Saints 2-1 (aet) Boro - Match Thread

[davefizzy14]

What a game! Stewart scoring in first half injury time swung the game in our favour 😊  it was absolutely amazing the atmosphere when Shea scored the winner in extra time 😊 we are going to Wembley! 😊

 

Edited 13 hours ago by davefizzy14

[Sardonic Squirrels]

Listened to extra time and closing stages on the radio.    Would have joined in discussion but somehow felt wrong as a fan of neither team to participate while it were underway.     I'm pleased the bloody thing's over with, we've declared a winner and identified who's playing who in the final .    The build up and all that other issue was just sometimes too much.    Just a sense of relief we've got a winner and some sort of order has been restored.   

There may be ramifications from the FA or further legal issues to sort out but really that's between you and the other team involved.    What they can't do is replay the game or deny your chance against Hull in a few weeks.

Would have been fun to have been at the stadium tonight even as someone from another club but not of a game or atmosphere of that magnitude.   20 years ago maybe but the advancing years probably wouldn't keep up now.    As all have said you've had a great season, FA Cup semi finalists and one game away from a return to the top level.     Wasn't too long ago Russell Martin was really making trouble and holding things back and now look at it.    When or if you make it by August teams like ourselves are going to find it hard again competing in the premier league where money rules or destroys everything it comes in contact with although close season provides everyone with a chance to regroup and just hope for better things.    Well done on getting the result required.   

[DellBlockH]

12 minutes ago, leeham_69 said:

I think we should have a competition to find the most outrageously over the top hurt comment from that thread, it is so hard to choose 

That was quite fun. But lots of them seem to think they should have had two penalties. I was at the game and I didn't see anything remotely like a penalty for them. I try to be fair minded. I thought our call for a penalty after the challenge on Scienza might have been given but thought the call for the challenge on Larin was not strong. I also didn't like Peretz going down and making out he'd been elbowed in the face. So I haven't got totally Saints-tinted glasses on. But I honestly don't know what incidents the Boro fans think should be a penalty.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

9 minutes ago, Edmonton Saint said:

What time is the final on the 23rd? I’m stupidly travelling to England from Canada that day and am worried I’m going to be 35,000 feet in the air relying on Saintsweb for updates. 
 

wishing now I’d booked a couple of days earlier travel, but when I booked the ginger twat was in charge and no chance of Wembley.

As impressive as your long term planning is, I think that's very harsh on Gordon Strachan.🙂

[Fabrice29]

Broghan Sewell remember the name. 

Some really cringe/poor moments from us as a club tonight in amongst the incredible fight and joy, but this kid was superb.  

Edited 13 hours ago by Fabrice29

[trousers]

12 minutes ago, Edmonton Saint said:

What time is the final on the 23rd?

12am according to my Sky Sports app...

 

[DellBlockH]

1 minute ago, trousers said:

12am according to my Sky Sports app...

 

That will include the three hours of waffle leading up to it.

[Holmes_and_Watson]

2 minutes ago, DellBlockH said:

That was quite fun. But lots of them seem to think they should have had two penalties. I was at the game and I didn't see anything remotely like a penalty for them. I try to be fair minded. I thought our call for a penalty after the challenge on Scienza might have been given but thought the call for the challenge on Larin was not strong. I also didn't like Peretz going down and making out he'd been elbowed in the face. So I haven't got totally Saints-tinted glasses on. But I honestly don't know what incidents the Boro fans think should be a penalty.

Going on me ory, but there was a very early Matsuki challenge. The ball hit Matsuki's hand later too, and the ref indicated it was his shoulder.

But it balanced itself out.

[CB Fry]

14 minutes ago, Edmonton Saint said:

What time is the final on the 23rd?

The last few years it has been between 3 and 4pm kick off

[trousers]

4 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Broghan Sewell remember the name. 

Some really cringe/poor moments from us as a club tonight in amongst the incredible fight and joy, but this kid was superb.  

The ball boy...?

[Saint Pete]

Just saw Tonda's celebration for Shea Charles winner. He's human after all, emotion at last!! 😉 

[leeham_69]

8 minutes ago, DellBlockH said:

That was quite fun. But lots of them seem to think they should have had two penalties. I was at the game and I didn't see anything remotely like a penalty for them. I try to be fair minded. I thought our call for a penalty after the challenge on Scienza might have been given but thought the call for the challenge on Larin was not strong. I also didn't like Peretz going down and making out he'd been elbowed in the face. So I haven't got totally Saints-tinted glasses on. But I honestly don't know what incidents the Boro fans think should be a penalty.

