Saints 1-0 Norwich - Match Thread

[Turkish]

Just now, saintant said:

Got to thanks Turkish for that 🙂

And people say the CoT know nothing 🙄

[saintant]

Just now, Turkish said:

Did I mention that we’re unbeaten since I said we’d never lose another game?

 

Right on cue!

[Saint86]

Tonight had shades of the Seige of Elland Road for me... not quite as epic, but its a similar goalkeeping performance re bringing home 3 points for a promotion charge.

For a non tranmere related memory...

 

Edited 18 hours ago by Saint86

[SouSaint]

That is a really good win against a good team. 

Shame about the atmosphere tonight, it's been pretty crap all season but tonight felt like a big game and 95% of the stadium just sat there in complete silence. 

[saintant]

1 minute ago, Turkish said:

And people say the CoT know nothing 🙄

Absolute slander.

[CSA96]

 

[Cuddles]

5 minutes ago, Turkish said:

Did I mention that we’re unbeaten since I said we’d never lose another game?

 

You're more important to us than Peretz right now!

[John B]

4 minutes ago, SouSaint said:

That is a really good win against a good team. 

Shame about the atmosphere tonight, it's been pretty crap all season but tonight felt like a big game and 95% of the stadium just sat there in complete silence. 

Putting pressure on the team unsurprising with lots of negative posts on here before kick off

[Charlie Wayman]

52 minutes ago, Mr X said:

My god hanging on there at  the end Norwich deserved an equaliser tbh we played well though committed defending 

Not hanging on, just in control.

[BARCELONASAINT]

I knew this would be a tough game after our heroics against Coventry and the ref certainly did his part in making it a lot tougher than need be. He was absolutely awful, let them get away with absolute murder. Flynn Downes was rightly subbed because he was getting so wound up by the ref he would of ended up getting red carded.

The atmosphere in the ground was bloody awful, what the hell is wrong with our home support, it felt like i was sat in the middle of a library not at a football match.

An awful game to watch which was partly down to the ref not being stronger with their players and us deciding once we scored that that was it and just defend for the entire second half. Great defensive performance but not good for my heart.

Peretz absolute class, Azaz very good and Larin just gives everything.

Not pretty but 3pts and thats the only thing that matters. 

[Baz Fl]

It’s such a good feeling to finally have a Keeper that can win you games! And paired with a proper #9 we’ve turned our season around. Not a classic performance but winning that and Coventry result was brilliant 

[Wade Garrett]

Their keeper has got a fucking tiny head.

Their no.25 should have got about 5 yellow cards.  Ref was shite.

[Crab Lungs]

A combination of Bazunu and Still has effectively done us for the autos, which is shame. 
 

But on the plus side, I thought this season was a right off so the playoffs potentially is incredible.

As for tonight… we’ve demonstrated  every version of how to win (and lose) this year. Shoddy performance but gutsy and immensely satisfying.

Peretz… incredible.

[hypochondriac]

2 minutes ago, Crab Lungs said:

A combination of Bazunu and Still has effectively done us for the autos, which is shame. 
 

But on the plus side, I thought this season was a right off so the playoffs potentially is incredible.

As for tonight… we’ve demonstrated  every version of how to win (and lose) this year. Shoddy performance but gutsy and immensely satisfying.

Peretz… incredible.

And signing Downs. The trilogy of shite decisions.

[Crab Lungs]

Just now, hypochondriac said:

And signing Downs. The trilogy of shite decisions.

Ah yes. Awful. Truly awful.

[Gloucester Saint]

5 minutes ago, Crab Lungs said:

A combination of Bazunu and Still has effectively done us for the autos, which is shame. 
 

But on the plus side, I thought this season was a right off so the playoffs potentially is incredible.

As for tonight… we’ve demonstrated  every version of how to win (and lose) this year. Shoddy performance but gutsy and immensely satisfying.

Peretz… incredible.

How the hell anyone ever seriously thought the goalkeeping situation pre-Peretz was ‘fine for the Championship’ is beyond reasonable judgement.

[Verbal]

Not too sure from the purple prose, but I think the Norwich fans forum are accusing us of time-wasting towards the end.  Can't imagine it myself. 

