Fulham v.s Saints; Match Thread Here:

The good news is that we are winning and i really don't want us to go out of the FA cup in the 3rd round.

The bad is that we are playing terribly. Boufal has been the one bright spark, terrorising them. Our goal came from a very fortunte deflection frtom their player but it was a nice finish by JWP

I'm very much a Davis fan but today he is having a horrible game, his touch in particular which is usually so good is deserting him.

Hopefully we can escape out with a win or a draw & board will get rid of pellegrino because it is clear that's not good enough.

Davis past it

Hope we don't sit back on this 1-0 now as we will concede. Doubt MP has learnt his lesson as he never seems to

A few things - we look slightly better on the ball today than against Palace, Shane Long clearly looks much sharper than in previous weeks and was unlucky to have a goal disallowed. Our best player is either JWP/Boufal (after flourishing after a shaky start) - Romeu looks better today. Bertrand seems less miserable than usual.

Davis having a mare.

Negatives: Still slow to react to clear danger/balls in the box/curved runs - Stephens looks a bit off-the-pace and lacks concentration today.

Still, we are playing a strong side against Fulham who are fairly poor - as they only have one way of playing (keep ball and trying little one-twos and through balls) - this game is crying out for us to stick on Gabb instead of Davis and press them high up the pitch to get a second goal.

Brighton/Watford etc will be a completely different proposition - still at least we're winning *****il the traditional second half drop deep and fade away... inevitable Pellegrino tactic happens)

Not convinced Long was offside. Looks level with the back foot of the defender to me. Definite penalty as well.

Please can we flog Steven Davis he slows us down so much, looks very one-paced.

... and creates our goal (Adam & Dave waxing lyrical about his contribution to the goal).

Davis' first touch has been awful all game, what's wrong with him? Usually his technique and control is the strongest aspect of his game.

 

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Ask how many times he’s played a game and you’ll find an answer. For me this is a clear indication of what happens when a consistent team is not put out....players are not ‘match fit’ and not in tune with each other’s game. JWP on the hand has looked better because he’s had the game starts.

1-0, but not convincing so far.

A couple of lazy players, still too many mistakes in possession.

Plus points:

Boufal

Hoj (mostly)

Long's confidence seems to be up - ooh just saw his 'goal': he was never offside

JWP seems to be doing ok

Romeu is working hard

0 goals conceded, despite scratchy defence

0-1 at the half.

Palace at SMS is the only game this season that we have lost after scoring first, so let us hope this doesn't become the second.

... and creates our goal (Adam & Dave waxing lyrical about his contribution to the goal).

Davis was involved in the buildup to the goal, he played in Boufal who flicked it to Long just inside the box. There’s a scramble between Long and the defenders and the ball lands quite fortunately for JWP off one of the defenders.

The air of negativity around Saints really depresses me. I don't think we're playing badly. Our one-touch passing out of defense is as good as it gets, and there are countless occasions where we've been unlucky in final third. Could easily be 3-0 to us at halftime. Shane Long was level for what was a brilliant strike. And the penalty should have been given.

Yes, Davis has mis-passed a few times, but has also won back the ball many times and put in a couple of magical touches. But when everyone's down on the time, all that gets ignored. Boufal, JWP, Romeu, Long all impressive this half. I'm holding for scenario of great cup run plus premier league turn around. A great striker signed this window would help, but I'll be supporting the team regardless.

BBC saying we're playing really well and looking very comfortable??

So far so good. Fulham have looked dangerous at times, our defence shaky. We ought to have had a penalty. A good shot into the goal from Long when he was a fraction offside. Boufal is a handful.

Hmm Stoke are losing to Coventry...Bournemouth two down against Wigan.

I wonder if Hughes will survive a loss.

Time for the fabled MP 1-0 half-time team talk and sitting back on the edge of our area for the entirety of the second half.

Good away support today.

BBC saying we're playing really well and looking very comfortable??