Both were Matsuki - a handball where his arms were raised above his head, which the ref comically said hit his shoulder (it didn't). Definitely seen them given but not totally clear cut. The other one was early on, when Matsuki wound up for a huge clearance on the edge of our box, then someone nipped the ball away and he laced a Boro player's ankles. Honestly wouldn't have been surprised if either of them had been given, but both fall into the "definitely an outfield free kick but not a penalty for some reason" category.

[rallyboy]

Have they stopped complaining about everything yet?

They certainly went fucking quiet when the second goal went in.

 

 

[Osvaldorama]

Only just home. 
 

Fucking magnificent night after all their crying and antics, and having a ref on their side the whole night. 
Get in 

[Osvaldorama]

The atmosphere when the goal went in was absolutely electric. Will remember it for a long time. 
Fans were brilliant tonight. 

[skintsaint]

15 minutes ago, DellBlockH said:

But I honestly don't know what incidents the Boro fans think should be a penalty.

Bet they don't mention this :

[sfc4prem]

1 hour ago, saintant said:

Looked like THB said twice to Ayling, 'What you say, what you say?' Pretty minor if so.

So minor, so minor.

[maysie]

22 minutes ago, Fabrice29 said:

Broghan Sewell remember the name. 

Some really cringe/poor moments from us as a club tonight in amongst the incredible fight and joy, but this kid was superb.  

You're a really fucking weird guy.

[Harry_SFC]

8 minutes ago, skintsaint said:

Bet they don't mention this :

This was a clear penalty for me.

Scienza was also shoved over in the second half.

Larins didn't look like a penalty though.

So if Boro wanted two, we should've had two as well. 

[Saint Pete]

14 minutes ago, DellBlockH said:

That was quite fun. But lots of them seem to think they should have had two penalties. I was at the game and I didn't see anything remotely like a penalty for them. I try to be fair minded. I thought our call for a penalty after the challenge on Scienza might have been given but thought the call for the challenge on Larin was not strong. I also didn't like Peretz going down and making out he'd been elbowed in the face. So I haven't got totally Saints-tinted glasses on. But I honestly don't know what incidents the Boro fans think should be a penalty.

I was up the other end but personally thought the Larin one looked a possible, it seemed to me he got to the ball first and was then tripped but I only got the one look at it. On the highlights there is also one where a defender has a full handful of Stewart's shirt as he is trying to reach a cross. 

[Saint Pete]

13 minutes ago, Osvaldorama said:

The atmosphere when the goal went in was absolutely electric. Will remember it for a long time. 
Fans were brilliant tonight. 

Yep, anyone who says St Mary's can't generate an atmosphere in future, refer them to this game! I almost missed the window for tickets and ended up in Itchen/Chapel Corner but even there it was pretty good tonight. 

[sfc4prem]

Atmosphere was superb. Singing when we were losing. Not moaning at stray passes. Getting fucking stuck in to the ref, lino and Boro fans when given the chance.

A range of songs and seemingly the whole ground singing? Chapel were very good, the Northam wall was ridiculously good.

When the goal went in for 2-1. Electric. Wonder what it sounded like from outside the ground. Reckon people in Woolston heard it loud and clear.

[ant]

I don't know how I'm ever meant to sleep again. 

Buzzzzzzzz.

[East Kent Saint]

Any highlight links ? We are in USA this week but VPN to GB ?

[SNSUN]

I'd like to thank Saints for a great day. I'll remember it forever.

I'd also like the thank the team that run West Quay shopping centre for having a toilet that continuously flushed, so my balls got a good drenching when I was having a shit earlier. Made my nervy tummy that much more exciting. Seriously if you're going to go down the Japanese toilet route, at least let me push a button to activate it.

I feel I've said too much. 

[SaintBobby]

Another boring, predictable and routine home win.

I sometimes wonder why I bothered to buy a season ticket this year 😂

 

[Saint86]

2 hours ago, Southner said:

Would be nice to shut everyone up with some solid facts. Tonda looked calm when asked, but when doesn't he. 

His reaction to the ayling vs THB incident was interesting. First time I've seen him lose his control... Reading into it perhaps, but I saw it as he viewed it as one lie to many by Boro, and very nearly did let his anger and frustration out... But perhaps a snippet there that we can gleam something from. I.e., He very clearly viewed it as complete bullshit, and be was very clearly at his limit with tolerating Boro bullshit.

Add to that his post match comments about wanting to speak but not being able, and I get the impression there is a bite back coming from the club. Although whether we'll just shut up and take a lesser punishment as part of a deal I don't know.