"I noticed in added time at the end of the second half that this hulking Southampton wandered over to take a corner and spent quite a while examining the quadrant minutely before finally, after several trial attempts, putting the ball on what apparently was the perfect spot to the millimetre, with all the care and precision of someone placing a symbolic stone in a Japanese miniature garden. Heart-warming to see someone taking pains to that extent."

Edited 18 hours ago by Verbal

[OttawaSaint]

53 minutes ago, Turkish said:

 

PS never fall in love with loan players 

Toby and Eyal 😢 

[davefizzy14]

A really battling and defensively superb display from us tonight 😊 we got another vitally important win. Azaz - such a classy finish and he was everywhere tonight, he put in a real shift 😊 Peretz was just sensational tonight, several outstanding saves 😊 to help us win the game. Really hope we can tie up a permanent deal for him. He was my motm 😊 the whole team put in a shift tonight 😊 Credit to Tonda and the coaching staff for getting everything spot on 😊 into the top six now - COYR 😊

Edited 18 hours ago by davefizzy14

[Give it to Ron]

14 minutes ago, BARCELONASAINT said:

I knew this would be a tough game after our heroics against Coventry and the ref certainly did his part in making it a lot tougher than need be. He was absolutely awful, let them get away with absolute murder. Flynn Downes was rightly subbed because he was getting so wound up by the ref he would of ended up getting red carded.

The atmosphere in the ground was bloody awful, what the hell is wrong with our home support, it felt like i was sat in the middle of a library not at a football match.

An awful game to watch which was partly down to the ref not being stronger with their players and us deciding once we scored that that was it and just defend for the entire second half. Great defensive performance but not good for my heart.

Peretz absolute class, Azaz very good and Larin just gives everything.

Not pretty but 3pts and thats the only thing that matters. 

I think nerves and the importance to get in the 6 had an effect.

For those moaning about our second half Norwich were excellent and best test seen in ages here. A very good side.

Peretz and Finn excellent and Bree again showed how good he is and needs a new contract,

[karlb79]

4 minutes ago, Verbal said:

Not to sure from the purple prose, but I think the Norwich fans forum are accusing us of time-wasting towards the end.  Can't imagine it myself. 

"I noticed in added time at the end of the second half that this hulking Southampton wandered over to take a corner and spent quite a while examining the quadrant minutely before finally, after several trial attempts, putting the ball on what apparently was the perfect spot to the millimetre, with all the care and precision of someone placing a symbolic stone in a Japanese miniature garden. Heart-warming to see someone taking pains to that extent."

And they got about a decade of injury time to compensate for it.....

[VectisSaint]

54 minutes ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Is there any news on when Scienza is back? We could have done with him on the subs bench today.

Leo and Ross were training yesterday, so can't be far off.

[macca155]

Fabulous win, the players were running on empty but kept going. Norwich were desperate for the win, and threw everything at Saints. I thought they absorbed it well.

Tonda is clearly big on game management. Doesn't do my nerves any good, but it worked. Winning ugly is sometimes essential.

Oxford will be a test, they'll come to frustrate. It will be interesting to see if Saints have the energy and creativity to overcome that.

Good to have Peretz behind the defence, I thought Jander looked out of sorts, Bragg is the better option imo, he looks so assured. Azaz MoTM for me, he put a real shift.

 

[davefizzy14]

Just now, VectisSaint said:

Leo and Ross were training yesterday, so can't be far off.

Fingers crossed both are fit for Saturday.

[Oisin]

12 minutes ago, karlb79 said:

And they got about a decade of injury time to compensate for it.....

We predicted 7 minutes due to all our time wasting, it was pretty obvious. And Peretz (my MOTM BTW) immediately went down needing treatment for no reason when the 7 began, hence the extra added on time.

I don’t know why people are so precious about it - all professional footballers waste time when it suits them. We’re actually quite bad for it and I’m fine with that. We used to be too nice, I like it that we’re not.  I also accept it when the ref is wise to it and adds on a perfectly reasonable amount for it.

Tonight’s ref was a d1ck, but that had nothing to do with his time keeping as far as I was concerned 

[rallyboy]

Great result, top keeper, terrible ref.

Three points.

[trousers]

1 hour ago, Patches O Houlihan said:

Is there any news on when Scienza is back? We could have done with him on the subs bench today.

