My ratings (seeing as I went to sleep the second the final whistle blew)
McCarthy - 8 - Ok, he's not the best at playing with his feet and he does have a mistake in him (as we nearly saw once last night when under pressure from their attacker). But he made some excellent saves last night and rightly keeps Baz out of the team for me. I still hope we revisit the keeper spot in January though.
Edwards - 6 - Some of his passing wasn't great and I don't remember him getting forward too much but he is a centre back playing on the right and I didn't have issue with him. I have issues with the formation really, I'm glad we dropped the 3CBs but Will has almost snuck it back in - just lopsided.
Wood - 9 - Excellent. Best I've seen him play, he was first to everything, strong, his passing was good (and there was a lot of it between the defence in the first half). He currently deserves his place and deserves to stay there.
Quarshie - 6 - as I said last night, I want to like him. But to put in the half arsed attempt to stop their striker for their goal was abysmal. I did like the strength he showed in the second half though to bully their player off the ball. I'd probably persevere with him, he will get better with more Championship experience.
Manning - 6 - Not his best game, stupid booking, crosses meh. He's been improved this season since Welington's injury but I'd still like to see Jelert given a run out.
Jander - 7 - First time I'd seen him play. What I liked most was his willingness to turn and run into space. Not the best first few minutes but he grew into the game - he looks a player and we'll see better performances I'm sure.
Charles - 7 - He hustled and harried as usual.
Fellows - 8 - I thought he was having an excellent game on the right, then Will hooks him at half time. He's pacy, dribbles, his crosses are decent, I think he'll go on to be an excellent signing for us. Not sure why he was hooked but luckily for Will it worked out.
Azaz - 6 - I didn't think he played badly, I thought he offered himself up well, perhaps could have done better with the shot in the first half. The least confusing of the half time subs but even so, I think AA was having a worse game than him... at the time.
AA - 6 - Poor in the first half, I didn't notice him for half and hour then he skies his penalty. He was much better in the second half, winning headers (including the one that hit the bar for Stewart's first) and his defensive work shouldn't go unnoticed, he stopped one of their attacks through sheer determination.
Stewart - 9 MOTM - I mean, MOTM is either him or Wood but Stewart's moment of magic edges it. Best game for us, worked his balls off, created the penalty with his experience, had some headed chances, took his first coolly and his second was superb. Please God stay fit and keep banging them in!
Subs:
Fraser: 7 - He works hard and seems to want to well for us. I thought he was OK when he came on.
Robinson - 6 - Did some defensive work which I applaud him for, didn't make much of an attacking impact that I remember
Roerslev - 5 - I can't say I noticed him much, bar a couple of touches so I can't score him higher than that.
Downes - 5 - Another one I didn't notice much of, but he didn't get booked. Which is something.
Archer - 5 - no real impact - we were defending the lead by the time he got on.
Overall it wasn't the best win but it was a much needed win. The first half there was too much passing around, a lack of ideas in attack, and when we lost the ball we looked vulnerable on the counter. It got better early on in the second half with a bit more directness but even so, we ended up going for containment, which nearly cost us with the disallowed goal. Still, Saints fans should be happy this morning, I am and another win against Derby will really kick start the season.
