Man City 2-1 Saints - Match Thread

[Patrick Bateman]

42 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Games like this, beating Arsenal and our play off final win have been brilliant for instilling a sense of pride in supporting Saints for the next generation of youngsters growing up, they're bombarded with brainwashing about the "big 6" whether its from glory hunters at school, football youtubers, sky TV, playing FIFA on the Xbox etc, walking down the steps seeing a sea of 36,000 proud Saints fans , wonderful sight . We had three generations of family with us on Saturday some of which were at Wembley in 76 , nice moment to have. 

This is really noticeable for me. My lad, 11 has absolutely loved it this year as we all have; his face at Wembley was a picture and great to see him 'singing' along with us all too. Before Christmas he was not overly fussed about us renewing season tickets, on the way home on Saturday he asked "can we have season tickets again next year?"

These types of matches, these type of performances, players and management busting a gut to win everything and build proper relationships with fans is what we've missed for years and is the key to getting the younger generation loving the club. Good times. 

[Mattio]

49 minutes ago, Football Special said:

Games like this, beating Arsenal and our play off final win have been brilliant for instilling a sense of pride in supporting Saints for the next generation of youngsters growing up, they're bombarded with brainwashing about the "big 6" whether its from glory hunters at school, football youtubers, sky TV, playing FIFA on the Xbox etc, walking down the steps seeing a sea of 36,000 proud Saints fans , wonderful sight . We had three generations of family with us on Saturday some of which were at Wembley in 76 , nice moment to have. 

Have you travelled back from 23rd May to let us know we win the play-offs? 

[Football Special]

40 minutes ago, Mattio said:

Have you travelled back from 23rd May to let us know we win the play-offs? 

Unfortunately not was relying on the 2024  Leeds game for that particular moment 

[iansums]

Adam Blackmore's commentary for the goal is simply glorious.

[Saint_clark]

43 minutes ago, iansums said:

Adam Blackmore's commentary for the goal is simply glorious.

It hurts watching it knowing it'll never be an iconic on the way to winning moment though. Looking forward to the heart break fading so I can just reflect fondly. 

[OldNick]

55 minutes ago, iansums said:

Adam Blackmore's commentary for the goal is simply glorious.

Always is, but Fletcher was brilliant how he stayed quiet so that the crowd noise came through

Edited yesterday at 12:16 by OldNick

[OldNick]

4 hours ago, Football Special said:

Games like this, beating Arsenal and our play off final win have been brilliant for instilling a sense of pride in supporting Saints for the next generation of youngsters growing up, they're bombarded with brainwashing about the "big 6" whether its from glory hunters at school, football youtubers, sky TV, playing FIFA on the Xbox etc, walking down the steps seeing a sea of 36,000 proud Saints fans , wonderful sight . We had three generations of family with us on Saturday some of which were at Wembley in 76 , nice moment to have. 

It was so good seeing all the young kids supping up what being a football fan is all about. We didnt win but those moments will cement those kids to Saints forever. Man City and the likes fans who have been there time and again just dont get the same feeling

[OldNick]

23 hours ago, Football Special said:

Its great, easier to watch from here 

 

Watching McCoist and even Gerrard stunned (Gerrard puffs out his cheeks in amazment if you look)

[saintant]

Just watched manager cam with Tonda and Pep in technical areas. Very good.

[iansums]

1 hour ago, OldNick said:

Always is, but Fletcher was brilliant how he stayed quiet so that the crowd noise came through

Agreed, that was excellent. Some commentators have far too much to say for themselves, looking at you Peter Drury.

[swedish dave]

Considering the quality of the opposition ..and even the cost of  their starting side, I thought

we played a v. good game. After the first 10 minutes of all-out defending, I considered that - had it

been a  Championship (VAR -free game) - Leo Scienza's " goal " might even have been allowed.

It was hard to pick out our MoM (although Casper Jander was outstanding in his own right), and even 

Cam Bragg (as Downes' replacement) fitted in seamlessly. We  held them to 0-0 for 80 minutes and then

took the lead with (my) goal of the game.  Azaz hitting the ball on the turn after a great pass from Matsuki.

Matsuki had a great impact in just 20 minutes on the pitch. Aside from the Azaz assist, he might have

scored a second, (but for the goalie's push over the bar), and then he made a goal-line clearance after 

Peretz was marooned up field.   THB and Wood also looked a great partnership in the back line.

