Another Jekyll-and-Hyde performance saw Saints dominate the first half but cling on to a point in the second period. Lloyd James gave Saints the lead early on, but Leon Legge equalised with 7 minutes to go.

Day on the beer and camera = poor photo.

With Saints still competing in three competitions, Alan Pardew dealt with the congestion of the fixture schedule by recalling Seaborne, Fonte and Otsemobor to the defence at the expense of Jaidi, Perry and Thomas, who had featured in the FA Cup at the weekend. Lee Barnard made his first league start since his move from Southend United and Morgan Schneiderlin lined up on the bench after seeing his three match ban for a red card successfully rescinded.

Saints made their intentions for the game known very early on, as they attacked from the kick off. Michail Antonio hurried onto a long ball through the middle and lobbed over the onrushing Brentford goalkeeper Szczesny, but the ball went harmlessly wide.

They found their range soon after though with a wonderful strike in just the fourth minute. A long throw down the left hand side found Lambert, who saw his chipped pass sit up perfectly for LLOYD JAMES to hit a dipping volley into the top corner of the net, which saw the keeper well beaten.

Brentford looked particularly threatening down the left hand side, where Jon Otsemobor struggled to deal with winger, Weston and full back, Dickson, who both were willing to bomb forward whenever possible. And after Weston saw his low effort go across the face of goal, Dickson made a good run down the flank and crossed for Macdonald who flicked the ball inches wide.

The away side continued to produce chances and after Barnard headed wide and Antonio shot into the side netting, the pair combined for a great chance to double the lead. Barnard fed Antonio and the winger cut inside well, before seeing his low drive tipped agonisingly onto the post by Szczesny.

Uncertainty at the heart of the Brentford almost cost them dear when they had three chances to clear the ball, but couldn’t get it away. Smith’s interception only went as far to Lallana on the edge of the box and the midfielder had goal number 13 of a productive season in his sights, but saw his curling effort crash back off the cross bar.

But as the half went by it was The Bees who started to get better control on the game in midfield and they, themselves were unlucky not to find the net when captain, O’Connor’s volley tested Davis at full stretch.

The half ended in disappointment though as Lloyd James was forced off with injury, depleting midfield options further with Hammond already out injured. And so it proved fortunate that Schneiderlin was able to come on after just serving a one match ban, rather than three.

Half Time: Brentford 0-1 Southampton

Southampton came out for the second half looking to start it as they had the first and almost did exactly that. Lallana’s long ball forward was inch perfect for Barnard, who brought the ball down well, left Legge for dead and turned Smith inside out, before somehow failing to do the easy bit and firing the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.

The hosts started to attack with more urgency as they looked to level the game and again were unfortunate to find Davis in great form - Macdonald found Weston in space in the penalty area and the midfielder’s ferocious shot was somehow tipped over the bar at point blank range.

The Saints defence started to ride their luck a little bit, not least when from the resulting corner, Bean was found with too much space and his goal bound effort was desperately scrambled off the line by Mills.

Lambert tried his luck from distance; after Barnard’s pressure had forced a poor clearance from Szczesny, but saw his speculative effort go well wide, while Barnard continued to atone for his earlier miss by working hard around the box; setting up Lallana who saw his curling effort parried wide.

And with the away side failing to extend their lead, it was starting to look a fragile one. Wotton’s legs were looking tired and weary; similarly Schneiderlin was struggling to get to grips with a very poor pitch, as the centre of midfield looked vulnerable.

Brentford had just introduced Saunders to the game and he looked energetic in midfield and didn’t take long to make an impact. He picked up the ball and played a one two with Macdonald, before seeing his near post shot parried by Davis into the path of to Macdonald, but the striker could only find the post with his shot from a tight angle.

The game’s turning point came when the referee awarded a questionably soft penalty to the home side - after Wotton was judged to have handled in the area. Justice was done when O’Connor stepped up to take the spot kick, but saw his low effort met with a strong hand by Davis, to his right.

Despite this miss, the hosts continued, and upped their pressure in the game and netted a deserved equaliser with just seven minutes to go. Dickson again got forward down the left hand side and his cross was met with a thumping header by LEGGE who had ghosted into the box unnoticed in-between Fonte and Seaborne.

Full Time: Brentford 1-1 Southampton

An Adam Lallana brace and a Rickie Lambert strike saw Saints come from a goal down to win in the howling wind at Hartlepool.

