SNSUN

It's Sunday 26th May. Eager and excited Saints fans head up on trains in their droves from Southampton Central to Waterloo. Trains are buzzing with noise from young and old, alcohol is flowing, red and white scarves being swung above heads. At Waterloo the giant Brewdog is pumping. Tubes are packed as Saints fans make their way to Wembley. The atmosphere is electric. Literally tens of thousands have made the trip, a full allocation has been taken for Wembley stadium but even fans without tickets have made the journey just to experience the day. Inside the stadium both ends fill up slowly, flags waved aloft excited heads. Across from Saints fans are West Brom fans, delighted after their two legged victory over 4th placed Leicester who capitulated in the Semis. The stadium finally full, the players head out on to the pitch for the warm up. Noise, so much noise. "Oh When The Saints" rings out the loudest. The final is finally here. The players head back on to the pitch after the final team talks. Saints players look confident. The joyous nature of the fans turns to nerves as the referee put the whistle to his lips. He blows. The game begins and the cheers echo around the ground, heard from as far away as Neasden. Saints start positively. Possession based football means Saints control the game in the initial stages. There are chances for both sides but a great performance from both Goalkeepers means the sides go in at half time all square. In the concourses conversation between strangers is rife. There are nerves but there is still plenty of excitement. Has Russ made the right call with the team? The second half begins. WBA push Saints and finally break the deadlock with Thomas-Asante getting a corner from a header. The Saints fans get behind their team, roaring them on. This is a one off game and everything is at stake. The players heads don't drop. They know. They know. 80 minutes on the clock and Wee Man, on as a sub, whips a ball in which is dealt with badly by WBA. The ball bounces out to Smallbone...BANG! The equaliser! There is tumultuous applause around the ground and cheering. Throats are hoarse but Saints fans keep singing. Saints push. WBA begin to tire. Russ decides to make his last two subs, on come Ross Stewart and Kamaldeen Sulemana. It's the last roll of the dice. The clock ticks past the 90 minute mark. Fans are preparing for extra time but nobody is leaving the stands. Russ is waving the team up the pitch. Harwood-Bellis finds time on the ball and sees Sulemana making a run. He picks out the perfect cross field ball diagonally straight into the path of the fresh legs of Kamaldeen. He controls it first time and starts dribbling. He runs, and runs, and run. Saints fans roar him on, the hair stands on the back of necks. He reaches the edge of the area and keeps going. There's a shimmy and... WHAM. He's brought down. Half of Wembley screams at the ref, but he's already made his decision. Penalty. AA has been subbed. Ross Stewart in true striker fashion grabs the ball. The stadium volume dips. The ball is on the spot. Ross looks only at the ball. The ref blows his whistle. He runs up... BANG! Top left hand corner. Saints are winning! Literally two minutes of incessant Saints possession later and the ref blows the final whistle. Game over! In the stands, the Saints fans tumble over one another in celebration. Southampton Football Club win the richest game in English club football and are promoted to the Premier League as play off winners. Russ runs on to the pitch and applauds the noisy Saints fans. The players hug each other. Harwood-Bellis kisses the badge of the shirt he will be playing in next season. Post game Saints fans fill the bars and pubs with cheering and celebration. The party starts now. (Meanwhile I'll be at work watching the game on a tiny iPad Mini hoping not to be bothered by anyone.)

The passing move and finish for Che’s second yesterday was one of the best goals I’ve seen us score in a while, it was certainly one of Che’s best finishes in his time here. More importantly after it you could see he really wanted that hat trick. I wish he’d play like that all the time. His movement was excellent too.

Reading the Leicester, Ipswich and Leeds forums, a lot of fans are doubting their own team finishing top 2. We’re still outsiders and it’s possible our goal difference could count against us but we definitely seem to have shaken the top 3 teams’ fans up with the recent wins. Even if we fall short we’ll be in good form heading into the play-offs. Beat Cardiff and we go into the Leicester game with serious confidence, I just hope Martin plays his best team… yesterdays. What a League this season though. To think first place going into the last day could potentially finish 4th. Glad we’ve been a part of it even if we’ve had a couple of bad spells.

Just win! Keep the pressure on the other 3. Play like we did tonight and we should.

Interestingly we play 3 fixtures before Ipswich play again. Win them all ( tough ask when one is Leicester) and we go 4 points above Ipswich and that would mean pressure on them for their two games in hand. I still don’t think we’ll get autos but at least we’re finally making a decent attempt of it.

I don't particularly rate Bazunu, he's improved this season but I still think his decision making is iffy and sometimes it seems shots go through him, but I do hope he recovers well. It is what it is. Maybe our more direct style tonight was a result of the keeper change. At least both our back up keepers are experienced.

I'm surprised Stephens wasn't shoehorned into it! Seriously it's crazy. Yes Whittaker has been good at a lesser side but AA has been consistently good. 31 goal contributions (goals and assists) and the season isn't over. And Rutter as a striker only has 6 goals. Even Mavididi has been better. Not sure about Greaves at CB either.

"Season ending injury" - Martin

And he got it. And was decent. We're going to need the squad over the next few weeks so good to see him play with confidence. He's not the same player as Downes but I noticed he won a few headers which adds to what he can offer us. I've seen him be poor earlier in the season but he's young and learning and the price tag wasn't his fault. Promising.

Preston were shite but play like this and we can beat anyone. Which bodes well for the playoffs.

Give Charles credit tonight, probably best I've seen him play. Best of the subs for sure. Everyone that started was excellent tonight. Not sure who I'd give MOTM though, Che for his two perhaps, KWP was up there too and AA was good. Probably Stu before he was subbed, he was a man possessed tonight.

Gone a bit stale but we snuffed them out hours ago. Key players rested early and a clean sheet (as I type). Preston have offered nowt.

Sulemana on for Brooksy.

AA not getting into the team of the season is pants really. What more did he have to do?

No hattrick for Che. Rested