Coventry 1-2 Saints - Match Thread

[Patches O Houlihan]

3 hours ago, Colinjb said:

Struggling to remember any occasion previously when we have accused of using the 'Dark Arts' well!

At Palace: "He's got Zaha in his pocket!" 🎶  😁 

[warsash saint]

What a funny bunch the Cov fans were (except the old local fan that let me park of his drive) - never heard a bunch boo for 90 mins like they did 🤣

[saintwbu]

For all their crying about time wasting, we seem to be the only team to have actually been punished for doing it all season. Players being made to go off at the nearest point (never happens in our games when opposition do it), Peretz booked for time wasting at the first opportunity, ref adding 7 minutes on and then nearly 2 extras. So not like we got away with anything, and guarantee next time we’re on the receiving end the above rules won’t be enforced. 

[CylonKing]

Just watched the extended highlights, how was a penalty given for Shea Charles running to get the ball, not tackling anyone, yet adjudged to be fouling? Looked completely accidental to me with my drunken eyes.

[Crab Lungs]

11 hours ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Me? 

He's an ok keeper hut someway short of fantastic. We got lucky today or maybe it was a reward for his positioning.

Comparisons with Baz are beyond childish since a) he's injured b) on loan somewhere else and c) unlikely to be seen playing for us again. 

If by some miracle we do get promoted we're going to need a lot better but for now he'll do.

In what way are comparisons ‘childish‘ - please do explain that.

The fact you’re downplaying the influence of having a proper goalkeeper like Peretz in goal is a bit head mental. 

I would post the Peretz stats but you’ll likely rubbish those two but just like Bazunu, the eye test and statistics don’t lie.

We must have gone from the world’s unluckiest goalkeeper to the worlds luckiest. 

Bazunu was one of the worst goalkeepers many of us have ever seen. He's also statistically been one of the worst, if not the worst against his peers more often than not season on season. 

There’s a reason for that:

He’s not very good.

[Sheaf Saint]

4 hours ago, CylonKing said:

Just watched the extended highlights, how was a penalty given for Shea Charles running to get the ball, not tackling anyone, yet adjudged to be fouling? Looked completely accidental to me with my drunken eyes.

I'll never understand how accidentally making contact with someone who is running AWAY from goal warrants a penalty.

Yes, yes... I know that's what the laws of the game say, but it's stupid IMO. Pens should be awarded only for a clear DOGSO situations, and all other infractions inside the box (like yesterday) should result in an indirect FK.

[LiberalCommunist]

Seeing how angry this result made frank was nearly better than the three points. Nearly. 

[lambtiss]

11 hours ago, Jonnyboy said:

Bazunu made a great save in that match

No wonder it stands out in your memory 😉 

[oldsarum]

17 hours ago, sfc4prem said:

 

17 hours ago, macca155 said:

I've wanted three in midfield all season, and at last we have it. Saints look so much more balanced set up like this.

However up front it's all a bit tame . Need Edozie on soon. Oyekunle could be an interesting sub, he's full of energy and scoring for fun atm. 

Not sure how it came over on TV, but from my view in the ground, we played a 4 1 4 1 formation in the first half, with Bragg sat in front of back four and Azaz and Matzuki wide, Larin on his own up front, with Downes and and Jander always available for lay offs from Larin

[lambtiss]

Shout out to Bragg. I thought he played the holding CM role to perfection, allowing Downs and Jander to flourish. 

He should have a great career at Saints and I can see him as a future captain. 

Having Romeu to learn from will help him develop more rapidly.

[Patches O Houlihan]

1 hour ago, lambtiss said:

Shout out to Bragg. I thought he played the holding CM role to perfection, allowing Downs and Jander to flourish. 

He should have a great career at Saints and I can see him as a future captain. 

Having Romeu to learn from will help him develop more rapidly.

The club posted pictures of a public dinner event recently (forget what it was). I was very pleased to see that Bragg was sat next to Romeu and the pictures suggested good rapport. When you look at our team, although we have added some experience to it recently, we still have a lot of young guys with plenty of growth potential if we can just start to hold on to our players for a little longer before selling/getting poached.