A long old poke!

Saints went into the game at Victoria Park making one change from the side that drew at home to Norwich, with Graeme Murty replacing Michail Antonio, meaning Lloyd James moved further forward to the right of midfield.

Conditions for the game were tough for both sides with very windy weather and the opening stages were tentative as players tried to anticipate how best to combat the strong gusts of wind. David Connolly had scored a superb goal on Saturday and with the first attack of the game tried a similar effort from the edge of the box, only for the ball to hold up slightly in the wind and give Pool’s keeper Scott Flinders a comfortable save.

An attack down the left hand flank for the hosts resulted in a decent opportunity for Andy Monkhouse in the box, but the winger snatched at his shot and it went well over. But Hartlepool did make the breakthrough on 17 minutes when Monkhouse made a good run down the left and switched the ball to James Brown on the right, who sent in a high, wind assisted cross that MONKHOUSE met with a firm header, which nestled into the top left hand corner of the net.

Saints lined up with Morgan Schneiderlin and Dean Hammond in the centre of midfield and while the Frenchman was struggling to cope with the blustery weather, new first team captain Hammond was relishing stifling any play from United’s centre midfield pairing of two Ritchie’s, Humphreys and Jones.

This meant the home side were resorting to play down the wings and with the gales, this made crossing unpredictable. It almost paid off though when Neil Austin got forward from right back and crossed for Adam Boyd, who glanced a header just wide.

Moments later, Austin pushed forward again and played in Brown, who shaped to cross, but instead pulled back for Monkhouse who saw his weak effort saved with ease by Kelvin Davis.

Saints started to get their passing game going as the game approached the half hour mark, with Hammond often breaking up play and Lambert holding up well to bring in either Connolly or Lallana, who were both making decent runs to allow space for each other.

There seemed to be more purpose about the away side’s play now and the scores should have been levelled up, when Lloyd James crossed well from the right hand side and Lallana met the ball with a great diving header that Flinders did well to parry at full stretch - the ball fell loose though and Lambert sliced over when he should have done much better.

It didn’t take long for Lambert to make amends for his miss though, the forward playing an inch perfect through ball to LALLANA who raced clear through on goal and coolly slotted the ball under Flinders to equalise.

As half time was nearing there was almost a scare for Saints, when Brown beat Harding down the right and saw his cross misjudged by Jaidi who headed behind for a corner, but only just, as the ball missed the post by a matter of inches.

There was time for one more chance, when Murty’s long throw was nodded on by Lallana, and Connolly shuffled well, but saw his shot on the turn well saved.

Half time: Hartlepool United 1-1 Southampton

With a change of ends at half time, both teams now had to get used to kicking into a different direction of wind, which was often changing as it swirled around the ground.  Brown tried his luck from distance for the hosts, but shot well over and was soon shown how it was done, when LALLANA went down the other end and curled home a beauty, which caught the wind perfectly and flew into the top corner; giving Flinders no chance whatsoever.

Hartlepool almost hauled the game back to 2-2 though when Denis Behan lined up a 40 yard free kick. The striker took a long run up and hit a low powerful drive, which Davis did excellently to tip the ball wide.

The resulting corner created an even better opportunity for the hosts, when Sam Collins met the set piece with a towering free header, but it was an even better save from Davis who tipped the ball over at full stretch and seemed to injure himself in the process.

The game was then held up for quite a while, with Bialkowski coming on in goal to replace Davis, and then Behan picking up an injury which saw him stretchered off and replaced by Billy Greulich.

The hold up in play seemed to knock the wind out of Hartlepool’s sails, but not in terms of weather as the conditions got tougher. And it was a combination of the two that left Saints hanging onto a comfortable lead, with little chances being created and the ball often out of play; the wind blowing every goal kick and cross into the stands.

There was hope for the Pool’s when Jaidi appeared to under hit a back pass, but Bialkowski was alert and it was cleared to safety. While it was a clanger down the other end of the pitch that sealed all three points for Saints…

Flinders went to clear the ball and kicked it straight against the on-rushing LAMBERT, who managed to steer the ball away from the goalkeeper’s desperate grasp and gratefully walk the ball into the empty net.

There was a brief flare up at the end of the game, when Ritchie Jones was sent off in a big brawl, but it was a hard fought win for the Saints, who scored their goals at the right time and got stuck in to hold onto the lead.

