Sheff Utd 1-2 Saints - Match Thread

[lambtiss]

5 minutes ago, Southner said:

Anyone else have a tingly sausage? 

There's a cream for that

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Nathan Wood was outstanding today and Ross Stewart did exactly what we needed from him plus a couple of good finishes.

I think Jander looks a really class player and will only get better.

[SNSUN]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

We are 4 points off second.

Yep, but unless we rapidly improve I'm not sure we're top 2 material as it stands. Mind you I don't think there are 2 runaway teams this season so there's a chance.

[AlexLaw76]

That 1st half was dire though. Casually passing around in our defensive 3rd...

[Saint NL]

Really need to follow up that win with a result against Derby at the weekend.

 

Quarshie needs a kick up the arse. 

[lambtiss]

So, we need to wrap Ross Stewart in cotton wool and transfer Quarshie to Portsmouth

[trousers]

Pivotal moment of the game? How about McCarthy's excellent save in the second half to deny Sheffield Utd taking a 2 goal lead...?

[Saint Matty 76]

Ipswich and Leicester both failing to win tonight.

Don’t think the table will look anything like it did last time around points-wise judging by the starts.

[Saint_clark]

Just now, AlexLaw76 said:

That 1st half was dire though. Casually passing around in our defensive 3rd...

That's simply not true. We had 8 attempts on goal in the stats they flashed up after they scored. 

[Osvaldorama]

I just don’t understand how we can drop down a league and look so agonisingly bad. 
 

Maybe I’m just being overly negative after months and months and months of shite. But I thought we were absolutely abysmal tonight. 
 

General play, passing, set pieces all awful. Well done to Stewart for a couple of good finishes. 

[Wade Garrett]

2 minutes ago, Saint_clark said:

Good experience for Robinson though, that. I thought he did well without really having a massive impact. 

Thought he did fuck all.  Did nothing to help defend that side either.

[Dr Who?]

Huge win that. A very small amount of me is looking forward to Saturday now. 

[Wiggles31]

Just now, SNSUN said:

Yep, but unless we rapidly improve I'm not sure we're top 2 material as it stands. Mind you I don't think there are 2 runaway teams this season so there's a chance.

It’s all about momentum from us. If we can get a win at Derby then suddenly the whole vibe of the club changes. No one in this league is going to run away with it. 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, trousers said:

Pivotal moment of the game? How about McCarthy's excellent save in the second half to deny Sheffield Utd taking a 2 goal lead...?

Fair point. As good as a goal for us, almost

[miserableoldgit]

Definitely a foul on McArthy. Player actually holding him.

[for_heaven's_Saint]

Just now, trousers said:

Pivotal moment of the game? How about McCarthy's excellent save in the second half to deny Sheffield Utd taking a 2 goal lead...?

Yep, outstanding save and made another good one later too.

[trousers]

Looking up...

 

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, Saint_clark said:

That's simply not true. We had 8 attempts on goal in the stats they flashed up after they scored. 

What most saw was a pretty crap first half. That is probably why he made 2 subs at HT and change it up on the pitch in other ways

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

4 minutes ago, benjii said:

Thanks Ref and Ross!

VAR would have given our penalty 10 times out of ten. And you can't grab the goalie on a corner. 

So pleased for Ross Stewart. We're getting there

 

[Chez]

I thought we look pretty good in the middle period, moving the ball with purpose, although the two chances they had were good ones and a little worrying from a long term view. Once in front we went a little too defensive, but by and large it was all in front of us. 

Stewart has looked lively in most of his sub appearances, so glad he's got his goals and perhaps he can go on from here and be that striker we have hoped he could be.

Very happy. Four points off promotion place. 

[sandwichsaint]

No way Baz saves that worked free kick.

