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Adams on for Mara. Well that's that then. Might as well give up now.

Been impressed with Mara.

Joelinton been taking lessons from Che Adams?

What a miss by Joelinton.

Saints nick the ball in the final 3rd but nobody makes a run into space wanting the ball.

I don't think we'll be taking an unassailable lead into the 2nd leg.

Commentators trying to make out that the handball wasn't arm to ball. Give it up lads, you're embarrassing yourselves with the bias.

Saints finding it hard to get any sort of grip on the game. Take 0-0 though.

Pope wipes out Djenepo. Not a free kick apparently.

'Keepers do get away with a lot.

Alcaraz takes a shot. Corner!

This is shocking stuff from Saints. Still 0-0 though.

Referee disallows goal for Newcastle.

Another Saints corner comes to nothing. Yellow for Alcarez.

Saints will be lucky to take 0-0 to the 2nd leg at this rate.

Is it me or do the Newcastle players just look a lot bigger than our boys?

If only Saints could just string a couple of composed passes together.

Ropy start from Saints. Early days.

Could be worse. Looking forward to the game.

He'll be back on April 1st for sure.

Any truth in the rumours that Bednarek will take on a No. 9 role? 😂

While it's true to say that Lyanco's positioning played Watkins onside and cost a goal let's not forget that Adams' dawdling offside in the first half also cost us a goal - that's assuming he'd have managed to control the ball and actually put it in the net that is.

Last week: Lyanco puts a dangerous cross into the penalty area. Mara is on the move and sweeps past the defender to fire into the net. Saints take the lead. This week: Lyanco puts a dangerous cross into the penalty area. Adams is dawdling on his heels well offside before mis-controlling the ball and stumbling into the 'keeper. Another chance goes begging. I've lost count of the numbers of points Che might have cost us this season. The calamity at Wolves will live long in the memory. If the choice is between him and Mara I'm inclined to persevere with the latter. Adams has had his chance and blown it - something that could be said about Saints as well come to think of it.

About 89 minutes Mara broke their offside trap and was clear. Assistant should have waited to flag for offside (it wasn't) but he stuck it up anyway. Both teams were poor and so were the officials.

Not so much turned a corner as round the bend. Didn't really deserve anything from that game but neither really did Villa.