Full Time: Hartlepool United 1-3 Southampton

Hammond scores against MK Dons last month

Dean Hammond has been named as Saints’ new first-team captain.

The 26-year-old only joined the club from Colchester United in August, but has already displayed leadership qualities in the centre of midfield, and Alan Pardew has been keen to give the captain’s armband to a player who can be in constant communication with team-mates and officials, something which is particularly difficult for Kelvin Davis as a goalkeeper. Davis will, however, retain the club captaincy.

Saints came from two goals down to progress to the third round of the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy on penalties after a pretty shambolic performance nearly resulted in an exit at the first hurdle. Papa Waigo N’Diaye scored both goals after Tim Sills and a Nicky Wroe penalty had given the visitors a shock advantage.

Alan Pardew made four changes from the side that started the win over Gillingham on Saturday. Two were enforced with Jacob Mellis away on international duty and Adam Lallana with a slight groin strain, while Neal Trotman and Rahdi Jaidi were both rested. Chris Perry and Wayne Thomas slotted in at the back, Simon Gillett came into the centre of midfield and there was a debut for new loanee Michail Antonio on the right flank.

Full report to follow…

Saints were given a stark wakeup call as a youthful and energetic display from Huddersfield completely overran a disappointing performance by the visitors. Rickie Lambert’s second goal in consecutive games wasn’t enough as a double from Jordan Rhodes and an Anthony Kay header deservedly gave the Terriers the points.

Saints created little throughout the game, but had one of their few efforts at the Huddersfield goal early on. A lofted ball up to Schneiderlin was nodded down to Lallana who tried an ambitious volley on the turn, but it sailed just over the bar.

Huddersfield soon gained ascendancy on the game with a lively approach to their attacks. Quick movement on and off the ball made the away side do a lot of chasing and the terriers’ approach almost paid off within the first fifteen minutes.

First Pilkington was fed out wide and he whipped in a dangerous low cross that both Perry and Thomas failed to deal with and Jordan Rhodes slid in to convert. But somehow his effort bounced into the ground and agonisingly over the bar. While the home side really should have got off the mark when Peltier delivered from deep to Pilkington, whose knock down found Novak unmarked and in plenty of room, just a few yards out, however his half volley was saved superbly by a point blank save from Davis.

The home side were keen and enthusiastic in their play, applying pressure to the Saints rearguard throughout and their style in play was effective. Peltier from full back and wingers Pilkington and Roberts were crossing from deep and coming inside often so that they didn’t have to take on Saints full backs Harding and Murty, who were both solid defensively.

The Terriers’ crossing in particular was causing trouble for Perry and Thomas, while when play seemed to cut straight through the non existent Saints midfield, movement upfront from Novak and Rhodes appeared to be giving the centre backs the run around, luring them out of position and quite often into last ditch tackles and that won the home side set pieces.

And it was from a corner that Huddersfield could have finally turned their dominance into goals. Roberts’ cross was headed clear by Rasiak, to the captain Peter Clarke whose strike was deflected goal bound, but for the good save of Davis, which required a change in direction.

After a bright start from the hosts, the match appeared to turn into a stalemate as the half continued with little goalmouth action. Saints were starting to get a grip on the game, winning more 50/50 challenges. But they did little with the ball, regularly resorting to long balls up field to Rasiak and Lambert, who could have done with a player pushing on from midfield in support.

The half ended as it started, with a Saints attack. Murty’s cross was headed across the face of goal by Rasiak. And as the teams went in for the break, Huddersfield would have been wondering why they didn’t have the lead.

Half time: Huddersfield 0-0 Southampton

Huddersfield came out for the second half with the same attacking mentality and should have scored when Roberts’ cross from the left hand side found Novak in the centre, whose shot from just a couple of yards was tipped over from Davis, who was certainly keeping us in the game.

It didn’t take long for the hosts to make the breakthrough though, when a ball up to Novak was causing trouble for Perry, who clumsily bundled the striker down in the box for a penalty.

RHODES had already scored three goals in his opening two matches of the season and stepped up to add to his tally. However, his low penalty was saved by Davis, who was gaining a bit of a reputation for saving them. Unfortunately for him and Saints alike, the ball squirmed loose and the striker tucked away the rebound.

