macca155

They will fall away I suspect, Leeds and Saints will probably be slogging it out for 2nd. Mind you Leicester are wobbling a bit. Great league this 😀 Just need to keep plugging away.

I thought that, I reckon VAR would have been in use there. However they more than deserved that goal. Tidy outfit, we may meet them again the play offs.

That was a solid win, knocked WBA's momentum and pulled us closer to Leicester. I thought WBA played well. They are a massive team (size wise) and are set up to defend and hit teams on the break. Their problem was the final ball was dreadful. That was partly a lack of quality but equally that Saints kept them pegged back. Sulemana and KWP had quieter games but they were marked very closely. That reduced WBA's ability to break in numbers. Two well taken goals and an excellent game from Holgate. He is more comfortable on the right and was really concentrating. His passing is definitely a big step up from Bendarek. Good to see Stewart, he looked exactly what we thought he would be. A pain in the arse for defenders. AA and Sully will love playing off him. I thought Adams really got stuck in when he came on. Won a few tackles and pushed the team further forward. He either signs a contract or moves in Jan, needs to sort things out. Ballard scored again, good to see. COYS

Lots of draws for WBA earlier in the season, and their recent winning run has been against QPR, Coventry, and Hull. Whilst they shouldn't be underestimated, Saints should win this. However a draw wouldn't be a disaster. One thing for sure, WBA coaching staff will have looked carefully at the videos of recent games. They'll have formulated a strategy to negate against Martin's tactics. Saints have to expect this as no way are teams going to allow them the freedom they've had so far. It will be a good test for Russell, especially as the defence will be weaker. Can he adapt and maintain momentum.

They had an artificial pitch 81 to 88, Saints played them 7 or 8 times. I remember one of the games, the bounce was horrendous. We spent the whole game chanting Subuteo at them. Also we played Fulham there in the 90s. Must admit its hard to remember all the London games

Table is shaping up onto a right ding dong. Love this league

Frazer you hero

Sulemana needs to beat one man just once

I said this last year. No way do we want Everton blocking our route back. They are a big club, we hate them obviously, but they have a heritage we cannot get near. They'll be a magnet for foreign investment. They can draw on a decent academy, and the media will be all over them..... nightmare. They'll have issues obviously, but they'll have enough to bounce back. I'm desperate to see them down here, but not while we are in the pit.

Another middle east world cup, blatantly bought is ridiculous. FIFA really have no shame. Australia would have been perfect. Their winter and chance to grow the game. A better idea would be for Saudi to fund a world cup in Africa or Indonesia. That would would leave a legacy in a continent that loves the game. The next two world cups are a mess. Three countries in 2026 and three continents in 2030. Utter madness 😠 they are ruining it The main European countries could host it, without having to build a single stadium. Money, money, money

I like that 😀 Dangerously close to my family's tartan .... God help us

Reverse that to an attempted decapitation of Adams and we'd be screaming for a Pen. I understand that the ref felt the ball wasn't under control and viewed it as a collision, but no way is that surviving a VAR replay. Good news we won't see it until next year (hopefully)

I can't say I'm looking forward to when VAR is introduced to the Championship, hopefully a long way down the line. Having seen the recording, THB was offside, and how that wasn't a penalty is beyond me. Bazuna's reckless challenge was obvious at the game, but I had no idea that THB was offside. It was pretty clear, surprised the lino missed it. Smallbone had a shout for a Pen but it would have been soft. Similarly the handball could have been given but pretty harsh if it was. That game could have finished 2-2 or 3-2, definitely squeaky bum time at the end. Saints definitely seem to be on the right side of refs at the moment. Strange feeling, doubt it will last.

Excellent win, needed that to settle things down a little. In the end it was a formula win against a weak side. However that has eluded us so far this season, so good to see. Bree had a good game again and that allows Sulemana space and time to torment their defence. Very impressed with Downes, very surprised WHU let him go. I thought Bazumu did very well. Great distribution and dominated his area more. One clanger where he over committed. VAR would have been uncomfortable. All round good day.

Spot on from Martin, can't argue with that. Pllayers need to step up and win a game convincingly for once.

Never quite got the purpose of pre match press conferences. I guess Sky News needs them. No manager will talk about tactics. No matter who the opposition is they will be called 'dangerous', and injured players will be deemed 'close to a return'. We'll be told nothing. That leaves inane answers to bland questions. If a manager is under pressure they might get s bit 'punchy' but that's it .... booring! Hopefully THB will be back today. Will RM make the brave decision to keep Bree on the left. He should do Bree was one of the brighter moments from Wednesday. Other than that it will be rinse and repeat from previous games. Doesn't matter who is up front, the ball has to get to them quicker. Bet Baz goes up for a corner at the end. Brum will be watching him 😀

No he doesn't, he makes some but no more than any other CH. Certainly OK for this league. He gets noticed because he puts himself on the line. Not watching like some. What he lacks is ability to consistently beat a forward to a header. Without someone to help with that, the defence can be exposed.

This with knobs on. Sulemana creates chances with ease but there is no one there to put them away. Suleman's pace means he crosses the ball right on the line so it is never going to be inch perfect. Someone should be on the far side (probably unmarked) to finish the job. However I don't think Saints sit back they just wilt under physical pressure. As I said earlier teams can sustain that for 10 to 15 minutes max, we saw that when Ralph was in charge. Canny opposition managers pull out all the frustrating tactics to break the rhythm of that press. Injuries, arguments, time wasting, and fouls. Remember when Newcastle were absolutely under the cosh at St Mary's two or three years ago. Eddie Howe employed exactly those tactics and took the wind out of Saints's attack. One player went down with cramp three times, a substitution that never happened, hateful to see but it worked. The players have to be wise to the fact that at some point the opposition will go for them. In the the good old days someone like Dennis Hollywood would have put Potts two rows back in the stands and picked a fight with Osmajic immediately afterwards. Ref would have blown the pea out of his whistle but job done. Obviously need to be a little more subtle these days but the tactic remains the same.

Why? Stephen's is a solid player and will add a physical presence. I really don't understand the agenda against him. Saints are a better team when he is playing.

I'm having to deal with my expectations and sense of entitlement. I thought it would be easier than this. I suspect others are too. The cold hard truth is that the squad has significant gaps, and are simply not coping with the physical aspect of this league. I remain unconvinced by Martin's strategy but it isn't a disaster yet, so give it time. Leicester were always going to walk this league, so forget them. Ipswich are doing well but hopefully they'll lose momentum. Saints sit 5th in the hunt for a play off position. No good whining about it, just need to stay in the battle. A win Saturday means 7 points out of 9, a good return for this week. Positives. Bree did well, looked quicker and more physical than Manning. Downes is starting to look an excellent buy. Definitely need Stephen's back, this team simply cannot cope when under a sustained physical pressure. Other teams can only do that for short periods, but they know Saints fold so it is an obvious tactic. A lot depends on Stewart finding form, and SR buying in a couple of physical players in January. A defensive midfielder is an absolute must.

Last minute goal by the goalie, that could be very important at the end of the season.

Take a point, prefer three but that denied Preston 2 points as well.

BAZ

FFS

Blast but good strike. Saints need to show some quality now and get this game back.