Edited 11 hours ago by Saint86

[Southner]

2 hours ago, James G said:

To be fair, we never looked we spied on Boro play wise. And they had their chances first half, first game

I genuinely think they have knocked themselves out

If the first leg's anything to go by, which clearly it is, we're shit at spying. 

[Southner]

34 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

I'd like to thank Saints for a great day. I'll remember it forever.

I'd also like the thank the team that run West Quay shopping centre for having a toilet that continuously flushed, so my balls got a good drenching when I was having a shit earlier. Made my nervy tummy that much more exciting. Seriously if you're going to go down the Japanese toilet route, at least let me push a button to activate it.

I feel I've said too much. 

There's a joke in there somewhere about 'flushing out' and ball boys. 

[BarberSaint]

2 hours ago, Saint NL said:

Jander has some engine. In extra time he was tearing about

Until he cramped up, but he really reads tackles well. Nice to see the skill hasn't been lost.

[BarberSaint]

2 hours ago, SWLondon Saint said:

 

I mean if so, the obvious defence is that THB had no clue he had a stutter, why would you even know that about another player?

Why is there even a defence to that stupid 'allegation'. Given the background noise, repeating things would be normal as would it be in the case of a 'heated debate' as it's natural behaviour. Perhaps the referee could have stopped Ayling kicking Leo all the time by sending him off as he should have done.

[BarberSaint]

2 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Stammering can be recognised as a disability. Since disability is a protected characteristic under the Equalities Act, what some see as minor could result in much more of an impact.

In that case I'll sue Ayling for adversely affecting all of my disabilities. I'll win; I have more.

[saintstowin]

Hooray! And not just because we finally made it home. 

What a wonderful night. Too tense for words at times. When that winner went in, that's what we go to football for.

A proper team effort. Some standout performances, but when the opposition are strong and it's not quite firing in attacking terms you need everyone. And we had a team out there tonight.

Still don't know who was playing where at times in midfield. Not a criticism, it was clearly a plan. And it worked.

[Jimmy_D]

 

[Jimmy_D]

 

[Saint_clark]

3 hours ago, Farmer Saint said:

He did, just took him until half time to do it

 

Should have asked him wh-wh-who he was.

[StrangelyBrown]

5 hours ago, austsaint said:

He (Charles) was immense tonight.  Not just the goal but throughout he played the box-to-box role superbly.  And Jander was equally as good.    Thought Tonda had erred not starting with Downes or starting all three with Charles in the Azaz spot, but the fresh legs of Downes really helped tosnuff out any Boro revival for much of the second half.    Manning, a player many of us have criticised was outstanding - his passing, touch, control, dead ball delivery were all brilliant.

How did Bree end up back at Charlton early in the season? His return has played a big part in this amazing second half of the season.   Wood was solid; Stewart played his part, moved the defence around, held the ball up and timed his leap and finish perfectly for the equaliser.     Subs played their part, particularly Larin and Edozie.

For Saints to overcome that first half blitz on Saturday, going behind early tonight, the Spygate stuff and the associated media barrage is a big achievement.    One more hurdle to clear.   How likely did any of this seem after the 0-4 result at Riverside?     

 

Charles was good from the second half onwards, but let's not forget how shit he was in the first half - more propaganda football. Shit marking, shit tackling, poor passing and didn't close his man down at all for the Middlesbrough goal. There were many better performances than Charles last night and a cross that accidentally went in shouldn't paper over those cracks.

Agree re Manning he was immense alongside the rest of the back four. Azaz was very good and Stewart provided the outlet that Larin couldn't give in the previous game.

For me Jander was unbelievable - tried to hold the midfield by himself in the first half and absolutely bossed it for the rest of the game - couldn't have won the ball more times...

[Convict Colony]

Got to think as we have done play off win before and also been at wembley this year should settle our players down nicely for the game.

Also we've played 11 games in the last 38 days (every 3.5 days) so think the recovery from this period now will be crucial and our players will benefit from the break without the big game anxiety leading up to the final.

[Hawkswood]

5 hours ago, DellBlockH said:

That was quite fun. But lots of them seem to think they should have had two penalties. I was at the game and I didn't see anything remotely like a penalty for them. I try to be fair minded. I thought our call for a penalty after the challenge on Scienza might have been given but thought the call for the challenge on Larin was not strong. I also didn't like Peretz going down and making out he'd been elbowed in the face. So I haven't got totally Saints-tinted glasses on. But I honestly don't know what incidents the Boro fans think should be a penalty.