 

9 minutes ago, VectisSaint said:

Leo and Ross were training yesterday, so can't be far off.

 

8 minutes ago, davefizzy14 said:

Fingers crossed both are fit for Saturday.

 

[woodsaint1]

Sometimes you just have to win ugly. Something Saints teams havent done in a while. Another clean sheet to boot too.

I was very critical of Tonda at one point. Thought it was another loony SR decision which would fail. He has proven me and a lot of others wrong. Regardless of how the season finishes, he'll be here next season and I'm excited what he can do when he has more time with the team

[Football Special]

5 hours ago, obelisk said:

Have to say that Saints will need to be better than that if they want to get through the play-offs. Totally surrendered that 2nd half.

Looked exhausted, need some energy drinks before the game on Saturday, get through that and take the two week break. 

Massive win tonight, defended well , players putting effort in all over the park to grind out the 3 points , league table looking much better. 

Edited 13 hours ago by Football Special

[OneMrsWallace]

7 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Looked exhausted, need some energy drinks before the game on Saturday, geriatric through that and take the two week break. 

Massive win tonight, defended well , players putting effort in all over the park to grind out the 3 points , league table looking much better. 

They were tired but geriatric seems a bit harsh 😅

 

[OneMrsWallace]

14 minutes ago, rallyboy said:

Great result, top keeper, terrible ref.

Three points.

I've only just watched the highlights. Surely that was a pen for the shirt pull on Edozie? 

[trousers]

3 minutes ago, OneMrsWallace said:

I've only just watched the highlights. Surely that was a pen for the shirt pull on Edozie? 

It was "only a slight tug" and "not enough for a penalty" according to the BBC Norfolk commentator I was listening to... Who then went on to castigate the ref in the second half for not penalising Bragg for a shirt pull on a Norwich player... 😂

Edited 17 hours ago by trousers

[SouthWalesSaints]

How good is Finn Azaz, this week he’s been our best player, including keeper. 
 

Crowd abysmal. Real shame. 
 

Driven 6 hours with my lad round trip, some ten mins up the road can’t be bothered to attend, those that did were quiet and some left on 88 mins.  Need everyone at it. 

Edited 17 hours ago by SouthWalesSaints

[BarberSaint]

2 hours ago, Saint_clark said:

That refs a cunt. 

 

Peretz is a fucking legend.

I got the impression the ref wanted to make it about him. Seemed to have an ego  in inverse proportion to his knowledge and capability.

[Willo of Whiteley]

Having gone tonight, my thoughts:

Finn Azaz was excellent, every touch, flick and pass seemed to work for him this evening, he was also excellent at mopping up loose passes from Norwich.

We lack so much in the centre when Flynn Downes doesn’t play, he goes to attack the opposing player with the ball, Shea Charles came on and immediately retreated about twenty yards.

Daniel Peretz made some good saves through the game, I left when Stephens flicked onto the crossbar so I’ve actually only just seen his last minute save after that time. Bazunu or McCarthy in goal and that goes in. 
There’s nothing flash about him, he encourages others to concentrate and pay attention, no showboating or anything rash with him.

I think tonight highlighted how weak we look attacking wise at times, we have a huge lack of pace in the side, but our one touch passing was excellent and fast-moving.

Two excellent results in a row. No excuses for not beating Oxford on Saturday.

The ref absolutely bottled sending off their number 20 a minute into the second half. He was inconsistent.

The crowd was very flat tonight, the only noise was from the Norwich fans and the Saints fans next to them. Assuming the Northam was having a night off.

Edited 17 hours ago by Willo of Whiteley

[Barton Saint]

Just got home 

Fantastic all round performance 4th game in 10 days deserved win against 12 dirty bastards. 
I tried very hard to get the fans around me in the Itchen to sing but everyone seemed really nervous tonight for some reason.

Need everyone at it on Saturday!!!

[Saint Shady]

Peretz is a shit hot keeper isn’t he! Thought Azaz got stuck in tonight and played well in a game where we didn’t do much. Our back 5 is looking more and more capable of helping us win these sorts of games. Saints are now a really hard team to score against. Brilliant 3 points. Looking forward to Saturday. Hopefully we can have a few more goals to cheer in that one. Up the saints!

