Where's the just back from game thread

[ladysaint]

or am the only one home, you lot still out celebrating a great win today. In all honesty didnt think we would get anything out of this game today but the lads did well. Cracking atmosphere at the end of the game and Brighton fans I spoke to took it well. Thought Lallana was excellent when he came on what a talent. Also good to see both Jason Dodd and David Hughes a couple of rows behind me celebrating with the rest of us.

Edited 23 April, 2011 by ladysaint

[RedAndWhite91]

Just home, what a fantastic day, and a great result.

[Tractor_Saint]

Where are the scores on the doors though? Agree with the OP - we're missing those who were at the game. Put yer pints down and start posting!

[Roger]

Marks?

[oldsarum]

A brief report of today's game,

following my celebratory Curry on my return to Salisbury

 

First half Saints dominated without really looking like scoring, then Jaidi

mucked things up at back just before half time and under hit back pass to

Kelvin which Barnes slotted away 1-0 Brighton

 

Second half again Saints dominated, I don't think Brighton had a corner in the

whole game, but despite Lallana being introduced for Forte at Half Time

we failed to make the best of out possession, Guly hit a shot straight at keeper

with the goal at his mercy, Lambert hit post with header and then blasted wide

when set up well by Chaplow

 

It looked like being another one of those days.

 

On 80 mins Brighton who had used a lot of gamesmanship and time wasting

throughout the game as they did at St Mary's decided to withdraw the ball

boys in an attempt to slow the game

 

However once again the introduction of Connelly turned things in our favour.

After hitting one shot just wide he then in an attack soon after on 83mins he

swivelled on an old sixpence and hit ball into corner of net and then ran to

celebrate with Saints fans behind the goal.

 

Even better things for Saints on 89 mins when Kelvin's free kick was headed in

by Fonte to beat the keeper, in a simlar manner to Rochadle's first goala against us the other week, he then

ran right across running track minus shirt to join Saints fans in their

celebrations.

 

The referee then added 6 or 7 mins injury time most due to Brighton's time

wasting however Saints held on, assisted by the absence of the ball boys, to

gain a great and really vital victory

 

NB seems strange that like the MK Dons home game the side that has time wasted

has benefited from extra time, still who cares we keep winning and now 3

wins from 4 will be enough and if Huddersfield slip up at Brighton next week

even two wins might be enough

[hamster]

I'm just back. Long day; set off early and headed for the beach, had lunch with a live band who's bassist was a saint. Was quantity and the beach was absolute heaving. Dropped the wheelchair bids at the stadium planning to head back titian to keep

An eye on mrs b's spending but the stewards had the bus boxed in.

 

Managed to somehow sweet talk them into letting me in although they didn't think my saints shirt was that of a coach driver so I made a quick dress change into a spare shirt and bribed the lad at the gate with a bottle of cold Coke and I was in n

 

Very nervy first half but as sommany times this season still felt confident being 1-0 down.

 

Saints fans really upped it a gear and I genuinely think that we were the twelth man today. Fonte's celebration confirmed that.

 

Saw Doddsy too so you must have been just to my right, I was stood in the wheel hair section to the left.

 

Headed back into town for ice cream and pick up mrs h then my secret shortcut back to the A27, ahead of the official travel club.

 

Still really buzzing, can't wait til

Monday.

[Deppo]

I'm just back. Long day; set off early and headed for the beach, had lunch with a live band who's bassist was a saint. Was quantity and the beach was absolute heaving.

 

When it comes to lunch, hamster always prefers quantity over quality.

[shurlock]

Got back - thought we were utterly comfortable - one of the only saves KD had to make was from a deflected shot.

 

AL was class but think Gobern did very well given the circumstances - would have been tempting for NA to go with Stephens; but he made us much tighter in the middle and gave Chaplow alot more freedom. Was his best game in a long time. I think 3 CMs -something we tried at Walsall before Schneiderlin got pulled off- has real potential.

 

Thought that NA's substitutions were perfectly timed - didn't wait to take Forte off and gave DC a proper run-out. If I remember we got two at the death against them last season and our subs -Papa and Barney were involved in the goals; but then Pards had been much slower in ringing the changes. NA is much more versatile.

 

Dickson was very good and linked up well with AL; sense that Butterfield is becoming a bit of target/boo-boy - in part because he allegedly doesnt get forward and attack the space enough. Think that's a tad harsh, especially away from home against the champions.

 

As far as hoofball is concerned, we actually played it along the deck alot- Kelvin took every chance to pass or roll it out - if anything he was doing it too much. It was only towards the end that we went more direct - and Lambert is not as good in the air as people assume from his stocky, scouse frame. As far as Brighton is concerned, I saw nothing of their flowing, passing football. They play alot of sideways football and have only the quick if predictable cross-field ball in their armour. Their midfield is not good enough.

 

Horrible ground - was in row G which I assumed was near bottom but was closer to the top. Couldn't see past the halfway - did realise that Guly was so close to goal when he had his shot cleared off the line. As a result, its also a horrible place an atmosphere. Throw in all the tactics BHA use to slow or break up play and I can understand how hard it is for away teams to get going - hence BHA's uncanny ability to win by the single goal. Glad that Ankergren got it - is a class A ****. Nice to see him roast in the sun and finally break a sweat chasing the ball after they went 2-1 down and having done so much all match to run down what would have been valuable time for them.

Edited 23 April, 2011 by shurlock

[georgeismyname]

Great day out, especially nice to win after all the gloating about being champions. eg. '...and lining up for the Champions today, in goal CHAMPION Casper Ankergren.... etc' and all their ridiculous gloating songs and 'Mind the gap' warnings on the tannoy. Not to mention their ridiculous hatred for Nige.

