a God, he's definitely a Saints fan this season.

[Jimmy_D]

They've prob given up after finishing bottom half in the championship for 10 seasons in a row.

What a boring club to support over the last decade.

Aye.

I can't remember the last time we had a boring mid table season, we always seem to be chasing playoffs, or promotion, or battling relegation...

[SouthportSaint]

Just back to Southport. Nice video of De Ridder goal courtesy of my son Matt. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2tLp2TnDOJk

[dubai_phil]

Make the most of these moments one and all.

It just occured to me this evening, that in years to come, our kids (or Grandkids) will be looking back through the history books and old You-Tubes and wondering what it must have been like to have lived in a "Golden Age".

To have tales of Guly's assists, Lallana's magic & Jos the Boss, and trying to explain what being on the bus means.

These are special days, possibly even the days of Legend in the future.

Enjoy them.

And God, I wish I could get back to see it.

[Minty]

Another three points, and away too. Every stat you look at about Saints at the moment is orgasmic, in fact, I want to have sex with the league table.

lol, loving that quote.

[Neil]

We're heading to the Premiership.

Caught some of the Boro game, they're truly dreadful and yet are third (with an offside winner), we have got to get out of this league at the first attempt.

[DECROMAX]

Was out all afternoon but followed the score by harassing my son about checking on his phone.

Did NA change something after their second goal to re-establish our superiority over them ?

Didn't he change to a diamond when Hammond come on?

[Under Weststand]

Wow how orgasmic is it being a Saints fan at the moment? Now I'm normally a half glass empty type of guy, but even I feel strangely cool & confident these days. Even when Coventry got back to 2-2 I have the initial old feeling then just say to myself this is not the old Saints we are stronger than that & will get the right result. Keep it going Saints!

[doddisalegend]

Make the most of these moments one and all.

It just occured to me this evening, that in years to come, our kids (or Grandkids) will be looking back through the history books and old You-Tubes and wondering what it must have been like to have lived in a "Golden Age".

To have tales of Guly's assists, Lallana's magic & Jos the Boss, and trying to explain what being on the bus means.

These are special days, possibly even the days of Legend in the future.

Enjoy them.

And God, I wish I could get back to see it.

My kids are living through it. My sons first every match was Charlton at home the season we went into admin and relegation (figured I might never get chance to take him to another saints game) since then it's just been an upward curve don't know how he will react when this current golden age comes to end (as I suppose it will one day) and he sees saints lose more than once in a blue moon.

[doddisalegend]

Good result kept the 5pt gap over west sham. I got a little worried at 2-2 but this team are always a threat right up until the last seconds of the game.

[SOTONS EAST SIDE]

More paper reviews! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/foo...-lead-top.html

[View From The Top]

My kids are living through it. My sons first every match was Charlton at home the season we went into admin and relegation (figured I might never get chance to take him to another saints game) since then it's just been an upward curve don't know how he will react when this current golden age comes to end (as I suppose it will one day) and he sees saints lose more than once in a blue moon.

Similar here. My 9yo has had a cup final, promotion and top of the league in his 3 years as a season ticket holder. He thinks it's always going to be like this!

[carljack]

Make the most of these moments one and all.

It just occured to me this evening, that in years to come, our kids (or Grandkids) will be looking back through the history books and old You-Tubes and wondering what it must have been like to have lived in a "Golden Age".

To have tales of Guly's assists, Lallana's magic & Jos the Boss, and trying to explain what being on the bus means.

These are special days, possibly even the days of Legend in the future.

Enjoy them.

And God, I wish I could get back to see it.

Can you get back for the Palace and Bristol City Home games at Xmas? reckon they will be Rocking!

[dubai_phil]

OK

So here is a question for our resident stattos.

We have scored 37 goals this season in 16 matches.

What was the LOWEST number of goals we ever scored in a Premier League season?

Just got a sneaking suspicion in the back of my mind that we must be getting close to that number by now

[dubai_phil]

Can you get back for the Palace and Bristol City Home games at Xmas? reckon they will be Rocking!

Oh don't

I was all ready to go from here last weekend to get Boro & Posh but I had to wait for some contracts to be emailed through. Finally got them at 8pm to find the two overnight flights i could have caught had no airmile seats left & even economy wa hitting close to a thousand quid.

Next weekend - loads of availability....

Then the trouble is I actually have a helluva lot of work coming up. (and a lot of my golfing stuff)

TRUST ME, I am trying to find a date & airmiles.