I’m not sure I agree with the Beeb’s assessment. We started off looking pretty turgid. The goal added some confidence and momentum. Defending of the high cross in the penalty area is a bit of a worry.

BBC saying we're playing really well and looking very comfortable??

Because we are...

Think we're doing OK. Could have wrapped this game up by now if we'd been given the penalty and Long had been half an inch further back. Mccarthy has had nothing to do. I'm going for a 3-0 win.

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People are very quick to be negative at the moment. Yes we’ve a couple of shaky moments at the back but it’s a makeshift back line.

Granted we don’t look brilliant but we were clearly the better side in that half. JWP and Boufal playing well.

The air of negativity around Saints really depresses me. I don't think we're playing badly. Our one-touch passing out of defense is as good as it gets, and there are countless occasions where we've been unlucky in final third. Could easily be 3-0 to us at halftime. Shane Long was level for what was a brilliant strike. And the penalty should have been given.

 

Yes, Davis has mis-passed a few times, but has also won back the ball many times and put in a couple of magical touches. But when everyone's down on the time, all that gets ignored. Boufal, JWP, Romeu, Long all impressive this half. I'm holding for scenario of great cup run plus premier league turn around. A great striker signed this window would help, but I'll be supporting the team regardless.

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We were doing OK, scored and then played pretty well for the rest of the half.

We were doing OK, scored and then played pretty well for the rest of the half.

The goal made all the difference. We looked comfortable and confident after that.

The air of negativity around Saints really depresses me. I don't think we're playing badly.

Ditto. I'm not depressed about the Saints, I'm extremely depressed about the fans though. Been staying off here as much as possible, but trying to keep in mind that everything the internet touches turns to sh*t so i guess every team's message boards are just as lame.

But yes good points and thank you for continuing to make them. Would be nice to see people backing the club, but we've got too many geniuses up in here, and not enough supporters.

Long plays Hoj in beautifully in a 1-2 but the keeper saves a close effort.

Bednarek has looked decent to me in an unfamiliar position.

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God, this co-commentator is annoying.

We're negative because we want things to go well, so criticise and offer different ideas when things don't go well, in an attempt to work out how we could/would fix it.

When they don't go well lots of times, or over a period of time, the negativity naturally builds up.

That's happened recently.

We still enjoy it when we win (Everton, anyone?).

Ok, back to the game today...

Ooh Hoj was unlucky there! Great move. Good save.

The Fulham defenders don’t know what to do with Boufal. Paul Parker, the commentator on my feed, is clearly not his biggest fan though.

Should've scored

Take Davis off for Sims, every time Davis gets the ball the attack breaks down.

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Davis might as well not be there - put Boufal central and let Sims have a run down the wing.

WE ARE GOING UP SAY WE ARE GOING UP.

It’s the hour mark and Fulham are knocking on the door. Strangely familiar.

Fans sounding awesome!

I’d love to see Sims on.

Fans sounding awesome!

They’ve been in good voice for most of the game.

They’ve been in good voice for most of the game.

Probably helps that we are actually playing to our standard

Fans sounding awesome!

Unreal support considering how bad we are. Won’t stopped the keyboard warriors who don’t go to games telling us how crap our fans are.

Dreadful shot - sliced well wide.

We're making chances, but not pressing high up, so we have to build from too deep.

Started passing all the way back to the keeper. Fulham are going to equalise at least.

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The ball skims dangerously through the 6 yard box but no Fulham player can get on the end of it.

What a miss. Bullet dodged there.

Does he know he can make subs before they score , they have made 2 positive ones now and are pulling us all over the place !?

So Fulham have made tactical changes. Will our manager react or do nothing?

Fulham make a change and tactical switch. How will MoPe react?

Boufal just needs to bloody shoot.

Groundhog day!

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Does he know he can make subs before they score , they have made 2 positive ones now and are pulling us all over the place !?

The bloke will NEVER learn.

Boufal has an issue with becoming selfish once we're winning instead of helping someone else finish the game off. He is much more willing to pass at 0-0 than any other score.

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Free kick in a dangerous area for Saints.