[Football Special]

1 hour ago, lambtiss said:

Shout out to Bragg. I thought he played the holding CM role to perfection, allowing Downs and Jander to flourish. 

He should have a great career at Saints and I can see him as a future captain. 

Having Romeu to learn from will help him develop more rapidly.

Local lad as well isn't he despite representing Scotland? I was in Itchen Centre vs Walsall in FA Cup when he came on for what I think was his debut and had loads of his family members / friends jumping up and cheering, very nice to see. 

Edited 9 hours ago by Football Special

[Whitey Grandad]

2 hours ago, Crab Lungs said:

In what way are comparisons ‘childish‘ - please do explain that.

The fact you’re downplaying the influence of having a proper goalkeeper like Peretz in goal is a bit head mental. 

I would post the Peretz stats but you’ll likely rubbish those two but just like Bazunu, the eye test and statistics don’t lie.

We must have gone from the world’s unluckiest goalkeeper to the worlds luckiest. 

Bazunu was one of the worst goalkeepers many of us have ever seen. He's also statistically been one of the worst, if not the worst against his peers more often than not season on season. 

There’s a reason for that:

He’s not very good.

I don't need to explain why they're childish. You're doing that for me.

[Whitey Grandad]

6 hours ago, CylonKing said:

Just watched the extended highlights, how was a penalty given for Shea Charles running to get the ball, not tackling anyone, yet adjudged to be fouling? Looked completely accidental to me with my drunken eyes.

Charles trod on Torp's right foot. Accidental or not it's still a foul. Maybe in future he won't get so tight on a played who's running away from goal.

[Sheaf Saint]

6 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Charles trod on Torp's right foot. Accidental or not it's still a foul. Maybe in future he won't get so tight on a played who's running away from goal.

Looked to me like they just tried to step into the same space at the same time, and because Torp's foot landed a split second before Shea's there was no way he could have pulled out of it.

Should never be worth a penalty IMO, because it's too great a reward for the situation, but there we go.

[Stripey McStripe Shirt]

2 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I'll never understand how accidentally making contact with someone who is running AWAY from goal warrants a penalty.

Yes, yes... I know that's what the laws of the game say, but it's stupid IMO. Pens should be awarded only for a clear DOGSO situations, and all other infractions inside the box (like yesterday) should result in an indirect FK.

Ha. 

Could you imagine how long it'd take VAR to make decisions for that (in the Prem, obviously).

[Football Special]

26 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Charles trod on Torp's right foot. Accidental or not it's still a foul. Maybe in future he won't get so tight on a played who's running away from goal.

It was incredibly soft,  you see players coming together like that all over the pitch as paths cross , it didn't look like any intent to trip him 

[benjii]

On 12/03/2026 at 13:40, benjii said:

Best inadvertent match thread ever.

 

How about:

Usual GK and back 4

 -------Downes------

---Charles---Jander--

Fellows-----------Edozie

----------Larin--------

Get a really solid platform out of possession but allowing Charles and Jander to get into the box and feed off crosses into Larin.

Azaz in reserve if we need more in the middle.

I see Tonda paid attention to my tactical suggestion. Different players, same tactics.

#askBenjii

[saintant]

2 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I'll never understand how accidentally making contact with someone who is running AWAY from goal warrants a penalty.

Yes, yes... I know that's what the laws of the game say, but it's stupid IMO. Pens should be awarded only for a clear DOGSO situations, and all other infractions inside the box (like yesterday) should result in an indirect FK.

I agree with what you're saying but Charles should have been much more switched on and made certain he didn't give the referee a decision to make. He was naive and has now been directly responsible for the last 2 goals we've conceded because he should have put the ball out for a throw-in against West Brom but gave away a cheap corner. Maybe Tonda needs to have a quiet word with him.

[Chez]

2 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I'll never understand how accidentally making contact with someone who is running AWAY from goal warrants a penalty.