[Saint NL]

Lots of draws elsewhere which helps us move up the table

[whelk]

3 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Charles good, Jander good, Stewart 2 good goals

Thought fellows was very good, so wonder why he went off

Wood leaves it all on the pitch, that is for sure....aggressive CB

I reckon was always Still’s plan to start unchanged and hook Azaz and Fellows early on after two games so close

[obelisk]

Gaining in Middlesbrough. League very tight at the moment. It'd be handy to pick up 3 points at the weekend.

[miserableoldgit]

What a weird feeling! a win!

[beatlesaint]

Please please stay fit Ross 🙏

[Baird of the land]

Just now, Wade Garrett said:

Thought he did fuck all.  Did nothing to help defend that side either.

There was one moment where he did an excellent piece of defending and then dwelt on the ball and they robbed him on the edge of our area. Needs to learn to kick it.

[AlexLaw76]

Just now, whelk said:

I reckon was always Still’s plan to start unchanged and hook Azaz and Fellows early on after two games so close

Fair point. Both will probably start at the weekend. 

[Lighthouse]

Just now, Osvaldorama said:

But I thought we were absolutely abysmal tonight. 

Abysmal is going there and being 3-0 down after 25 minutes. That was a bitty game between two underperforming teams clearly lacking confidence and cohesion. There's no such thing as an 'abysmal, away league win', especially if you support a team like Saints. 

[tdmickey3]

Ross fuckin Stewart take a bow son…

More on Saturday please

[saintant]

The positives, 3 much needed points and 2 goals from Stewart the second of which was a belter. He is beginning to look the part as our centre forward. Edwards had a good game other than letting the ball glance of his foot for the corner from which Utd scored the disallowed effort - rightly so because their guy backed forcefully into McCarthy. We still look very disjointed and slow in our build up with possession given away far too cheaply. Too much passing between defenders. We don't manage the game at all well when we get ahead - a collective panic sets in and we just lump the ball aimlessly away from our goal then back peddle as it inevitably comes back. Lots to work on and clearly we're not going to be a promotion contender unless things improve by a massive amount. Celebrate the hard fought win but we remain poor all over the pitch.

[JohnS]

Blimey - what a nervy ending!

Great 3points against a team who’ll be up there & will soon be very hard to beat.  Feels like it’s all slowly going in the right direction now 🤞

Love Stills honesty, say it how it is! & his courage to make some tough decisions - been waiting a very long time to see Stephens out of this side & THB deserves dropping - although I’m very worried with Quarshie - terrible today!

Stewart, Fellows, McCarthy, Wood, stars for today 

Disappointed with Manning, Quarshie, AA tonight - the rest were just ok

Never sure about Charles - he’s hard to work out for me whether he’s doing enough 

Think Stewart could be immense for us with plenty more game time & staying fit 

[sambosa75]

Made bloody hard work of that.  Sheff Utd clearly as bereft of confidence as a side as we are.  Really hope the squad uses this as a springboard but there can be no doubting we had more than our fair share of luck to pull that win out the bag.  Great to see Stewart with a couple of goals.  He surely has to be the focal point of the attack in the middle with others playing off him.  Out of what we have at the moment anyway.

[Saint_clark]

3 minutes ago, Wade Garrett said:

Thought he did fuck all.  Did nothing to help defend that side either.

Good job he's an 18 year old lad who only has a handful of senior appearances to his name then, isn't it. He'll learn a lot from that experience. He still controlled the ball well, won a few freekicks and despite what you say he did get stuck in defensively.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

We made heavy weather in getting over the line, but the 3vpoints should be a confidence booster.

AA worked hard second half, getting a couple of headers. But it turned around Stewart, with 2 excellent center forward finishes. He was also leading the line in getting others up to support him.

We took off some creativity. There wasn't lots on show generally, but it made Stewart isolated. Utd changed their shape and we brought on Archer who barely got a touch.

The result was a last 15 minutes of Utd having the possession. Edwards gave away a corner, and it was in the net although chalked off for a foul on McCarthy. We then gave away a dangerous free kick.