It was game on though just a few minutes later when Saints remarkably hit back with their first shot on target. Lallana’s floated corner was powered home by the head of ‘Southampton’s goal machine’ RICKIE LAMBERT - the ball being tipped onto the underside of the bar and just over the line.

Saints introduced Thomson and Chelsea loanee Jacob Melis, but both were unable to make much of an impact, as strangely the goal seemed to galvanise Huddersfield more than Southampton and both teams resorted back to their styles of play - The Terriers’ energetic attacks and Saints’ negative and ineffective long balls.

After a recent pre-season friendly defeat to Queens Park Rangers, Saints boss Alan Pardew had said how they’d needed Wayne Thomas back in the side to combat their defensive frailties from set pieces, however having him back made little to no difference. And after conceding from a corner in the first game to Millwall, Saints continued the trend in this match, as the away side slumped and handed the hosts victory.

A corner was only half cleared by Saints and a cross from the left wing by Pilkington was headed home by RHODES, who glanced his unmarked effort into the corner of the net.

Saints looked dejected and especially shaky at the back, succumbing to Huddersfield’s superior football and effort and the game was wrapped up when Pilkington delivered a free-kick, which was glanced onto the post by an unmarked Town defender and duly headed home by KAY.

The away side had brought on Lancashire for Perry in defence, who was struggling, but he was given just as tough a time as his colleague. Twice getting outpaced on the break by sub Robinson, who thankfully miss hit his shots and kept the scoreline disappointing, rather than embarrassing.

Full Time: Huddersfield 3-1 Southampton

Summary: I don’t think it’s necessary to say too much about Huddersfield, as much of the report pointed out the good nature in which they addressed the game. Needless to say Rhodes was man of the match, getting into good positions throughout the game and causing no end of trouble alongside Novak and then Robinson; deserving his two goals. Pilkington is also worthy of a mention, as his delivery of set pieces and crosses during the course of the game was spot on.

I was disappointed in the way we went about the game in many aspects. The style of play was not good enough. Long balls up to Rasiak and Lambert can be tempting when you’ve got a big man like that up there, but when you have two players of that type upfront, which we did, you can’t go for that style unless you have a midfielder constantly getting forward to support the flick-on’s. Neither possess the pace to play or feed off each other.

There is no pace in the team to force the game. We need a pacy striker and winger to make things happen and run at players. At the moment we can’t run at players, because we have no-one fast enough. So instead we need to pass, but we have no movement in which to pass to, because Lallana is stuck out on the wing - a position that does not suit him at all.

Our standard of delivery is poor. Murty and Harding are great defensively, but their crosses are always over-hit. James should only be used as a back up and shouldn’t be in the first team as he looks lost out on the wing, can’t get past players and only does one cross in every ten.

We need to have more bite in midfield. Wotton is a pointless midfielder as he doesn’t win the ball or break up play often enough. He fouls too much and when he wins the ball, he either plays a pressure pass or hoofs up field to no-one. Schneiderlin often see’s games pass him by, mainly because Wotton is launching the ball pointlessly. I’d suggest playing Gillett alongside Schneiderlin. Gillett has energy and wins the ball often, Schneiderlin can then sweep up - this worked well at Derby away last season and we could do with the extra energy in the team - Huddersfield were energetic and it worked - our current line up is extremely lethargic.

Perry is too old. He is a good pro and reads the game well, but he just can’t be used as first choice every week - he’s too slow and this puts pressure on Thomas, who had a dreadful game.

To sum up I think we need to sign a centre back or two, a winger a pacy striker and a centre mid to replace Wotton.

Saints and Millwall kicked off this season’s League One campaign with a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s in front of the Sky cameras. Matt Paterson opened the scoring only for Nadjim Abdou to rescue a point for the Lions.

Alan Pardew was given a selection headache with the news that both Grzegorz Rasiak and Joseph Mills were ruled out through injury, Rasiak’s injury leaving just two fit strikers available to him, so Matt Paterson and Marek Saganowski started up front. Dan Harding and Graeme Murty made their Saints debuts at the back alongside Chris Perry and the fit-again Wayne Thomas. Morgan Schneiderlin and Paul Wotton were paired in the centre of midfield with Lloyd James and Adam Lallana playing wide.