Yes, yes... I know that's what the laws of the game say, but it's stupid IMO. Pens should be awarded only for a clear DOGSO situations, and all other infractions inside the box (like yesterday) should result in an indirect FK.

i agree, but reffing a game is pretty tough already, and it's not easy to determine whether there was intent or not. when players have a high foot and connect with a player on their blindside it often looks accidental, but they know what they are doing half the time. 

[Lighthouse]

2 hours ago, Sheaf Saint said:

I'll never understand how accidentally making contact with someone who is running AWAY from goal warrants a penalty.

Yes, yes... I know that's what the laws of the game say, but it's stupid IMO. Pens should be awarded only for a clear DOGSO situations, and all other infractions inside the box (like yesterday) should result in an indirect FK.

Way too open to interpretation, that’d cause a hundred times more issues than it’d solve. Charles was clumsy, it was a foul in the penalty area. Stonewall penalty as it should be IMO.

[Lord Duckhunter]

You gotta laugh. Every time we lose, there’s complaints about the opposition, or referee or some other conspiracy against us. Yet as soon as other supporters do exactly the same, they’re “entitled twats” 😂. Just imagine those 2 challenges being on Azaz & Leo in the Wrexham game, the nods would be going nuts. 
 

On the whole Coventry are a decent bunch, one eyed like 99% of supporters, but they deserve this success more than most in this league. 
 

As for the incidents THB was embarrassing, I thought  Downes was trying to protect the ball, so give him the benefit of the doubt. The other one I’m not so sure, from memory, Matsuki does have a history of clumsy challenges. Their one, again probably give the bloke benefit of the doubt. Penalty, defo, Charles needs to look at himself a bit there. Needed to be careful and focused in that moment, bit too causal for me. East one to give at 2-0, might have thought twice if 1-0….

[Oldandtired]

1 hour ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Charles trod on Torp's right foot. Accidental or not it's still a foul. Maybe in future he won't get so tight on a played who's running away from goal.

So it's not a contact sport then, you know, in which players are going to come together perhaps in unintended ways. 

Edited 7 hours ago by Oldandtired

[Sheaf Saint]

36 minutes ago, Lighthouse said:

Way too open to interpretation, that’d cause a hundred times more issues than it’d solve. Charles was clumsy, it was a foul in the penalty area. Stonewall penalty as it should be IMO.

There are already plenty of laws that are open to interpretation. I think it's fairly easy to be able to say whether or not a player is in a position to get a shot away or not. If a foul prevents a shooting opportunity, intentional or not, then yeah give a penalty. But when a player is running away from goal to try and get to a loose ball, it's obvious they're not in a position to shoot.

Giving a team a free shot at goal because of an accidental coming together when there was zero chance of that player shooting is too great a reward IMO.

[BARCELONASAINT]

I have to hold my hands up because i honestly thought we would lose yesterday and lose badly. I just couldn't see where the spark would come from without Leo and Stewart.

Fair play firstly to Tonda who is fast becoming a very popular management choice. He obviously spends hours analysing the opposition and setting us up to get positive results. The 3 in midfield surprised me yesterday but boy did it work.

The whole team were well up for the game and it showed in their tackling. Yes there were a couple of dodgy tackles and had there been VAR we might have seen at least one red card BUT this is the Championship and every team gets away with these because of the lack of VAR (thank god)

I must admit i would have happily seen flynn sold in January because he was a shadow of the player we saw last time we were in the championship but boy oh boy for whatever reason he has been excellent recently and back to his best. I heard his post match interview and he said a few of the players had suffered from a hangover from last season but he was loving his football now. I think the same can be said for THB who since the turn of the year has also been excellent.

Larin is not a modern striker, i don't think his positioning is particularly good or his shooting....however he is a really good old fashioned CF. He's as strong as an ox, works tirelessly, holds the ball up well to bring others into the game and heads the ball very well. I have to say he's won me over and is already becoming a bit of a cult hero.

Its great to at this stage of the season be fighting for something and every game being life or death as a supporter......not to sure how much more my heart can take though!

