eelpie

We will win this game -provide we heed warnings learned from our away draw in October. This massive game may not decide promotion but it will decide who will go up as champions. On paper, since November 1st when Reading were a mere 16th in the Championship, Reading's run has been impressive, and 15 points better than anyone. Their defence has been crucial as has some decent January signings. Against the Royals away we struggled as they dominated the centre of the park in one of the games when we were not performing positively. Not until De Ridder came charging off the bench and scored a massive equaliser, were Saints belatedly reinvigorated. Without that crucial goal then we would be trailing Reading by three points now. But yesterday they had a gruelling 90 minutes against Brighton, who were all over Reading for much of the game and only a brilliant Federici denied them. The lesson is that we have to come out of the traps blazing. Be first to the ball. Dominate interceptions. Tackle ruthlessly, Don't shy off. Be resolute. We have the skills to better Reading. Strong defence. Lallana, Cork and Hammond in midfield at their best. Lambert's intelligence alongside Sharp's bust foraging, running, collecting, and opportunistic in front of goal. Had Brighton these two in their team they would have thrashed Reading. Which is why we will win. And our home support will be so massive for the team. A stirring game, not for the faint-hearted -on or off the pitch. 2 -1 Saints! COYR!!!!

West Ham v Brighton should be massive for both teams. Brighton HAVE to win to have any chance of making the play-offs. Which team wants it most?

Saints just need six points for promotion (bar a West Ham mathematical upset) The most West Ham can get now are 88 points

Hammers draw!!! 3-3 FT

West Ham 3 Brum 3 (Vaz Te)

Varney did not do Morgan with that tackle. Morgan's accurate slide tackle cleverly disposessed Varney. He was hurt in the process. It was a courageous challenge and he was unlucky. The incident was directly in front of me. Varney did not foul Morgan then. Incidentally had Guly been more positive in tackling Varney a second before, Morgan would have still been on the pitch and we would have won (imho).

We are still not intercepting, tackling enough. That is why we may not be promoted.

I thought that Maguire (no 22) had received two yellow cards before he scored, and so did those around me. But no-one has commented on this , so I guess we were all wrong. yes, no??

Didn't some of these feature in the fabulous Sergeant Pepper spoof poster? Was that by Art? Would love to see it again

Be fair to Leon - he did pay for the new Ted Bates statue. But he wasn't a brilliant interim director -a job share with someone whose name I've forgotten.

Is that the Old Vic's own bar on Waterloo Road as I go there a lot and I've never seen a TV screen, or is it nearby in Webber Street?

I agree. I had been thinking Lallana for his mercurial midfield skills and workrate (more important even than Lambert since we now have Billy Sharp scoring goals). However, Morgan's contribution in midfield is outstanding. Watching him delivering intelligent, accurate balls around the pitch, where least expected by the opposition, and his ability now to defend with crucial tackles, makes him indispensable. Morgan is a class above many and THE player we can least do without, right now. The player I would least like to have missing from the team in the final run up. He is confident and consistent. He reads the game well, controls midfield and inspire/dictates how we play.

I hope they will give refunds (including proportional ST costs) when match dates are changed to dates that punters cannot attend (just like other entertainment ie theatre tickets).

I'm sorry, Oakley. We sorely missed you in the middle. But now we've got Morgan Schneiderlin

My Predictor exercise game earlier this year had next Tuesday 27th March as the day that WSham regained the lead at the top. How delightful it is that this cannot happen next week. Not even if we lost our next game and Sham win their next two. Which is unlikely the way we are playing (fingers crossed). But it would be better that the Londoners get at least a point against Reading who remain a threat to our top spot.

Not quite true. Reading have been an improving side for much of the season. They were trouncing us at The Madjeskie and but for De Ridder's impact goal we would have lost. Like us, their teamwork is superb. Don't write Reading off.

I was just a nipper at the time in Winchester and I well remember my grandfather and parents bemoaning the narrowly missed promotion. Even now it is etched in my mind and that was when I first became fanatical about Saints. I also remember the dismal season when we were demoted into div 3. One match at a time!

I think that two outsiders will surge into the play-offs and that the final will be Leeds v Cardiff. I don't mind who takes third place after us and Reading, but both Leeds and Cardiff have been thereabouts in the past and are now beginning to show their worth after an inconsistent season.

But the game turned in our favour when Sharp came on. Was that a coincidence?

You mean the Saint Markus Chapel?

A statue is a great idea, but imho a few seasons need to elapse first. We assume that the Liebherr ladies will continue to fund Saints for the forseable future, but we can't be certain that they won't opt for a profitable sale if we are promoted. Obviously we all hope not, but it would be strange to see a statue next to Ted's, who was Mr Southampton for decades, if the Liebherr's no longer own Saints. If and when Nicola expands Saint Mary's let's rename the new refurbished stand after Marcus in the meantime.

I'm hoping that Coventry are mathematically demoted before we meet them at the end of the season. My calculations (which ever way I do it) go all the way to a last match decider, and we could do without a banana skin against a desperate Coventry. I'm more concerned about our performances against the so called weaker/lower teams than against teams in the top half of the table, as previous results have proved.

plus Kelvin for committing himself to the club plus Pardew for signing all the core players that have underpinned our progress plus Adam Lallana for committing himself to the club plus the best supporters in the UK who have bought into the vision (and don't forget the Romans!)

I do agree. I always felt that one of the many reasons for our decline and relegation from the Premiership was the injury to Matt Oakley, who never seemed to regain his best form when he returned to the side. Morgan is the creative playmaker in the centre of our team that we have lacked since Oakley was at his peak. With Schneiderlin's class performances we are progressing upwards again. Brilliant!

True, I missed the Football League tag. Thanks for pointing it out. It also says "subject to any outstanding balances owed to other clubs" so PFC may yet have to get agreement from other clubs to waiver outstanding monies due. I wonder if any is due to us?