Saints v Oxford (Saturday 21st March @ 3pm)

[skintsaint]

Didn't actually realise they are on decent form at the moment.

[Lighthouse]

Remember in 2011/12 when Bristol City beat us home and away and those six points, plus Pompey's deduction, sent the latter down? Be a shame if that happened again.

[Tamesaint]

If we win we will be mathematically safe from relegation. Something to play for. 😁😁 

[skintsaint]

13 minutes ago, Tamesaint said:

If we win we will be mathematically safe from relegation. Something to play for. 😁😁 

Considering some were thinking we were going down a few months back thats decent going.

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

Stating the obvious a bit, but really want to see us come out the blocks quickly today with players running at them. Passing around the half way line and down the wing and back again looking for people to make runs won't hack it. There again, Tonda will have worked it all out.

And while I don't agree with time wasting, I do think we don't make enough of penalty claims. Like on corners, feel a tap and go down and scream and shout at the referee. Then, when something a little more serious comes up, like when Edozie had his takedown against Norwich, a scream and shout will be a penalty all day long.

[Patches O Houlihan]

On 19/03/2026 at 18:49, SouthWalesSaints said:

We need to trust Azaz to unlock them, but he will look like he’s being cheap on ball as he’ll try and take risks. Important we stay with him in the stands. Scienza hopefully to help later. 

Agree with this. Azaz’s interview with Adam Blackmore after the game against Norwich is worth a listen. Mentally he is in the zone - but today will be about threading the eye of a needle rather than a physical beasting. 
 

There will be times when it doesn’t look pretty and we need to stay on his side.

I would play Matsuki (not Fellows) because he is good in tight spaces and turns up in unexpected places at set pieces.

 

[LGTL]

Early goal changes everything today. Regardless of anything else, it’s nice to be looking forward to going to St Mary’s again as it was hard graft for a long time. 

[Cabrone]

Forget their league position, they have hit a run of form plus they will be happy to park the bus and go away with a 0-0.

Hopefully we'll break through early and force them out of their shells but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a tough grind. They got 0-0's at Cov and Boro so they are well capable of getting something here 

Do not underestimate them.

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

12 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

Forget their league position, they have hit a run of form plus they will be happy to park the bus and go away with a 0-0.

Hopefully we'll break through early and force them out of their shells but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a tough grind. They got 0-0's at Cov and Boro so they are well capable of getting something here 

Do not underestimate them.

You've clearly not read above! A couple of us feel that Saints should mentally freak them out AND let them have all the possession and hit them on the break!

 

[sfc4prem]

30 minutes ago, JohnnyShearer2.0 said:

You've clearly not read above! A couple of us feel that Saints should mentally freak them out AND let them have all the possession and hit them on the break!

 

It's the perfect fucking plan. Let's be having them.

[Nordic Saint]

1 hour ago, Cabrone said:

Forget their league position, they have hit a run of form plus they will be happy to park the bus and go away with a 0-0.

Hopefully we'll break through early and force them out of their shells but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a tough grind. They got 0-0's at Cov and Boro so they are well capable of getting something here 

Do not underestimate them.

You're right, and as others have noted above, typically, they only have about 25% possession in the games they get results from. A very frustrating team to play against.

Edited 6 hours ago by Nordic Saint

[sfc4prem]

35 minutes ago, Nordic Saint said:

You're right, and as others have noted above, typically, they only have about 25% possession in the games they get results from. A very frustrating team to play against.

The more I see comments like this, and people referring to them getting results against Cov and Boro, the more trousers just makes sense.

Just lump the ball up field, give it to them. Play a fairly low defensive line. Sit back. Put the ball in their court (half)... you know it makes sense.

[Saint NL]

This is a game for Stewart rather than Larin. 

[trousers]

24 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

trousers just makes sense.

Words you never thought you'd see together on Saintsweb... The world has officially gone mad!

[JohnnyShearer2.0]

25 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

The more I see comments like this, and people referring to them getting results against Cov and Boro, the more trousers just makes sense.