After an enthusiastically observed minute’s applause in memory of Sir Bobby Robson, the game got underway, but was fairly uneventful until just before the half-hour mark when Saganowski’s layoff saw Scheiderlin attempt a lob over Millwall keeper David Forde from 30 yards, which Forde managed to get fingertips on to touch the ball over for a corner. From the resulting corner, Chris Perry hit a volley which struck the outside of the near post.

Schneiderlin had another effort from distance just before half-time when Forde’s poor clearance found the Frenchman on the edge of the centre circle. He took a touch to control the ball and hit a dipping effort which flicked the roof of the net as it went just over the bar.

Millwall sprung into life in first-half stoppage time when new signing Steve Morison found some space in the area but a combination of Davis and a desperate last-ditch challenge by Perry saw the ball ricochet to safety.

Half-Time: Saints 0-0 Millwall

The visitors were quickest out of the blocks in the second half with Scott Barron being allowed time and space from distance to fire a shot just wide. This kicked Saints into action, and from a Graeme Murty long throw on the right, Saganowski flicked the ball on to Paterson who wriggled clear of the last defender and calmly slotted the ball past Forde to give the home side the lead.

The goal forced Millwall manager Kenny Jackett into a double substitution, bringing Jason Price and Ali Fuseni on to add a bit more strength and height up front, and suddenly the visitors were causing more problems for the up-until-now untested Saints defence.

Just five minutes later, the Lions reaped the benefit of the added pressure. A rare poor pass by Schneiderlin led to a counter-attack which ended in Price going to ground very easily under not much of a challenge by Thomas, with referee Mick Russell pointing to the penalty spot.

Gary Alexander stepped up to take it, but Saints keeper Kelvin Davis guessed right and made a good save, also managing to block Price’s rapid follow-up shot as well, as Murty just about tidied up from the second rebound.

It wasn’t long before Millwall did break through, though. Just three minutes later, they were fortunate to earn a corner when TV replays showed the last touch was from a visiting player. Alexander won the initial header at the far post, heading back into the middle of the penalty area where Nadjim Abdou leapt the highest to power a header into the top corner for 1-1.

Millwall thought they’d taken the lead with 15 minutes to go when Alexander got to the bye-line and put the ball across the six-yard box where Barron tapped in at the far post. Fortunately, the linesman’s flag had already been raised as the ball had gone out of play for a goal kick - subsequent replays proved inconclusive.

With the visitors setting the pace in the closing stages, Saints nearly snatched a win in the last minute. Substitute Oscar Gobern’s run and cross was destined for fellow replacement Jake Thomson with an open goal to aim at, but Barron was on hand to head the ball over the bar from a yard out.

Full-Time: Saints 1-1 Millwall

Verdict: There will be few complaints about the result given Millwall’s pressure and dominance in the latter stages of the game, and TV replays suggested they were perhaps unfortunate not to have scored a second goal. However, last season the defence would have completely crumbled under such pressure and we’d have probably lost 2 or 3-1, so progress has been made in that department.

The defence looked much more solid, particularly aided by the strength of Wayne Thomas - keeping him fit could prove crucial this season - and the experience and composure of Graeme Murty. Dan Harding also impressed at left-back.

In midfield, Morgan Schneiderlin probably had his best game in a Saints shirt, and was unlucky not to score at least one long-range effort in the first half. He paired well with Paul Wotton who sat deep and allowed Schneiderlin the space to get involved when we had the ball.

Up front, Matt Paterson looked anything but a rookie with just three first-team starts to his name, and it was good to see Marek Saganowski looking like he can actually be bothered to put in a bit of effort - he’s a completely different player when he’s got the right attitude. His fitness is clearly lacking a bit at the moment, but that will come with time.

One concern is the size of the squad - Paterson and Saganowski were the only two fit strikers available to Alan Pardew today, which meant that out of seven substitutes, we didn’t have a single attacking player available. If we’d been chasing the game, we’d have really struggled.

Club CEO Nicola Cortese has told fans to expect some signings in the next week or two - a striker and a centre-back should probably be highest on Pardew’s shopping list.

With today’s performance, there’s no reason why we can’t get a top-10 finish even with the points deduction, and with a few good additions to the squad it’s possible we could even do more than that.

They say that the only loyalty in football these days is with the supporters, but Kelvin Davis has today proven otherwise as he has rejected a contract offer from Premier League side West Ham in favour of a new three-year deal at St Mary’s.