Anyway:

Kelvin Davis - 7 - Made the saves he had to but kept playing some dodgy short passes.

Ryan Dickson - 8 - Got forward well and put some decent balls in. Solid defensively.

Jose Fonte - 9 - Solid as usual in defence and what a header and celebration!!

Radhi Jaidi - 6 - Big mistake for their goal, looked a bit shaky for a while after that.

Danny Butterfield - 7 - Put in some good crosses, notably for our first goal.

Oscar Gobern - 7 - Did what he did pretty well. Seemed scared to shoot on occasions early in the second half.

Richard Chaplow - 8 - Hard-working, effective performance.

Dean Hammond - 7 - His usual tough-tackling, hard-working self.

Guly - 6 - Unpredictable as usual.

Jonathan Forte - 6 - Didn't seem to get much of the ball.

Rickie Lambert - 7 - Won his fair share of headers, including the knock-down for our first goal.

 

Adam Lallana - 8 - Creative as usual.

David Connolly - 8 - Crucial goal, great finish.

[hamster]

When it comes to lunch, hamster always prefers quantity over quality.

 

I shared a seafood platter with mrs h, quantity was most important.

[sadoldgit]

A brief report of today's game,

following my celebratory Curry on my return to Salisbury

 

First half Saints dominated without really looking like scoring, then Jaidi

mucked things up at back just before half time and under hit back pass to

Kelvin which Barnes slotted away 1-0 Brighton

 

Second half again Saints dominated, I don't think Brighton had a corner in the

whole game, but despite Lallana being introduced for Forte at Half Time

we failed to make the best of out possession, Guly hit a shot straight at keeper

with the goal at his mercy, Lambert hit post with header and then blasted wide

when set up well by Chaplow

 

It looked like being another one of those days.

 

On 80 mins Brighton who had used a lot of gamesmanship and time wasting

throughout the game as they did at St Mary's decided to withdraw the ball

boys in an attempt to slow the game

 

However once again the introduction of Connelly turned things in our favour.

After hitting one shot just wide he then in an attack soon after on 83mins he

swivelled on an old sixpence and hit ball into corner of net and then ran to

celebrate with Saints fans behind the goal.

 

Even better things for Saints on 89 mins when Kelvin's free kick was headed in

by Fonte to beat the keeper, in a simlar manner to Rochadle's first goala against us the other week, he then

ran right across running track minus shirt to join Saints fans in their

celebrations.

 

The referee then added 6 or 7 mins injury time most due to Brighton's time

wasting however Saints held on, assisted by the absence of the ball boys, to

gain a great and really vital victory

 

NB seems strange that like the MK Dons home game the side that has time wasted

has benefited from extra time, still who cares we keep winning and now 3

wins from 4 will be enough and if Huddersfield slip up at Brighton next week

even two wins might be enough

 

THis business about the ball boys really hacks me off. Have them or don't have them but don't mess about during the game. Its about time there was a ruling as it affects the game so much. They don't change the offside rule during the game or the size of the ball - so why allow people to include or withdraw ball boys???

[hamster]

I think that ref was the best we have had yet

 

If they had been the better team on the day then fair play but they did not live up to their own hype. In fact they epitomised irony for me.

 

Going back to the ref, he really did have the measure of them, their ballboy tactics and in particular their keeper who was basically trying to control events. Poyet thinks that he can control the pace of a game even when the balls out of play, doesnt always work out though does it. Goalies do in general need the refs protection but there is a line and it was crossed yesterday. We played them like a fiddle.

 

KARMA

[DrZuess1979 the 2nd]

I think that ref was the best we have had yet

 

If they had been the better team on the day then fair play but they did not live up to their own hype. In fact they epitomised irony for me.

 

Going back to the ref, he really did have the measure of them, their ballboy tactics and in particular their keeper who was basically trying to control events. Poyet thinks that he can control the pace of a game even when the balls out of play, doesnt always work out though does it. Goalies do in general need the refs protection but there is a line and it was crossed yesterday. We played them like a fiddle.

 

KARMA

 

He was the same ref that did the JPT and he was exellent then.

 

One of VERY few in this league

[Appy]

I think that ref was the best we have had yet

 

If they had been the better team on the day then fair play but they did not live up to their own hype. In fact they epitomised irony for me.

 

Going back to the ref, he really did have the measure of them, their ballboy tactics and in particular their keeper who was basically trying to control events. Poyet thinks that he can control the pace of a game even when the balls out of play, doesnt always work out though does it. Goalies do in general need the refs protection but there is a line and it was crossed yesterday. We played them like a fiddle.

 

KARMA

 

He does seem to like us that ref, was the ref at Wembley last year.

 

What a fantastic day, was brilliant to be one of the lucky 856 that got a ticket.

 

The best we have played in ages, the game plan worked a treat, for us not to get at least a point would be a joke, but we deserved all 3.

[hamster]

It was the Saints 857

In all honesty I would have been happy to wander around Brighton with my earpiece. But fortune shone and I basically had the choice of sitting in a greenhouse minibus or using my wit and charm.

 

I would also say that for once the disabled fans had the best view of the game, considering. Right by the crooked players and their WAG's. Enabled seating was a mixture of armchairs, stools and crappy plastic garden furniture but most of us stood all game (those that could lol).

 

Only one toilet though (v bad). After the game I had to wait for an age for my group to empty theirbladders somwndered around to the changing rooms. As I turned the corner I saw Nicola and his bodyguards enter, he had the look of a little boy on Easter morning. I though I'd hang around for him to come out and maybe take the opportunity to badger him about the St Marys Real Ale issue but ten minutes passed and he was still in there so I sauntered off.