(Besides the footie we have a load of clothes left at my Mum's from Glasto in the summer so am stuck here with no winter wollies for when it drops down to a bitterly cold 17C in the evenings next month!)

Streams in Juddervision simply don't hack it & as Eric has posted elsewhere our local Sat seems to ignore Sky matches

[adriansfc]

They've prob given up after finishing bottom half in the championship for 10 seasons in a row.

What a boring club to support over the last decade.

they actually would do better to get relegated and have a clean slate with some young players etc. i'm sure both sheffield clubs and charlton will come back stronger in the next couple of years.

[adriansfc]

OK

So here is a question for our resident stattos.

We have scored 37 goals this season in 16 matches.

What was the LOWEST number of goals we ever scored in a Premier League season?

Just got a sneaking suspicion in the back of my mind that we must be getting close to that number by now

Immediately I remember the Merrington season, 95/96? as being very low scoring. Beasant was player of the season and that's why we stayed up. Bet we didn't score many past 40.

[adriansfc]

christ, looking it up we scored a whopping 34 goals that season!!

[Lighthouse]

When we got relegated 3 years ago we scored 46 goals. 9-0 win over Brighton should get us there.

[S-Clarke]

christ, looking it up we scored a whopping 34 goals that season!!

Even more impressive is our points haul of 36 from a possible 48.

Astonishing.

[S-Clarke]

they actually would do better to get relegated and have a clean slate with some young players etc. i'm sure both sheffield clubs and charlton will come back stronger in the next couple of years.

Very true, they have some decent young lads there who aren't really going to progress playing where they are at the mo.

Drop down a league, win some games and their quality will come out. Unless a multimillionaire buys them and splashes big money at it, the best bit is for them to start again in L1.

[John Boy Saint]

Like Nigel said when I spoke to him after the game (ooo get me) first half was good second half was entertaining.

[saintscottofthenortham]

Saints even get a mention right on queue for MOTD! That's more like it!

[S-Clarke]

wow, we're even getting mentioned in the continuity announcements before MOTD.

We're back!

[Stanley Saint]

I thought it was the law that any team coming back to 2-2 after being 2-0 down had to go on to win the game. We're changing the bloody laws of physics now.

[Lighthouse]

I thought it was the law that any team coming back to 2-2 after being 2-0 down had to go on to win the game. We're changing the bloody laws of physics now.

We did exactly the same against Hull under Burley and at Posh last season. Unfortunately we threw it away again against Posh. Must be a Saints thing.

[Kingsbridge Saint]

Feels great to be a Saints fan right now. That was a tough away game and we came through with a win and 4 away goals. Long way to go yet and it looks like we'll have West Ham, Boro and Birmingham to see off if we are going to sustain this. Big big ask, but every reason for optimism. Well done Saints.

[Jimmy_D]

We did exactly the same against Hull under Burley and at Posh last season. Unfortunately we threw it away again against Posh. Must be a Saints thing.

Have to admit, when we went 4-2 up, the Posh game did come to mind!

[Gigersaint]

Another great win today, despite being pegged back to 2-2 before winning 2-4, I always had the feeling that with our current squad we would still find the goals to go on and win. Thankfully we did and we have the confidence within the team to go on and get the result.

By no means is this a critisism, but I hope we can learn to keep a clean sheet or stay ahead when on top whether Home or Away as this does seem to be a weakness we still have when we look to have a game sewn up. Frustrating that we can do it when playing against the likes of West Ham and Middlesborough when ahead where I would maybe expect us to concede and don't, but it's the games where we don't expect it that it mostly happens.

I appreciate that it only so far is happening mainly away from Home but if we can address this when away too then I'll really start to believe that we could be promoted this Season, as long as keeping clean sheets doesn't come at the expense of our ability to continue scoring goals from all over the park too!

I think if we need to strengthen anywhere come January then our defence should be the priority given our current ability to score goals both home and away.

[Lighthouse]

Jesus... a 4-2 win and we get less TV coverage than a geriatric Glaswegian. To be expected I suppose.

[cambsaint]

Due to ill health this was the first match I've been to for a couple of years. My son drove me and I remembered that the first ever Saints away game I went to was Coventry away in the FA Cup in about 1964 or 5. I thoroughly enjoyed it -except for the squeaky bum bit after they equalised.
We were surprisingly complacent at the start of the second half and a better team would have made life much harder.
I loved the passing moves and the individual skill, but I would like to see us buy another attacking player with pace in the Jan window.
The "Top of the League" chant was very good and I've never been able to hear that before!
A civilised ground with good stewards, and what an excellent way to get free parking-buy six bottles of wine at 25% discount in M&S before the match!!
All in all a great day out after a difficult year.