Yeah I was reading their pages as well. I thought they should have had a pen early on with the matsuki challenge and I can understand their fans picking out certain points, but in all honesty, you could have easily done that for us as well. I thought we also had a couple of very strong shouts for a couple of pens, shirt pulling going on in the box etc etc. But we dont have VAR do both teams lose out. It goes that way. 

Boro raelly did impress me though and out stronger squad made the difference in the end I think , we really looked like the only team that was going to win that tonight and obvs we got very lucky in the first leg but thats just one of those things.

Slept awfully last night. So much adrenaline pumping !!

[Hawkswood]

5 hours ago, Holmes_and_Watson said:

Going on me ory, but there was a very early Matsuki challenge. The ball hit Matsuki's hand later too, and the ref indicated it was his shoulder.

But it balanced itself out.

Might be on my own here but I thought the ref was saying hand was up by his shoulder  ???

Sky commentators..... fck me, I dont like playing the victim or anything  but don goodman really doesn't like us. All their bookings were harsh calls but ours all seemed to warrant more of a telling off. Maybe my imagination though. Hard to really think straight thru the anxiety last night

 

[Toadhall Saint]

5 hours ago, sfc4prem said:

Atmosphere was superb. Singing when we were losing. Not moaning at stray passes. Getting fucking stuck in to the ref, lino and Boro fans when given the chance.

A range of songs and seemingly the whole ground singing? Chapel were very good, the Northam wall was ridiculously good.

When the goal went in for 2-1. Electric. Wonder what it sounded like from outside the ground. Reckon people in Woolston heard it loud and clear.

They did - wife mentioned hearing the singing etc.

[Stu Man Do]

51 minutes ago, Hawkswood said:

Might be on my own here but I thought the ref was saying hand was up by his shoulder  ???

Sky commentators..... fck me, I dont like playing the victim or anything  but don goodman really doesn't like us. All their bookings were harsh calls but ours all seemed to warrant more of a telling off. Maybe my imagination though. Hard to really think straight thru the anxiety last night

 

Don Goodman is painful to listen to. He clearly seems to have an issue with Southampton all season when he’s commentated on us. I consider him Sky’s version of Chris Sutton though … a comedy pantomime baddie!

Great win and well deserved. Boro should have been out of sight at the Riverside. Need to tighten up at the back for the final!

[TheAlehouseBrawlers]

That'll do.

Seemed really tense inside the stadium during the game, they're a decent side but not good enough to deal with us.

Time for them to stop grizzling and get on flattening that hill and building a big new fence.

[adrian lord]

One thing that stood out was Saints’ superior fitness over both matches. It’s another dimension to our success this season thanks to Tonda and his team. In recent years - since Poch even - our fitness has often been has been visibly poor,  but not now.

Edited 6 hours ago by adrian lord

[Sheaf Saint]

5 hours ago, BarberSaint said:

Until he cramped up, but he really reads tackles well. Nice to see the skill hasn't been lost.

Yeah his ability to just nick the ball off people's feet and bring it forward is incredible. His timing is perfect.

We're gonna struggle to keep hold of him even if we go up I reckon.

[Toadhall Saint]

1 minute ago, adrian lord said:

One thing that stood out was Saints’ superior fitness over both matches. It’s another dimension to our success this season thanks to Tonda and his team. In recent years - since Poch even - our fitness has often been has been visibly poor,  but not now.

He rotates the team/squad well. Long season so he listens to his medical team.

[Swaythling Saint]

1 minute ago, adrian lord said:

One thing that stood out was Saints’ superior fitness over both matches. It’s another dimension to our success this season thanks to Tonda and his team. In recent years - since Poch even - our fitness has been has been visibly poor,  but not now.

Yep, our fitness and squad depth won us the tie, so glad to see we were still going towards the end of ET - jander especially

[Sheaf Saint]

1 hour ago, StrangelyBrown said:

Agree re Manning he was immense alongside the rest of the back four. 

Apart from being MIA for the build up to their goal, of course.

[Sarnia Cherie]

6 hours ago, Harry_SFC said:

This was a clear penalty for me.

Scienza was also shoved over in the second half.

Larins didn't look like a penalty though.

So if Boro wanted two, we should've had two as well. 

I hope the referees spend a part of the summer break reviewing the wrestling matches that all too frequently take place in the box. Yes, football is a contact sport but it's got beyond ridiculous. There needs to be clear rules and better consistency from the referees. 

[Mr X]

That early goal They scored the more you watch it the worse it gets, had all the time in the world and three players stood there doing nothing to close him down just watching the ball! We will. Have to cut out this lack of concentration against hull I seriously think they will surprise us! That said what a moment last night to get to a playoff final we had to work. Seriously hard for that proud of the team we weren't at our best but got the job done