Davis was out of contract at the end of June and therefore free to move to any other club under the Bosman ruling, and all signs pointed to him signing for the Hammers on a two-year deal to be Robert Green’s understudy. With the uncertainty hanging around Southampton for the last three months, nobody would have held it against him had he opted to safeguard his and his family’s future with a lucrative move, but he has turned down more money to stay here and play first-team football - something that would have been very unlikely at Upton Park.

It is yet more good news for Saints fans to retain the services of last season’s Player of the Year and one of the best goalkeepers in the Championship. For him to stay put and opt to ply his trade in League One shows fantastic loyalty - something that is sorely lacking in the game these days.

Contrast his attitude with that of Adam Lallana, who is apparently desperately seeking a move away as he sees himself as a Championship or Premier League player. While Fulham and Spurs were interested in the 21-year-old last season, it’s unclear whether they would come back for a player who looked distinctly average after he received a call-up to the England under-21’s in September. It would appear that he believed his own hype.

Saints have a problem with Lallana - it’s rumoured that he has a large sell-on fee due to Bournemouth should we sell him, which clearly means we’re not going to be able to extract a great deal of value from his sale. It will be interesting to see whether the management and senior players can convince him his future - short-term at least - lies here. Judging by the reaction on the SaintsWeb forum, there won’t be many fans shedding a tear if he does depart, which says a lot considering how highly-regarded he was less than a year ago.

Saints midfielder Andrew Surman has joined Premier League new boys Wolves in a deal worth an initial £1.2m.

It’s believed that the deal could rise to £2m based on appearances and if Wolves manage to stay in the top flight beyond this season.

Surman made 144 appearances for the club, 18 of which were as a substitute, and scored 18 goals. He also won 4 caps for the England Under-21s during his time at St Mary’s, scoring on his debut in a 3-0 win in Montenegro.

He had been linked with a move to Reading a year ago, a rumour which resurfaced again in the January transfer window, but following their failure to win promotion and the resignation of Steve Coppell, a long-time admirer, Wolves boss Mick McCarthy made a move to take him to the Black Country, where he joins another Southampton local, Sam Vokes, in a youthful-looking squad.

In other transfer news, Kelvin Davis has had a medical at West Ham, but that move still hasn’t been finalised - it’s believed he’s still waiting to hear if there will be a contract offer here first as he and his family are well settled in the area.

Mark Wotte has been given some sort of contract extension, although it’s unclear as to the terms of that deal, particularly with the likelihood that a new owner would want to bring in their own man. With that in mind, it’s likely to be a monthly rolling contract. Wotte has kept Michael Svensson on his backroom team. The future of Dean Gorré is unclear at the moment.

Saints have released Rudi Skacel and Ryan Smith following the end of the season which has left the club looking at life in League One with a points deduction.

Skacel, who signed in a protracted £1.6m deal from Hearts three years ago, has ultimately failed to live up to the hype surrounding his transfer in 2006, and his release has come about after it was revealed that his contract was renegotiated upon his return from a loan spell with Hertha Berlin which shortened his contract by a year - he had originally signed a 4-year deal.

As one of the club’s highest earners, and following a reported show of dissent when he was substituted at Sheffield Wednesday three weeks ago, this end is hardly a surprise, and I suspect there won’t be many Saints fans who will be particularly sad to see him go. That said, there will be a lot of disappointment that he never really lived up to the top billing he was given when he signed for the club.

Ryan Smith was given a short-term contract after signing on a free transfer from Millwall - while showing occasional flashes of ability, he was never able to replicate it on a regular basis, and probably shows why he had failed to make the grade at other clubs earlier in his career.

Three senior players are also out of contract at the end of June, but it is hoped that they will remain with the club in League One, albeit on much reduced wages. Jason Euell, Bradley Wright-Phillips and player of the year Kelvin Davis will all become free agents soon, but all have made encouraging noises in recent times about their desire to stay, even if it involves taking a big pay cut.

Goals from Dele Adebola and Ivan Sproule consigned Saints to another defeat to keep us 4 points from safety.

Bristol city got out of the blocks the faster of the two teams and made their intentions known in the first few minutes. As the ball bobbled around harmlessly in the middle of the park, Gavin Williams lashed a 30 yard effort just wide, which left Kelvin Davis scrambling across his goal. And after  Saints centre back Jan Paul Saeijs deflected Lee Johnsons long range effort wide, ex Ipswich midfielder Williams went close from the resulting corner, as he turned just inside the box and saw his low goalbound effort well saved with a strong right hand from Davis.

