the wedge

Just back home from the game, I live in Finsbury Park so it's 20 mins on the train. Bit of a game of two halves, Stevenage were a very fast, pressing unit to start with and we never got going. We were, laughably, predictable and the home fans took great joy in letting us know that. We couldn’t string 3 passes together and we were second to everything. Only some poor finishing and last ditch tackling kept us on level terms at the break. Only Puncheon was a serious attacking threat, he was class throughout. Some of the senior starting XI stepped up a couple of gears in the second half and the youngsters started to gain in confidence which lead to the first goal. Harsh on Stevenage, but that’s how far we’ve come now. The second goal was an appalling referee mistake that thanks to Chappy’s quick thinking led to a goal. There was no way that the defender’s sliced clearance was a backpass. And once 2-0 up, everyone started oozing with confidence, especially the kids who started some mazy individual runs and slick touches. Punch’s goal epitomized his overall performance, it was a level up from the rest of the players on the pitch. Cracking goal, best I’ve seen for years. Our fourth was another good strike, the youngsters were flying by now after a shaky 1st half. Hoskins had a phenomenal effort go wide near the end after a Bergkamp v Newcastle style turn. It was brilliant and deserved a goal. Gazzaniga: 6/10. Didn’t have much to do. I think he did look nervy and I didn’t trust his long ball distribution at all, it never went to one of our lads. Butters: 6/10. Efficient if nothing else, positioning was good but rarely went forward. Frazer: 6/10. Covered CB well enough, passing was a bit off but did his job well. Seaborne: 6/10. Just pleased he’s still playing football after the year he’s had. Shaw: Nervous, uncertain but showed some glimpses of what he’s capable of. Mazy, pacy runs forward often led to nothing but he’d gained 45 yards in seconds. JWP: 7/10. At the heart of everything. Love how stuck in he gets, like Hammond with a lot more pace. Calm, collected and impressive. Dean: 6/10. Just seems off the pace the team wants to play, but does what he does well enough. Stuck in, win the ball, play it to someone else. Chappers: 6/10. Largely anonymous 1st half. Showed glimpses of quick thinking and ability but was largely off the pace, like Deano. Puncheon: 9/10. Immense. At the heart of so many attacks. Skillful, tricky and gets a bonus point for the worldy goal. Lee: 7/10. I think he’s a bit lost on the wing, I’d like to see him more central, as he was more effective cutting inside. But delivered some great crosses on his left peg. His celebration was class, putting his finger to his mouth in front of Stevenage’s mouthy fans. Got clattered by their right back straight after. Sharp: 6.5/10. Totally isolated first half due to us being on the back foot for long chunks of the game. That coupled with us playing everything from the back which always ended up with us losing the ball in midfield. Came more into the game 2nd half and worked very hard to set up Lee and took his own goal well. Subs: Reeves: Great goal, oozed confidence once he came on, which filtered through the team. Chambers: Didn’t notice him. Hoskins: Great piece of skill as mentioned above. Deserved a goal, and probably longer on the field. Really enjoyed the game though, nice little ground and brilliantly old fashioned PA announcer.

Could anyone tell me what the ticket situation is? I'd like to go but Stevenage have taken the tickets off sale online...

3-1. Forward Hoskins gets his second as he picks up Dickson's low ball and converts excellently. #saintsfcu21

Very, very proud. Had a text from a City fan at the game who had nothing but praise for us. Play with that confidence all year and we will be fine. Delighted for the boys.

Seconded. They're revolting.

You're all heroes. Thanks guys. All sorted and all the lights in the flat work now. Cheers!

Hi all, Don't normally start new threads but I'm in a bit of trouble with putting a new light up in my flat and my Year 9 electronics knowledge has failed me. Here's a picture of the current situation.. There are three wires, two black, one red. I've put a bit of LX tape over one of the black wires so I can tell them apart. The last light fixture worked with just these 3 wires. The earth wire you can see just bypasses this light completely, feeding its way into the next room. As it is in the picture, the light works. But the lights in the rooms to the left of this room do not. The lights on the right hand side of this room do work as normal. I've tried countless combinations, resulting in a few tripped switches when any wire is in the earth part of the terminal and sometimes the bathroom light switch controlling this one and sometimes the light working at about 20% brightness.. Any help would be much appreciated... *Braces self for abuse*

Wow. I think Breivik should give Lee's defence barrister a call. Delighted the boy's back and able to play without this huge weight on his shoulders anymore.

GET THE **** IN. Exactly what we need! See Lallana, stay on your feet and we score!

Two very soft, very defendable goals. ****.

Reading: Federici; Cummings, Harte, Gorkss, Pearce; Mullins, Tabb, Kebe, McAnuff; Hunt, Roberts #readingfc subs: McCarthy, Gunnarsson, Afobe, Church, Le Fondre

#Saintsfc subs: Harding, de Ridder, Richardson, Martin & Guly.

Christ I'd forgotten about that drum the Palace fans have. The only noise they're making.

I also think the 50+ (I was sat near them) morons cost us the game. Mindless, stupid idiots. Every single one. I felt totally ashamed of them, giving the skates exactly what they wanted, an extra burst to send us home with a big '**** you' attached to it. If you do it at all, do it AFTER WE HAVE WON THE GAME. Well done. Urgh.

The fact that the financial investment has been returned in shares shows that the club will not be held to random over it. If the investors want out, then they sell their shares for whatever money someone will pay for them.

But with a rapidly rising turnover this will be reduced. What will be interesting is how much we start paying for premiership quality players who will want to earn more as how that affects our turnover in the coming years. Assuming we get promoted, touch wood.

Wages are currently 93% of turnover. However in the last 6 months turnover has increased by 70%.

Got through on the 01271 number after 10 minutes. Said tickets are available everywhere except Northam.

23. Live in Hackney, East London but originally from near Winchester. First game was home against Cardiff City in the Coca-Cola Cup in the mid nineties. Won 2-1. Think it was Magilton and Hall who scored.

Rickie Lambert now trending worldwide on twitter. Superb. Hope his leg holds out.

Yep I do. And I'm now able to rewind dreams if I miss an effort and replay it until I do score. Always in front of the Northam.

Delighted with a point. Onwards and upwards.

Saw Elton John there. Cracking night. Great to see the place full and thousands on t'pitch.

'Friendly rivalry...' The last time I went to the derby I was attacked with a slab of concrete. As if I needed more ammo against Cameron.

I can't really believe it. As good as a new signing for sure, if he pulls his finger out. Actions speak louder than words though, he has to totally prove to the fans that he wants to be here. And for a long time it had seemed that he doesn't.