[Ian the Red]

Wonderful performance and fanatsic support. Voice still very hoarse but well worth it! Even when COventry equalised I had no doubts we would win. But we should have been 3 or 4 up in the first half. At times we seemed to be a little too complacent, it was incrediably easy in the first 45 minutes but I do believe we need to be more ruthless; we wanted to walk the ball into the net and perhaps over complicated at times, bit like Arsenal in many ways!! But if this is the only criticism long may it continue. Great determination to win the game in the 2nd half. League title this season no worries!! COYR

[beatlesaint]

Nice to hear in Nigel's interview on Saints Player that the players are going in for their MOT's next week

[for_heaven's_Saint]

This game was basically Ipswich away but with 1 less goal.

[Ball boy]

After the match Sammy Clingan said that in the first half we were by far the best team he had seen at the Ricoh this season and that Saints looked like Brazil in the first half.

[hypochondriac]

This game was basically Ipswich away but with 1 less goal.

We played better against Ipswich.

[sfc4prem]

We played better against Ipswich.

Because we needed to.

[hypochondriac]

Because we needed to.

Nope. We just played better and didn't let them get back into it in the same way. Was a good performance last night but Ipswich was the best I have seen us pla away for a long time.

[saintmatt]

Due to ill health this was the first match I've been to for a couple of years. My son drove me and I remembered that the first ever Saints away game I went to was Coventry away in the FA Cup in about 1964 or 5. I thoroughly enjoyed it -except for the squeaky bum bit after they equalised.
We were surprisingly complacent at the start of the second half and a better team would have made life much harder.
I loved the passing moves and the individual skill, but I would like to see us buy another attacking player with pace in the Jan window.
The "Top of the League" chant was very good and I've never been able to hear that before!
A civilised ground with good stewards, and what an excellent way to get free parking-buy six bottles of wine at 25% discount in M&S before the match!!
All in all a great day out after a difficult year.

Was this the "park for free if spend £25 or more" deal Tesco et al. were doing? We just picked up £25 worth of receipts that people had thrown away!

[ericofarabia]

I don't see anything wrong with getting a view from the other side for a game; especially if you can't make it to the game. It's part of getting the bigger picture; Radio Solent is bound to be skewed towards a Saints perspective.

Also, I've never heard Saints being talked about like this by neutrals for a very long time. So excuse me if I actually want to enjoy the moment and revel in it, rather than let it pass me by and instead pontificate on when it might all fall apart.

I often listen to the opposition taters on Saints Player because
a) the reception always seems to be a lot better ( they have stopped doing it now, but got fed up with the going to bomo / skates for updates / goals etc but still do non league!!)

and b) to get a different perspective of what is happening. Sometimes the other taters are biased and sore losers but in the main, most have been very complimentary about us and our style of football.

Last season we were the Bertie Big Bollix coming to town for a lot of teams, but this year we are more evenly matched and it is nice to hear praise from your peers when it is deserved.

I did wonder why we didn't hear from Alps a milli second after the 2nd goal went in

[krissyboy31]

After the match Sammy Clingan said that in the first half we were by far the best team he had seen at the Ricoh this season and that Saints looked like Brazil in the first half.

I said the same after the Watford game. The first half was sh!t but second we were on a different planet. Now if we could play like that for 90 minutes then we would be a team!

[Mowgli]

All this talk about Fergie and his 25 years at Moan Utd and they call it the most important decision hey ever made appointing him. I just get the feeling the appointment of NA will be talked about in the same way in years to come. Full credit to the team but he has undoubtedly had a huge influence.

[eelpie]

By no means is this a critisism, but I hope we can learn to keep a clean sheet or stay ahead when on top whether Home or Away as this does seem to be a weakness we still have when we look to have a game sewn up. Frustrating that we can do it when playing against the likes of West Ham and Middlesborough when ahead where I would maybe expect us to concede and don't, but it's the games where we don't expect it that it mostly happens.

I think if we need to strengthen anywhere come January then our defence should be the priority given our current ability to score goals both home and away.

It always seems to be the first 15 minutes after the interval that we are most vulnerable. The playes know it, but still we concede.