[Badger]

57 minutes ago, Lord Duckhunter said:

On the whole Coventry are a decent bunch, one eyed like 99% of supporters, but they deserve this success more than most in this league. 
 

As for the incidents THB was embarrassing….

Coventry fans we spoke to before, and more importantly after, the game were a decent bunch. They accepted the defeat quite well and their observations were interesting. Comment from a couple of them was that our midfield was quite dynamic and overran them, Downes especially.

Personally I think a draw  would probably have been a fair result especially given their chances.

Not a fan of the ‘dark arts’ but we’ve been victims of it all too often - including I recall from them at St Mary’s in December- so nice to see someone else on the receiving end. 

Edited 6 hours ago by Badger

[Lighthouse]

1 hour ago, Sheaf Saint said:

There are already plenty of laws that are open to interpretation. I think it's fairly easy to be able to say whether or not a player is in a position to get a shot away or not. If a foul prevents a shooting opportunity, intentional or not, then yeah give a penalty. But when a player is running away from goal to try and get to a loose ball, it's obvious they're not in a position to shoot.

Giving a team a free shot at goal because of an accidental coming together when there was zero chance of that player shooting is too great a reward IMO.

You’ll get situations like players taking a step back at the far post to win a header getting fouled, or someone’s legs getting taken out doing a Cruyff turn or step over at the touch line. Or you’ll get certain situations where it’s better for the keeper to just blatantly rugby tackle an attacker because an indirect free kick is better than the current defensive situation.

It’s an unnecessary change to solve a problem that doesn’t really exist. A professional footballer like Shea Charles should be able to mark a man without stepping on his heels. The fact that they were going away from goal just makes it even more unnecessary on his part.

[saintant]

1 hour ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

I have to hold my hands up because i honestly thought we would lose yesterday and lose badly. I just couldn't see where the spark would come from without Leo and Stewart.

Fair play firstly to Tonda who is fast becoming a very popular management choice. He obviously spends hours analysing the opposition and setting us up to get positive results. The 3 in midfield surprised me yesterday but boy did it work.

The whole team were well up for the game and it showed in their tackling. Yes there were a couple of dodgy tackles and had there been VAR we might have seen at least one red card BUT this is the Championship and every team gets away with these because of the lack of VAR (thank god)

I must admit i would have happily seen flynn sold in January because he was a shadow of the player we saw last time we were in the championship but boy oh boy for whatever reason he has been excellent recently and back to his best. I heard his post match interview and he said a few of the players had suffered from a hangover from last season but he was loving his football now. I think the same can be said for THB who since the turn of the year has also been excellent.

Larin is not a modern striker, i don't think his positioning is particularly good or his shooting....however he is a really good old fashioned CF. He's as strong as an ox, works tirelessly, holds the ball up well to bring others into the game and heads the ball very well. I have to say he's won me over and is already becoming a bit of a cult hero.

Its great to at this stage of the season be fighting for something and every game being life or death as a supporter......not to sure how much more my heart can take though!

Agree and, along with others, I thought Downes probably needed to find a new club. Thank goodness he didn't because he is now playing as well as he ever has. Also heard Tonda say he's developing into a leader and did the talking yesterday during the pre-match huddle which is great to hear. We need Downes fit and playing every game of the run-in because he is crucial to the team.

[S-Clarke]

It was an excellent away performance, well deserved and in control for 90% of that game. We went with 3 CM's to crowd out their midfield, as they like to play through the lines - but we were all over them, blocking passing angles, space etc. They became very pedestrian and they were somewhat easy to defend against because of that. Their best player was their RB, who has always been a cut above this level - he caused us some problems on his overlaps, but we contained him fairly well I think.

The biggest takeaway is how comfortable the entire 11 look now, you can see triangles happening between players because they play together every week. We've got two CB's who have been allowed to form a proper partnership and it shows, but being backed up by a proper goalkeeper does make a huge difference.