[bpsaint]

1 hour ago, Crab Lungs said:

A combination of Bazunu and Still has effectively done us for the autos, which is shame. 
 

But on the plus side, I thought this season was a right off so the playoffs potentially is incredible.

As for tonight… we’ve demonstrated  every version of how to win (and lose) this year. Shoddy performance but gutsy and immensely satisfying.

Peretz… incredible.

I’d even include the decision to loan out Bree in there as well. He’s been immense since his return.

[Lee On Solent Saint]

That was tense to say the least. Job done though after not playing particularly well. They are a decent albeit rather physical team, a stronger ref probably puts a lid on some of the challenges they made. Peretz immense, Azaz great game as well. Thought we lost control when Downes went off. All in all a very workmanlike performance, although counts for nothing if we don't win on Saturday.

[die Mannyschaft]

Brilliant control and shot for the goal.

Keeper is unbelievable. 

With a performance like that we deserve to go up. How on earth Norwich did equalise or even get a winner is a mystery.

Saints did maybe 6 or 7 good moves and rest of the game just played risky passing. 

Very boring to watch but who cares if its a library, chip shop, warehouse, sleep research center it's 3 points.

Can't believe we are 6th.

 

[Jack]

Quality finish from Azaz with a nice assist from Larin. A blatant penalty turned down by a useless ref made it way more of a game than it might’ve been, and required heroics form Peretz. 
 

A bit concerning how Norwich were able to play between the lines with ease even when we sat in a low block that was supposed to shut that down, it was far too easy all night. Decent away performance from them but they just came up against a keeper who was having none of it. Very rare to see wins like that from Saints and a very handy string to the bow if we’re serious about a push for promotion via the playoffs 

Edited 16 hours ago by Jack

[die Mannyschaft]

28 minutes ago, Barton Saint said:

Just got home 

Fantastic all round performance 4th game in 10 days deserved win against 12 dirty bastards. 
I tried very hard to get the fans around me in the Itchen to sing but everyone seemed really nervous tonight for some reason.

Need everyone at it on Saturday!!!

Not bad in Northam block 43 mainly from row X to top row. Some of the most boring and risky passing by Saints doesn't help with entertainment factor. But these days it not about entertaining the fans its about the data processing and transferring metrics from the server to the pitch. 

[Saint Shady]

37 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

I’d even include the decision to loan out Bree in there as well. He’s been immense since his return.

That was a really weird decision. I wonder why they thought it would be a good idea to loan out a player that’s championship proven quality to then buy and loan two others in his place. I think we’d have a few more points if Bree was in our lineup from the start. 

[Football Special]

5 hours ago, SouSaint said:

That is a really good win against a good team. 

Shame about the atmosphere tonight, it's been pretty crap all season but tonight felt like a big game and 95% of the stadium just sat there in complete silence. 

Agreed i was expecting much more from the fans, so flat, players clearly struggled with energy and it felt like the fans did too 

[Crab Lungs]

6 hours ago, bpsaint said:

I’d even include the decision to loan out Bree in there as well. He’s been immense since his return.

Yep. Totally agree there! There was me focusing on the negatives and that is actually a huge positive 

[Lord Duckhunter]

That’s a good result. I thought Norwich were a good side, they found some lovely pockets of space around our box, and played some nice angled balls into them. They had a bit of dog about them as well, very physical. Kenny McLean was the best outfield player in the pitch, imo, really made them tick. So to get out of there with a win, was a fantastic achievement and really showed how our mentality has come on in leaps and bounds. Big big statement, just need to dispatch Oxford Sat now. 

[Miltonaggro]

Peretz outstanding and Azaz and Downes very good last night in a muted performance - likely due to pressure of occasion and physical assault from Norwich from first whistle. Mention in dispatches for Matsuki who threw himself at everything and battered, and Larin who once again played a proper big CF part. Proved we can win ugly under pressure, and this is totally in our hands now. 

[Harry_SFC]

7 hours ago, trousers said:

 

 

 

Personally I wouldn't play either of them if available. Give them this weekend and the international break off. 

[SambaMaverick]

Edozie was shit hot in the first half yesterday

[redkeith]

8 hours ago, OttawaSaint said:

Toby and Eyal 😢 

Ronnie Eklund too