Just lump the ball up field, give it to them. Play a fairly low defensive line. Sit back. Put the ball in their court (half)... you know it makes sense.

 

[trousers]

27 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

The more I see comments like this, and people referring to them getting results against Cov and Boro, the more trousers just makes sense.

Just lump the ball up field, give it to them. Play a fairly low defensive line. Sit back. Put the ball in their court (half)... you know it makes sense.

But, in all seriousness, *could* this tactic work against teams that deliberately come to frustrate like this? 🙂

Edited 6 hours ago by trousers

[sfc4prem]

4 minutes ago, trousers said:

But, in all seriousness, *could* this tactic work against teams that deliberately come to frustrate like this? 🙂

It completely defeats their main tactic so yeah, in all seriousness I think it could work

[Obstacle1]

8 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

It completely defeats their main tactic so yeah, in all seriousness I think it could work

I think what youre more likely to see is us trying to draw them in when our defenders have the ball. Id be surprised if we sat off them.

I agree with others that have said Matsuki will be better than Fellows against a team sitting deep. Would be nice if our players really ran at them and try to force fouls in and around their box

[Nordic Saint]

42 minutes ago, sfc4prem said:

The more I see comments like this, and people referring to them getting results against Cov and Boro, the more trousers just makes sense.

Just lump the ball up field, give it to them. Play a fairly low defensive line. Sit back. Put the ball in their court (half)... you know it makes sense.

They recently conceded a goal set up by a long ball from the Norwich goalkeeper. I wouldn't be surprised if they've let in a few like that.

"The Canaries took the lead in the first minute after some poor defending by Oxford.

Norwich goalkeeper Dan Grimshaw sent a long ball over the top which Toure was able to sprint onto and slip past the onrushing Jamie Cumming before slotting into an empty net."

They also concede a lot of penalties.

[Football Special]

4 hours ago, LGTL said:

Early goal changes everything today. Regardless of anything else, it’s nice to be looking forward to going to St Mary’s again as it was hard graft for a long time. 

Proper end of season home win weather this as well 🌞 cold beers stood outside a pub, perfect 

[Football Special]

Still plenty of tickets available,  get on down there 👍 

[coalman]

1 hour ago, trousers said:

Words you never thought you'd see together on Saintsweb... The world has officially gone mad!

You do make sense, just.

[Matthew Le God]

It is within the laws of the sport to do... Saints have put extra advertising hoardings (white ones) close to the pitch to stop Oxford's long throw tactic being quite as effective. 😂 

 

Edited 4 hours ago by Matthew Le God

[Saint NL]

Guess it also means Quarshie isn't starting

[davefizzy14]

2-0 to us today - Larin and Azaz to score 😊 COYR 😊 

[die Mannyschaft]

Derby winning so 3 on 60 pts. Need another ground out win. On paper it shouldn't be difficult game like Norwich.

Saints 3-0, three defenders to score

[Saint NL]

 

Didn't expect Fellows and Archer.

 

Stewart on the bench is good to see

Edited 3 hours ago by Saint NL

[CSA96]

Fresh legs out wide I guess. Edozie to come on and give impact last 20/30 if needed 

Good to see Stewart on the bench 

[suewhistle]

Oxford supporters on the train were held up for an hour by somebody sat on the tracks. They've been indulging in seriously fast imbibing..

[Colinjb]

Trying to get Archer to play off Larin? 

[captainchris]

Weak team 

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

1 hour ago, Football Special said:

Still plenty of tickets available,  get on down there 👍 

Around 500 left earlier so should be close to a sell-out by KO.

Lovely warm sunny spring day, perfect for a day at the football, so gutted I'm missing this.

They're quite excited about this trip, big away following for them and a new stadium to tick off, some getting a little more carried away than others like this fella talking about us...

"Bit of a non-entity of a club. We should be beating this sort of team for breakfast"

...remind me, it is Oxford we're playing?

