Saint Pete

Well, it's probably just the play offs now but still an incredible achievement to be as high as we are now after where we were. And unbeaten run still intact going into the Cup game. It just seemed we ran out of a bit of steam today really but still put a shift in, which is a good sign. It seemed to me the late absence of Stephens (why did he not play?) unsettled us in the first half and Wood looked edgy, particularly in first half hour. We never really got going in truth but hopefully with a bit of a rest for a few days we can go again on Saturday.

I'm actually OK with the draw. Keep both of them suffering right to the end and then Spurs go on the last game! 😁

They will be falling over themselves to be the first out the door!

This is where bookmakers odds are not always the best guide in my opinion. Objectively, surely Millwall are more likely for top 2 as it stands. They are ahead of us in the table by a point and have a more favourable last 3 games, the highest placed team they have left to play is Stoke in 17th. The odds putting us above Millwall probably driven by optimistic Saints fans lumping bets on us for 2nd place? Not saying we can't/won't do it, but objectively it still seems against the odds and we should be considered 3rd favourites as it stands behind Ipswich and Millwall.

Well, Boro at least can't catch us if we do win our last 3 now after they dropped 2 points today. It's still against the odds but it's getting more possible with every game at the moment! My feeling is that I can see Ipswich slipping up in one of their other remaining away games (Charlton, West Brom), which could put us in business for pipping them. If they even just draw one of those and we win our 3, the goal difference thing won't matter. But Millwall worry me looking at their last 3, best chance of a slip up for them may be Stoke on Tuesday, as can't see them dropping points v Leicester or Oxford.

Nice! And Forest have a great chance to put distance between them and Spurs (and West Ham) tomorrow, home to Burnley. 🙂

I get what you're saying but in fairness I would imagine there are quite a few fans who haven't bothered with a membership this season but still attend a fair few Saints games. For these folks, they will have taken the half price membership now to guarantee getting a ticket. I don't know but would be surprised if there are thousands of people who have bought memberships now who haven't attended any Saints games to this point this season. That said, wouldn't have had any objection to the club doing more stages of releasing the tickets to recognise the ones who were members already etc, but club probably keen to get the sales done fairly quickly I guess. And to add, getting the sales done quickly may mean the club can have better chance of obtaining more tickets in the coming days so more Saints fans can attend?

Brett Ormerod?! Probably less Saints goals than Shane Long?

Arsenal doing their best to f*ck up leg 3 of the quadruple! Very nervy performance so far. I can see them being pipped by City for the title on this form.

I think everyone needs to be assessed at the end of the season depending on what league we will be in. Personally, I still think Fellows has a lot to offer at Championship level, but he is clearly at a low ebb confidence wise at the moment (as was Archer until last night by the way). Fellows has an excellent previous record at this level with West Brom and has still shown flashes of what he can do for us, including a great assist for the winner against Arsenal recently and he's still young, so I don't think we need to write him off just yet.

Whilst Archer put in a good performance against a pretty low level opposition last night, I think it's premature to see him as a starter in our best 11. We shouldn't lurch from thinking he shouldn't be anywhere near the 1st team to he should be starting in big games on basis of one decent showing in my opinion. Yes, Fellows has been disappointing this season, but he himself has contributed a fair few assists along the way and at least some good performances. And we do also have Matsuki as another good option on that right hand side. I have a feeling he may get the nod in the big games coming up. Don’t get me wrong, I'm happy that Archer put in a much improved performance and that goal will do him good, but I think we should be seeing him mainly as another good option off the bench in a wide position at the moment, particularly if we are chasing a goal late in the game.

Larin seems to have the edge in terms of current form and has been way better than I expected him to be at this level. I still feel that Stewart probably has a higher potential bar as a player though (if only he could remain fit). It's a great problem to have and whoever Tonda goes with to start in the big games to come, I am sure both will be needed and play their part over the 90+ minutes.

Brilliant management of the squad again tonight, a comfortable efficient win and several of our best players given a break at the same time. Also, the bonus of Archer turning in a good performance to give us another viable option for the last few games. Also, I love that the goals are coming from all over the team (and squad) now. Just looked back and we've scored 12 goals in last 4 games, including 10 different goalscorers! Sign of a very well functioning team/squad.

Yep, the home game v Ipswich gives us a chance to overturn the 6 goal gap. Win by 2 goals and that's 4 goal swing.

Er, nope! You are still forgetting that Ipswich have 5 to play and we have only 4. So, even if we win our remaining 4 including the Ipswich game, they could still win their other 4 games and finish 3 points above us. That said, we have much more of a chance after tonight's results, particularly with the 5 goal swing.

Maybe just haven't started it yet as both games are 8pm kick off?

Just thinking, if Bree was injured who would replace him at RB? Is Jelert fit? Along with the lkeeper, it's probably the only position where we don't have obvious ready made replacement. Credit to Bree for making that spot his own in last few months.

Downes has played the full 90 mins in the last 2 games so wouldn't be surprised if he starts on the bench. So if Azaz is out, it could be Bragg and Jander in midfield with Charles in front of them? Matsuki and Scienza in the wide positions and would expect Larin to start with Stewart coming on later. I wouldn't mess with the back 4 unless we absolutely have to and someone really needs a rest.

The Wrexham performance was obviously more eye catching but I think today is the one that shows how far this team have come on. This was exactly the kind of game against an ugly physical opposition that we would previously have dropped points in, particularly after the setback of going behind. But the way we found a way to turn it around speaks volumes for the confidence and steel that Tonda has instilled in these players. There was no panic, just a determination and belief that we would find the quality to come back and get the 3 points. Scienza's star quality was key for the vital equaliser of course but my MotM by a mile was Flynn Downes who was absolutely outstanding from start to finish. He was the heartbeat of the team today and won so many challenges where he seemed second favourite. Also thought Jander had his best game for a while alongside him, always felt we had superiority in the middle of the pitch, even in the 1st half.

I see OS says it's a sell out today and ticket exchange open. Should be a cracking atmosphere, looking forward to it!

Ipswich are a decent side but Coventry are better and we went to their place and won. So, if we do make the play offs, we shouldn't really fear anyone. It's a 6 point gap now, but if the 2 results go our way tomorrow, it's 3 points with a 6 pointer against them at home still to come, which doesn't look so uncatchable. At the end of the day, we need to just keep winning and try to finish as high as we can. Control the controllables as someone once said!

Ipswich are the ones firmly in pole position at the moment. Although the point for Millwall puts them 2nd for now, it was good result for Ipswich as they now have 3 games in hand on them. We really need Norwich to beat Ipswich tomorrow (and of course we need to beat Derby). If that happens, things start to look more possible as we still have Ipswich to play at home.

If Ipswich lose to Norwich and we beat Derby tomorrow, I will start to believe a bit that the unthinkable could actually happen! But our focus should still be on securing the playoff place.... for now.

Spurs currently in relegation zone on As it stands table! 😆

I agree about Manning, he has answered some critics I think who said we couldn't possibly play a back 4 with him as left back. Also, a word for James Bree. I don't think it is fluke that our improvement in defence has coincided with him returning to the fold. He is an important part of our back 4 set up now, he is not flashy but is very calm and assured and always seems to be in the right place defensively. Also, pretty good on the ball and has an eye for goal occasionally which is a bonus! Must say, I couldn't understand why he was discarded by previous managers, but credit to Tonda for recognising his qualities.