Still was trying to keep in compact, but we surrendered any forward outlet in that 15 minutes. Hopefully, he'll learn from that.

Utd are better than their position. So good tests for Wood. Stewart, Jander who all stood out. McCarthy looks a more imposing figure in goal too.

While others are going to get minutes, we could be seeing this side begin to settle.

[Southner]

5 minutes ago, lambtiss said:

There's a cream for that

I prefer onion gravy. 

[Baird of the land]

3 minutes ago, miserableoldgit said:

Definitely a foul on McArthy. Player actually holding him.

Agree but shouldn't Saints have had someone on Cannon.

[saintant]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

Pivotal moment of the game? How about McCarthy's excellent save in the second half to deny Sheffield Utd taking a 2 goal lead...?

Agree but we were sleeping at the free kick which is unforgivable.

[Doctoroncall]

7 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Five consecutive league wins against them now. Last time they took points off us was February 2009.

Five consecutive home defeats for them since way before 1959!

[Chez]

2 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

I just don’t understand how we can drop down a league and look so agonisingly bad. 
 

I can. We were fucking horrific last season with a host of players nowhere near good enough for that level. The ones that were have left. OK, we have spent some money, but turning that sinking ship around was  never going to be easy. Give it time.

[Saint NL]

Much improved from Stewart tonight. I'd still like to see him do more though, there was a corner in the second half and he wasn't in the box for it. He should be the main man. 

[RedWillie]

Went ahead and hung on badly. No idea or clue on how to see out a game. That's on the coaches. A win yes but God we were shit.

[The Wyvern]

Great to get the win. Pleased for Stewart and Still.  Think our performance was still a fair way off where it needs to be but a step in the right direction. 

[hypochondriac]

8 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Yep, but unless we rapidly improve I'm not sure we're top 2 material as it stands. Mind you I don't think there are 2 runaway teams this season so there's a chance.

I agree. Just making the point.

[Baird of the land]

Just now, Saint NL said:

Much improved from Stewart tonight. I'd still like to see him do more though, there was a corner in the second half and he wasn't in the box for it. He should be the main man. 

Too be fair Saints surprise idea of having adam armstrong do all the headers and Stewart the follow up finishers worked tonight. 

[Hawkswood]

Wood is a proper no nonsense championship defender isn't he. Exactly what we need and will be vital for us. Easily MoM tonight. I think that was always going to be a tough game and we did well to hold on. Other than going sideways a lot I dont think we were that bad in the first half.

Anyway, it gets us on our way hopefully.  I would also like to know why Fellows was hooked at HT. That was weird.

 

[Saint_lambden]

Not pretty at all and rode our luck but who cares. Time to kick on.

[Turkish]

8 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

That 1st half was dire though. Casually passing around in our defensive 3rd...

First half hour was shite we were better once they score, 2 good chance plus the penalty. 
 

Bright spots Fellowa excellent, can only be injury why he was taken off. Wood good, Jander looks quality and hopefully Stewarts goals give him confidence to kick on now

Only 3 points off play offs!

[RedArmy]

1 minute ago, Hawkswood said:

Wood is a proper no nonsense championship defender isn't he. Exactly what we need and will be vital for us. Easily MoM tonight. I think that was always going to be a tough game and we did well to hold on. Other than going sideways a lot I dont think we were that bad in the first half.

Anyway, it gets us on our way hopefully.  I would also like to know why Fellows was hooked at HT. That was weird.

 

He is everything you want in a CB at this level. Has to be first choice every week. 

[chiknsmack]

9 minutes ago, AlexLaw76 said:

Thought fellows was very good, so wonder why he went off

He was good, but in the wrong area of the pitch. He needed to get further up the pitch so the side as a whole could play further up; him playing so deep is part of the reason there was so much "Russball" in the first half. If Fellows pushes right up and pins the fullback back, there's room for Azaz or Jander to drift out and pick up the ball where Fellows was and then look to play forward.