Bailey

Not a fan of this one. We'd look like a team of referees!

Nope! Making a banner in reference to the 'if they can keep up with us' comment Adkins made about Brighton's promotion chances a few months back.

And to maintain their unbeaten home record. Brighton have really grown a strong dislike for Saints and in particular Adkins. Apparently a big banner is being made to taunt the latter. Could be an interesting game!

My heart wouldn't!

Simply put, no. They will go up as champions, and deservedly so. They've been the most consistent team throughout the course of the season, boast the only unbeaten home record in the Football League and have played some quality football along the way. Be nice if we can get one over them at their place in a few weeks time, but there's no disgrace in losing to them based on the season they've had. We just need to worry about finishing 2nd, and if we do that, then the season has been a success!

Pfft. Be realistic! If we concede ANOTHER goal this season, we can wave goodbye to our playoff hopes too!

http://www.cafctv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10267~2331567,00.html Refreshing, open and honest assessment from Chris Powell re: last night's game. Always nice to hear other managers singing our praises too. Wish both Powell and Charlton all the best for next season. In the nicest possible way, I hope we don't have to play them next year!

It sounds ridiculous as he scored and got an assist, but I thought Guly was pretty poor last night. He took his goal very well and set up Barnard nicely, but he didn't do a lot else. Defensively he's a liability, and Adkins and Crosby were going potty on the sidelines, trying to encourage him to get tighter and to close his man down. On two occasions it almost cost us, as Charlton had some success going forward down our right side. Also, he drifts in and out the game too much, he often comes across quite arrogant and doesn't always seem interested. He's frustrating as hell as on his day he's brilliant, but getting any level of consistency out of him over 90 minutes seems impossible.

I gave him a little clap as he left the pitch, but certainly not a standing ovation. Mainly because a) he didn't score against us, b) we were 2-0 up and c) he's never said a bad word about the club since leaving. I think he's a different player to the one that left us a few years back, seems to have grown up quite a bit IMO.

Agreed. The ref last night was OK, didn't have to do much but it's best that way! I also thought the ref on Saturday was decent too. Not often I say that!

A good, solid performance and a relatively comfortable win. Lambert had arguably one of his best games of the season last night. His touch was first class, his link up play even better, and some of his passes were brilliant. The cross-field ball which he cut across with the outside of his foot to find Lallana was particularly impressive! I thought the whole back four were good too, especially Dickson, good to see him putting in a solid display. Barnard continues to impress. Another well taken goal, albeit a tap in, but his work rate and commitment to the cause was once again spot on. Only downer of course were the injuries to Stephens and Lallana. The former sounds a little more serious, whilst Adam's was more of a precaution. All in all, a good night for Saints. Bournemouth slip up, we gain ground on Huddersfield, and it's on to Saturday, together as one!

Impossible to judge on that performance, especially considering the circumstances. When he was introduced, the game passed a lot of the midfield by as Dons resulted to lumping it forward in search of an equaliser, whilst we were happy to clear our lines and put the ball into row Z. What he did do, he did very well. Looked calm and composed on the ball, played it simple and didn't seem phased by making his debut in a tricky tie. Too early to say whether he'll be a decent signing or not, but early signs are positive!

If he sticks around beyond the expiry of his current four-year contract, then I genuinely believe he can become a Saints legend. The guy is a class above, we're so fortunate to have a player of his ilk and quality plying his trade with us in the third tier of English football.

MLG, you're very particular aren't you!? His role inevitably would be to sit a little deeper than Lallana and Chaplow to give the back four some protection. Arguably, that's similar to a diamond, but from the off emphasis was on 4-3-1-2! Either way, whatever you choose to believe, for what it's worth I prefer it when we play with width. Playing too narrow across the midfield leaves us vulnerable defending in wide positions. However, in Nigel we trust!

You're right, he was. But I promise you our game plan involved starting with a 4-3-1-2 formation, trust me!

We didn't start with a diamond today, it was 4-3-1-2 as shown below. ---------------------- Davis -------------------- Butters ----- Fonte ----- Jaidi ----- Harding ---- Chaplow --- Hammond --- Lallana ---- ----------------------- Guly ---------------------- ------------- Lambert --- Barnard ------------- The formation is actually why we started so well. We caught MK Dons out with a tactical surprise, and it took them 20 minutes or so to settle down and adjust to it. For what it's worth, I thought it worked initially but Adkins was right to alter it. Full credit to Nigel, his tactics and substitutions were spot on today.

Stand up, if you love Deppo! Stand up, if you love Deppo!

I seem to recall a game back in the Prem. Fulham at home, we went 2-0 down. If I remember correctly, Beattie scored a hat-trick and we went on to win 4-2. Great game!

Opening 20 minutes, we passed the ball about very well, looked lively, yet didn't really test their keeper. Hit with a sucker punch from a corner, Dons' first attempt on goal too. Started the second half very poorly also, with Baldock capitalising on a wayward pass from Harding and some inept keeping from Davis. But my god, from then on we showed we've got the fight and the character about us to win promotion. Forte came on, fantastic 'impact player', great sub from Adkins. Barnard took his goal very well, and what a shift this lad puts in. Top, top marks. Likewise Lallana, an absolute gem of a talent, so fortunate to have him in our team. All in all, an entertaining game of football, full of incident, drama and goals. Nice to be on the right end of a comeback for once. Together as one, we move on to Charlton on Tuesday!

An injury to Rickie would be devastating, mainly because we don't have anybody of his ilk that's a suitable replacement. Similarly, an injury to Lallana would be equally as harmful, especially after losing Chamberlain for what is rumoured to be the remainder of the season. The loss of Fonte would leave us exposed at the back too. Whilst Seaborne and Martin are more than capable, JF is a class above and I don't think people realise how fortunate we are to have a player of his calibre plying his trade in League One at our club.

Tongue in cheek Phil, just citing Adkins himself. Am feeling positive about our chances of automatic promotion, especially after tonight's result. I'm definitely on the bus!

Go about our business in a quiet and understated fashion. Suits me perfectly. Control the controllables Saints, 3 points tomorrow a must after tonight's result. Together as one!

Can never understand why Dickson gets criticised on here. Granted, he hasn't set the world alight, but he hasn't had a prolonged run in the first team either. He's a good player to have in the squad, he keeps Harding on his toes and he's more than able at left-midfield too. I actually think Dickson is a better LB than Mills, and wouldn't be surprised to see us sell the latter to Doncaster in the summer.

Expecting a midfield diamond for the visit of Dons. Team to look like this: ------------------- Davis ---------------- Butters -- Fonte -- Jaidi -- Harding -------------- Hammond ------------- ------ Chaplow -- Stephens ------- ------------------ Lallana --------------- --------- Lambert -- Barnard -------- Subs: Bialkowski, Richardson, Martin, Seaborne, N'Guessan, Forte, Guly

Delgado looked good on youtube . . .