Jack

The extended highlights also won’t show you the multiple times we refused an easy pass forward and a quick break in favour of recycling it to the back 4. The goal we conceded came from exactly that. We know we’re fairly goal shy so therefore need to create more, and better chances. It would’ve been very easy to create more and Coventry offered very little, but by sticking to Russball we limited the number of decent chances created, that’s cost us more points as much as Arma’s finishing IMO

1-1. Loads of possession. Russ delighted. Groundhog Day

Sadly not far off. I think we’re 4th and on this amazing unbeaten run despite of Russball, not because of it. Some of the games we’ve drawn, we should’ve blown the opposition away. Coventry offered very little and we gifted them a route into the game. Laughably, from refusing a decent chance to break forward quickly in favour of fannying around at the back, and getting caught on the ball. 90+5, instead of trying to win it we’re content on playing triangles in our own 6 yard area with Baz and the CBs. Others find it funny but for me it’s infuriating. I’m sure Russ loves it but these points aren’t as good as he’ll take credit for

Aribo is woeful. Always on his heels

WHHYYYY do we always turn down the chance to break. Absolutely pathetic. No wonder we’re so goal shy, it’s infuriating

Yeah we need to be beating teams in the bottom half home and away to have any chance of keeping pace with the top 2. Need to put pressure on Ipswich who have a tough run ahead of them, and make the most of a rare Leeds defeat. 1-1 78% possession, 2 on target, Russ delighted

Saints need to make it another 7 point week to have a hope of keeping pace with the top 3. Coventry have had a recent turnaround with 10 points from their last 5 games, after just 1 point from their previous 5. Despite that, it’s really a must win for Saints to keep some pressure on the teams above who have all been winning these kind of fixtures. Would expect some rotation after today and plenty to work on in an attacking sense

Probably a fair result. We haven’t created enough decent chances. Frustrating to get done by a long ball after defending pretty well. Thing that pisses me off is we turn down the chance to break so often in favour of going backwards and sideways. One of the few times we got forward quickly today we scored. So often pick the wrong pass

Leeds winning again, it’s relentless at the top. Would be happy with another 7 point week but not sure it’s enough at the moment

Much needed win against a mediocre side from a bit of brilliance from a player who’ll probably be off in January. Shit football, shit interview from the manager. We’ll drop loads more points against teams we really should be beating IMO

Yes, I reckon mediocre if we want to be in the top few at this level or above, but that’s just my opinion.

Maybe in the club’s eyes but Stephens is pretty mediocre at this level IMO bar the occasional couple of games

He was shit when he was just Dan Brereton from Stoke, then added Diaz to his surname, started banging goals and got called up to the Chilean national team and was scoring for them. No idea if he’s any good now, Che and Arma we’re both 25 goal strikers at this level at one point… I’d love to see a proper DM recruited in January, someone to protect our back 4 a bit more. A new CB to challenge THB and Bednarek for a starting spot might be asking a bit too much I guess

A big part of that for me is a lack of any competent backup. Bednarek has been decent recently but we’re still a decent player short in that position

Toothless, again

That defending is important?

Even if we were in the habit of scoring loads of goals, keeping loads of clean sheets, and winning games comfortably, then I’d still say we’re not going to be going on a winning run like that

Riding our luck here. Calamity goalkeeping from Baz

1-1 81% possession 2 shots on target “Bravery” and “Great unbeaten run” mentioned in interviews

Well I’m glad Russell is happy to see us concede shitloads of goals as long as the possession stats are good. Because I’m fucking sick of it.

Exactly. If starving the opposition of possession meant keeping clean sheets and scoring enough goals to win most weeks then bring it on. Sadly we’re far from being good enough to achieve that but the manager won’t acknowledge it

Talking about it on the long drive back today, we reckon it’s not a very strong league but we’re still making a dogs dinner of it. Ipswich aren’t even that good but pissing it by being effective enough and defending properly. We’re definitely asking too much of some limited players, because we’re hell bent on playing a certain way. Absolutely shambolic defensively and we can’t keep relying on injury time for points

On the train on the way back to Manchester. Absolute garbage after going 1-0 up. Not a chance we’ll challenge at the top end of the league. The spine of our team is far too weak and last minute goals for points will dry up - reckon we’ll finish around 10th without a serious challenge for playoffs

Wednesday Plymouth Sunderland Boro Stoke Hull Preston Over 3300 miles That’s a pretty ridiculous run in terms of travel. 3 of the next 5 are inside the M25, plus Coventry and Huddersfield.