SNSUN

On paper, this should be a Saints win. 3 wins on the bounce after 4 defeats on the bounce would be a great turn around. But we're Saints so...

Mara is a strange one. I don't rate him right now but I see something in him long term. He played a great backheel pass shortly after he came on and I think with more game time he'd have sunk that shot. He seems like a confidence player that is lacking confidence right now. I know our fans are largely split on him but I do think, long term, he will do ok, even if it's not with us. He's only 21 and is only our 4th choice striker if you count Ross. If anything he was a strange choice over Che as sub but maybe Russ sees something in him that he doesn't in Che. Hopefully when we get a fit Ross in all this will be moot anyway.

To be fair, the bulk of the Adkins side had been playing together for 2 years. This lot are still gelling.

Back 5 picks itself now (Manning in light of a lack of other options). THB and Bednarek looking like a decent partnership. That nobody picked THB up in the summer in the Prem astounds me. If we don’t go up I fail to see him here for another season. Class above. KWP too. Difficult to give a MOTM. Sulemana was decent again, Downes too, KWP close but THB edges it for me.

Don't need any red cards. Charly could be in trouble there.

Stoke pissed at the ref Fisticuffs

Win ugly. Sign of Champions.

Stu MOTM from Sky. Great free kick but nah. Downes, THB or KWP for me.

2 mins...

Baz save. They're up for this now.

Come on Saints...

Willy off.

Can a team that cannot keep a clean sheet keep a clean sheet? Stay tuned.

Wrong option there Smallbone

Life savings done. Let's see what six quid gets me... 😭

Shabadoo or whatever the Stoke player is called reminds me of that Simpsons bit

Sekou! Should have scored.

Gotten niggly. Need to be testing these. Fair amount of injury time I reckon. Mara and Fraser on for Charly and Sulemana

Corner Saints...

VAR would have done us there.

Especially against a makeshift defence. In fact I'd be looking to get Edozie and Fraser on somehow! Che too.

Was reading Oatcake fanzine pre game and they really are short of defenders. We need to be attacking them for the rest of this game with Wilmott going off.

Ooh close

Ooh Charly great run. Corner.