Badger

Probably too late for you but here's a few random recollections , as living up in Glos this is a fixture that I've kept a bit of a watch on over the last 50 odd years, but the matches have been quite infrequent. Before I started going, Mick Channon made his debut at The Dell against Bristol City, on Easter Monday 1966, and scored. Remarkable thing in those days was the arranging of fixtures so that we'd played you and lost at Ashton Gate on Good Friday. Unusually no fixture on the Saturday in between. (Listen to Klopp and Wenger bleat about fixture congestion... ). The first match I saw between Bristol City and Saints was Ashton Gate in September 1974. We'd just been relegated but were expected to bounce back with Channon and Osgood leading the charge. we made a poor start, but the week before playing City we beat Pompey 2-1 at The Dell (pretty ill tempered match on and off the pitch). Hoped we'd turned the corner, and in midweek I think we won at Glasgow Rangers in the Texaco Cup. All looking positive but Saints did what they've done many times and get your hopes up only to let them down again. We lost 2-0 at Ashton Gate, my first visit there. I think (and it would be good if one of your Statto's could confirm this) Geoff Merrick scored for you, (or his shot was deflected in and it was an OG). I think him scoring was a bit of a collectors item, from what some City fans around us said (no segregation in those days). If he didn't score he certainly celebrated in front of us (remember the typical 1970's perm and moustache... ). That and the Dolman Stand opposite were the two lasting recollections of the game (I think the Dolman was one of the first cantilever stands, not sure if Bristol City or Swindon were first). Bristol City were putting a decent team together at the time under Alan Dicks. After City's promotion I remember seeing a feature in the press, all 22 First Division managers asked questions on hopes for season, players to watch, who they expected to win the league type of bollocks. Final question was which manager they most admired and why. Most trotted out the usual suspects, Sir Alf, Revie, Shankly, Busby. Alan Dicks response was Ted Bates at Southampton for doing a fantastic job building a club on limited resources. Much respect for Mr Dicks thereafter from me.

Paul Tisdale also.

Yes. Great moment, and as you say, a collective gulp around The Dell when the young CB took the ball to take it. Can't remember who had been on penalties previously ( Horne, Case or Cockerill perhaps ?) but we'd missed a couple I think. Ruddock absolutely blasted it, and mental celebrations, one of the all time great celebrations (up there with Moran at Fratton). I think many people had accepted we might drop that season until the penalty. 93rd minute rings a bell. Ruddock cemented himself into Saints folklore that day (but still missed his next penalty at home to Wimbledon, and don't think he took another one for us after that).

Monday evening would be my guess. Just to make it as difficult as possible for the travelling support.

I think injuries and suspensions will be a major factor in our 'rotation' over the next few weeks. I'd have been surprised if Downes - had he been fit - played at both Bristol City and WBA. It seems RM's hand may now have been forced for Bristol anyway, hope he's back for WBA.

I thought Surman might end up as a summariser on Solent or similar. Talks well and easy to listen to. It was interesting that Blackmore brought Surman onto air his views on Jones early on rather than Jo Tessem.

Good job we didn’t invest any of it on an injury prone striker.

Perhaps you two should lobby the club at the next fans forum to introduce or improve Bluetooth connectivity so you can beam this onto the large screens at HT.

No doubt if they were playing us they’d be going for it.

For what, third choice GK ?

Moyes on increasingly thin ice.

Wonder how Nathan's post match press conference will go ?

Motivated by a new manager. And Wade's rallying cry

Don’t think he mentioned Ross Stewart

It was ‘Arry who discovered Bale, and turned ‘im into a top top player. Theo’s anuvver one.Top, top player.

He did return from Chelsea, but reasons for it have not been made known as far as I’m aware.

One name tucked away at the end of the article and overlooked: He was very highly rated as I recall from his time with us before, although he did have Niemi to work with.

He’d have been our best player on the pitch tonight bar none if he’d been allowed on the pitch tonight.

Could be onto something…

Rumours abound - he’s had a bust up on the training ground, an injury the club want to keep quiet he’s knobbed Pardew’s wife Take your pick.

I wouldn’t have risked Downes tonight.

Who do they manufacture for ?

It must have been something in the air this weekend to bring them out. After the Palace stain I found this specimen: A Maidstone supporter. Perhaps he thinks it’s still 1977.

Shame as I think Hummel kits are generally quite smart, exceptions being last season's crap, although that is probably more down to those choosing them. Would prefer Hummel to Puma or some of the main 'brands' mentioned, but then again I'm more concerned about how it looks on the pitch watching Saints than how soon the replicas are in stock so if they've balllsed up on that you can understand the club looking elsewhere.

I think it will remain a record for league games undefeated so that should keep people happy.