My view of the game

The home side continued to squander chances and none better than a penalty with under a quarter of the game gone. Rudi Skacel was deemed to have tugged forward Nicky Maynard in the box and although the decision seemed a little soft, the referee was certain in his decision and Bradley Orr stepped up and saw his effort saved! The penalty was struck well enough, but wasn’t far enough into the corner and Davis guessed the right way.

City again could have scored moments later, when Maynard picked up a ball from midfield and showed nice trickery to turn Chris Perry inside out, but his placed shot was just inches wide of the post.

However Saints started to retain the ball in midfield a little better and create chances of their own, and while Wotton shot woefully wide from Surman’s pass, the away side created a great opening moments later, when David McGoldrick went on a jinking run past three players and showed good awareness to tee up Schneiderlin, whose low shot hit the frame of the goal.

A clinical finish was needed from someone and unfortunately was to come from the home side as DELE ADEBOLA made amends for placing a one on one shot straight at the keeper moments earlier. The man mountain striker latched onto a chipped through ball from Williams, which bamboozled the Southampton backline – adamant they had played the striker offside and he coolly slotted home past Davis for 1-0.

Southampton pressed immediately for an equaliser and should have had one as the half drew to a close. Saganowski pulled back unselfishly to Jason Euell, in space on the edge of the box, but again the frame of the goal denied us and even though the ball came straight back to Euell, he could only blaze over the rebound.

Half time: Bristol City 1-0 Southampton

The away side came out for the second half with a point to prove and pressed the home side for long periods of the half. Lloyd James in particular was a threat down the right hand side, although he couldn’t seem to fashion a goal scoring opportunity, with the home defence in a resolute mood.

Their defence was almost breached though, when Surman whipped in a decent corner and McGoldrick rose highest to nod towards goal – Louis Carey clearing off the line.

But the best chance of the afternoon for Saints to level the scores again fell to Jason Euell, who again missed. Substitute Kayne McGlaggon forced Adriano Basso into a decent low save, but the ball came loose to Skacel, who squared for Euell to stab hopelessly wide from close range.

Adam Lallana looked determined to level proceedings, first seeing his low shot smartly saved by Basso and then attempting a cracking volley from a Skacel cross, which was deflected wide. And while Saints pushed without any luck, Bristol City could have further extend their lead, when Maynard accelerated past James and then Saeijs, but cut in and fired over. 

But as Saints pushed one last time it just wasn’t to be. Kelvin Davis came up for a stoppage corner and unsurprisingly, the delivery was poor by Gillett - who had replaced Wotton moments earlier. Basso claiming with ease, before launching the ball up field for IVAN SPROULE  to sprint away and roll into the back of the unguarded net.

Full Time: Bristol City 2-0 Southampton

Things look bleak for Saints, very bleak.  I can’t help but wonder if we’d have capitulated had Orr scored his penalty. What if we’d have converted one of our three decent chances, though? A game of missed chances – maybe we could have deserved a point, but in truth, we offered absolutely nothing upfront.

Saganowski and McGoldrick were a no show and didn’t once get into a decent goal scoring position. Our attacking play was too predictable – Lloyd James chipping balls down the flanks all too often, which to me sparks tactical ineptitude from the manager Wotte.

We lined up with Surman down the left flank – who offers nothing as a winger due to his lack of pace or strength to hold people off, in order to get one of his decent balls into the box. While Schneiderlin was playing wide right – out of position. He tried very hard and showed good touches and passes, but he doesn’t have the ability to beat his man… so why continuously chip down the wings?

The second half was much better; we adapted the tactics a little after the pointless first half and played with a little more intent. More direct, more passing, more through the middle and we looked more of a threat – Jason Euell in particular adding some real steel to the midfield, although maybe he could do with some shooting boots!

I must say we looked better when Lallana and McGlaggon were introduced, both of whom can play out wide, however with nothing upfront, we were always going to struggle.

For Bristol City, Williams played some good through balls and this was key as their strikers can play off that style very well. Adebola was physical as ever and Maynard fed off him well, running at the defence at every given opportunity and really testing Perry and Saeijs, who in fairness did quite well.

I fear for our championship status and fear that we don’t have enough fight. It’s our lack of knowledge of how to win games that will prove our biggest downfall.