I don't think Larin is the greatest finisher, but his strength and pace does give us a totally different dimension to how we attack and it has changed our threats. We have the option to hit it and get people around him/running off him, and we look more dangerous for it. I remember something Pardew said when we first signed Lambert, he wanted the Lallana's and such to get close to him so they could benefit from the strength/hold up and use their ability after he's done the 'tough' work. We've seriously missed a proper 9 for so long.

Peretz is quickly becoming a fan favourite. That save he made in the first half yesterday is a perfect illustration of the sort of goal Bazunu would have let in, and it would have been debated on here as a ''should he have done better?''. This is exactly the sort of moment we were all talking about when we wanted a keeper who can make 'match changing' contributions, that was exactly that. I love his personality and his character,  I think he's put life into the entire back line - they now have trust. I love his constant appreciation for good bits of defending etc. I did say he was a bit flappy at the start, but I think he's even improving in that aspect as he's been very commanding in recent weeks.

One final special mention to Downes who has turned his season around. He's got his head down and got his levels back to where he needed to be, but I repeat that a lot of it is down to familiarity and selection consistency - we were too chop and change early doors, loads of new players too...and it was all a bit disjointed. I think Still tried to overcomplicate it, but our approach now is pure simplicity. A capable GK, a consistent back 4, a strong target man and a solid midfield. That then allows us the foundation to have an Azaz, Leo, Matsuki, Edozie, Fellows etc doing what they're good at.

We've put ourselves in a great position and I still look back at that Leicester game as being really defining, it's given everyone so much belief and momentum - and momentum in football is hard to stop, especially at this level.

[Totton Saint]

I remember Sir Alf Ramsey causing a sensation when adopting 4-3-3 for the 1966 World Cup. It had never been heard of before. He said  hiss reason Was that we never had any proper wingers to select. Terry Paine was in the squad but never played.

[woksaintly]

38 minutes ago, Totton Saint said:

I remember Sir Alf Ramsey causing a sensation when adopting 4-3-3 for the 1966 World Cup. It had never been heard of before. He said  hiss reason Was that we never had any proper wingers to select. Terry Paine was in the squad but never played.

He did but only one game against France or was it Mexico

[mikec]

49 minutes ago, woksaintly said:

He did but only one game against France or was it Mexico

Yes he played in the 2-0 win against Mexico at the group stage.

[Totton Saint]

3 minutes ago, mikec said:

Yes he played in the 2-0 win against Mexico at the group stage.

Thanks. What a memory you both have.

 

[Midfield_General]

21 hours ago, SW11_Saint said:

Do they mean us?! 🤣😂😇

That's hilarious about the parachute payments 

Presumably after their inevitable crushing relegation next season they'll refuse to accept them because otherwise it simply wouldn't be fair on everyone else

Edited 2 hours ago by Midfield_General

[trousers]

2 hours ago, S-Clarke said:

our approach now is pure simplicity. A capable GK, a consistent back 4, a strong target man and a solid midfield

Indeed. Crazy how the club took so long to see what most of us on here were crying out for before the start of the season...

Edited 2 hours ago by trousers

[VectisSaint]

3 hours ago, Totton Saint said:

I remember Sir Alf Ramsey causing a sensation when adopting 4-3-3 for the 1966 World Cup. It had never been heard of before. He said  hiss reason Was that we never had any proper wingers to select. Terry Paine was in the squad but never played.

Painer played against Mexico (2nd group game) which we won 2-0, but he was injured and that was the last of his 19 caps.

[Lymington Saint]

3 hours ago, Totton Saint said:

I remember Sir Alf Ramsey causing a sensation when adopting 4-3-3 for the 1966 World Cup. It had never been heard of before. He said  hiss reason Was that we never had any proper wingers to select. Terry Paine was in the squad but never played.

Not sure it was really 4-3-3. More of a midfield diamond with Stiles at the base and Bobby Charlton at the top. And a front two. Point was that Ramsay changed it mid way through the tournament and binned wingers. Mark of a good manager to change the formation to suit the players. Bad managers stick to a back 5 and are inflexible! Eckert is showing some flexibility which is good to see