 

City's two goals were both a bit flukey  in their own way.  Docu's deflecting off Bree's leg on the way in, and

Gonzalaz may get goal of the season for his unstoppable strike, which even two keepers wouldn't have kept out. 

 

Quite the best Saints' performance I've seen in a long while, and much for them to be proud of.  Even City's 

" big guns " made little impact  after Pep G. was forced to put them on - in desperation - near the end. 

 

[saintant]

3 hours ago, iansums said:

Agreed, that was excellent. Some commentators have far too much to say for themselves, looking at you Peter Drury.

It's so obvious that his pre-match monologue for the big Sunday games is totally scripted. Plus the way he screeches a player's name just before he shoots in anticipation of a goal is super annoying.

[Badger]

23 hours ago, RedArmy said:

 

Not sure if this view has been posted yet but what a sight. 

I like Tonda’s controlled reaction at the end. Not charging down the touchline like a deranged loon, or doing a Klopp/Mourinho impression.  

[swedish dave]

On 24/04/2026 at 16:44, Badger said:

Personally I think the opposite. A full neutral venue is better and provides a more electric atmosphere than a two thirds Wembley.

We've got better stadiums now than we’ve had since the change of stadium requirements (Spurs, Emirates, Etihad, Millennium Stadium). Should be using them in my book. 

the reported attendance was 70,000+ , that lot wouldn't fit into Spurs ground and the only place big enough 

to hold that number would be Old Trafford. !!!.   I think the FA puts a limit on attendances at Wembley, and they

may have decided on a limit beforehand.  Not sure how many Saints fans went, but it looked like we had more

 than City ??.  A trip to Wembley is a big deal for both fans and players.   Noted that when younger, Tom Fellows 

 said he told his Baggies team mates that he might go to Wembley one day, and they laughed at him. 

[spyinthesky]

I am pretty sure the FA do not limit attendances at Wembley, they want to fill their pockets.
There was 80,000 there for the Chelsea v Leeds game.

[Turkish]

Whilst we’re all proud of our team let’s also remember that the two finalists this year one is funded by a country and has 100+ charges hanging over for what what seems like years now, the other is backed by billionaires and seems to be able to spend hundreds of millions every year be in masses of debt yet seem to never get any comeback on it. Meanwhile in the championship 3 teams have faced points deductions served up in a matter of months, one is close to administration all for financial issues. This is how fucked the game is. 

[saintant]

1 hour ago, Turkish said:

Whilst we’re all proud of our team let’s also remember that the two finalists this year one is funded by a country and has 100+ charges hanging over for what what seems like years now, the other is backed by billionaires and seems to be able to spend hundreds of millions every year be in masses of debt yet seem to never get any comeback on it. Meanwhile in the championship 3 teams have faced points deductions served up in a matter of months, one is close to administration all for financial issues. This is how fucked the game is. 

Good points well made.

[saintant]

Watched pitchside unseen footage and, in one sequence Wood makes a sliding tackle and two blocks inside the penalty area within what must have been about 9-10 seconds. Amazing stuff.

[Patrick Bateman]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Watched pitchside unseen footage and, in one sequence Wood makes a sliding tackle and two blocks inside the penalty area within what must have been about 9-10 seconds. Amazing stuff.

Wood, would probably be my "most improved player". For more than a few matches now, he's been WAY above the level he was playing at before and mentally a completely different character to the one in the team in 2025. His performance on Saturday against that calibre of attacking player was incredible really. 

 

[saintant]

43 minutes ago, Patrick Bateman said:

Wood, would probably be my "most improved player". For more than a few matches now, he's been WAY above the level he was playing at before and mentally a completely different character to the one in the team in 2025. His performance on Saturday against that calibre of attacking player was incredible really. 

 

I think he always looks better in backs to the wall games. In matches when we are on top and play a fair bit from the back he is less assured because he's not so confident on the ball. When he's asked to tackle, block and head he's in his element.

[Saint Garrett]

6 minutes ago, saintant said:

I think he always looks better in backs to the wall games. In matches when we are on top and play a fair bit from the back he is less assured because he's not so confident on the ball. When he's asked to tackle, block and head he's in his element.

Yeah, agreed. he's a Bednarek type. Good at getting in the way of stuff, but when you need him to be a bit more progressive, we struggle with him there.