[Pierre2]

6 minutes ago, Colinjb said:

Trying to get Archer to play off Larin? 

Yes, and Manning en Fellows to put in the crosses

[saintant]

Fellows needs to shake off the wing back mentality and start playing further forward as an out and out winger. He's receiving the ball far too deep and always having to weave through traffic to get on the offensive. He needs to let go of the defensive mindset and concentrate on being a proper winger. It'll help get him to the byline to get crosses in or to duck inside and cause havoc. The wingback role has blunted his effectiveness as a winger. Go for it Tom and throw caution to the wind.

Edited 3 hours ago by saintant

[Disco Stu]

8 minutes ago, Colinjb said:

Trying to get Archer to play off Larin? 

Finally worked out how to utilise Archer. He's only ever played effectively playing off a CF.

[sfc4prem]

16 minutes ago, captainchris said:

Weak team 

What would you change?

[saintant]

26 minutes ago, Saint NL said:

 

Didn't expect Fellows and Archer.

 

Stewart on the bench is good to see

Be interesting to see the formation. I'm scratching my head because we've only named one winger.

[egg]

21 minutes ago, Colinjb said:

Trying to get Archer to play off Larin? 

Yep. Looks like an old skool big/small combination to me. 

[egg]

2 minutes ago, saintant said:

Be interesting to see the formation. I'm scratching my head because we've only named one winger.

I think Azaz will play inside left ish in possession, and hold the left side out of possession. A sort of 4132/442

[LiberalCommunist]

Leave it all out there today. We are at the end of a exhausting run of games where we have had to fight right down to the last minute in each one. But do our jobs today and we have the most welcome international break I think I can ever remember. But we must make it count. No second gear, no foot off the gas, finish this run of games and we are in a great position for the run in. 

Other games falling nicely thus far. Gulp

[Baird of the land]

Looks like 442. Happy to see charles starting.

[saintant]

1 minute ago, Baird of the land said:

Looks like 442. Happy to see charles starting.

He needs to up his game for me. Think Bragg is unlucky not to get a start.

[Sheaf Saint]

Boro, Ipswich and Millwall have all dropped points in the lunchtime games. A win here would close us up a bit on all of them.

[BallBoy]

Team selection looks a little complacent to me.

[skintsaint]

Win today puts us 8 points behind 2nd I think.

 

Its the hope that kills ya.

Edited 3 hours ago by skintsaint

[coalman]

Let's hope Archer can play himself into some form. Though it does strike me as a battle between the stoppable force and the movable object.

[Mr X]

5 hours ago, Cabrone said:

Forget their league position, they have hit a run of form plus they will be happy to park the bus and go away with a 0-0.

Hopefully we'll break through early and force them out of their shells but I wouldn't be surprised if it's a tough grind. They got 0-0's at Cov and Boro so they are well capable of getting something here 

Do not underestimate them.

Definitely not underestimating them plus we so always seem to struggle against the perceived sides we should be easily putting to the sword.... This league is so tight and any side is capable of beating any side on their day, so much more interesting than premier League where you can write down the top three money teams nearly every year! 

[Mr X]

2 minutes ago, coalman said:

Let's hope Archer can play himself into some form. Though it does strike me as a battle between the stoppable force and the movable object.

I think I Archer is done somethings not right there, would benefit him and the club to move on.... Why do we persist with him as it weakens the side when he plays it's like playing with ten 

[egg]

5 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Win today puts us 8 points behind 2nd I think.

 

Its the hope that kills ya.

Yep, 8 off with 21 to play off. We may regret a few lost leads come the end of the season. 

[ButtikonSaint]

5 minutes ago, Baird of the land said:

Looks like 442. Happy to see charles starting.

Or a 4-3-3, keeping Azaz central.
Either way we should have more than enough to beat Oxford.
Good opportunity for Fellows and Archer to get some confidence boosting minutes.
3-0 and a well deserved rest. COYS