5string

1 minute added on. Even the ref's had enough. Boufal silly booking for kicking the ball away. Probably meant to hit the advertising board, but missed.

Boufal looking tricky again. Get him further up the pitch for more attacking options.

Good cross from Tadic, JWP in good position, free header. Wide. Ooh, then Boro mess up a gilt-edged chance.

Great ball in from McQueen - nobody at the far post because they were all ambling into the middle/near post. Ambling. I tell you, it's like table football.

Better from Clasie & JRod

She showed better moves than our team!

Jesus would be a good loan acquisition. We need a few miracles in front of goal.

I think we need a reaction. Maybe we'll get one? Hopefully Puel has shown a nippier side since Thursday and has given the players a bit of a dressing down, 'playing for your places' type of chat - now we're out of Europe, the rotation won't be quite so necessary. Defensively, we're ok with what we've got - would be nice to keep Fonte til at least the end of the season, if not beyond. Goals (including midfield)... right, well we've all recognised this is the missing link. Where are they coming from? Why not play JRod in a more advanced role? His past goalscoring successes tended to be from his pace and the ability to outrun/run past defenders before finishing well. So, why not stick him up in the Austin position, on the last man. Don't rely on his pace, but give him a chance in the box - he might still have a goalscoring touch. Others who should be stepping up: Long (surely, soon!), Boufal, Redmond. Midfielders should be contributing more to the goals (didn't Puel say this?): Davis, JWP, Tadic, Hojbjerg. Can now include Sims in this. They need to be more attacking, imaginative, penetrating. Not good enough so far. Possibly Bertand & VvD should be contributing more goals, too? Bertrand boasts about having a better shot than the forwards: well prove it, then! VvD has had enough chances from corners, he should be getting more on target. I think it's unfortunate that so many of our players are off goalscoring form at the same time. Well, time to put that right then, Southampton players, if you please!

1986 FA Cup QF v Brighton, Goldstone Ground. Saints won 2-0. Guess where I was (with my Saints scarf stuffed down the inside of my jacket)...

It's hard work being a Saints fan at the moment. Need something to give us hope - not much out there.

How did that miss? Thought it was in! That's it.

1-1 VvD 2 minutes to get another. Can we...?

Gonna be 3 mins added on.

Fire, passion, variety, surprise, ideas. We seem to be lacking in these things.

Joking!!! 2 goals... from where?

Well give him a flipping bike, then!

Good corner from Bertrand, another near miss from VvD

"Slightly more promising, it's Redmond."

Batman ready (ie. Tadic + mask, not our very own Mr Batman, forum poster extraordinaire). Sims off? Oh.

Good chase by Long, but poor ball in and rather embarrassing shot from Hoj. Come ON Saints! Get the youngsters on: McQueen & JWP work well with Sims & Hoj. Ooh, Long, close!

Bit of a soft effort from that distance. Ok, HT 0-0. A score that suits us. Would rather have a couple of goals.

Shocking challenge. Oi, Commentator! How is that "a good foul"??? Idiot!

I was hoping Long would be on for Redmond, to partner Austin. Ah well, let see if we can use all the pace we now have up front.

Austin's shoulder seems to have 'popped'. "I'll be fine" he says! Unlike beardy-bloke from HBS who collapses under molecular pressure. Hmm, seems to be more serious - Long ready to come on.