It’s been a long time since the last home match. The win on Saturday against Doncaster was a massive result, and it finally gave us some breathing space. Not enough to start celebrating, but enough to breathe out a little bit. The match against Southampton was a must not lose. Winning would have probably guaranteed safety but defeat would have undone the hard work from Saturday. Even back during snow week it had been pin-pointed as a 6 pointer but when it became one of the last matches it became even more crucial. For Southampton the match was even more crucial, whilst we had won they had just lost at home to bottom of the table Charlton. This was on top of the news that Southampton PLC the holding club for the football club (in case any lawyers read this I should remind readers Southampton claim they are not the same organisations) had gone into administration. Southampton were always going to be galvanised, in fact whilst they are in the bottom three they are a decent young side with goals in them. It’s the home form that has let them down, and before the Charlton their form had been improving. As for the team news Don Cowie was out which was a blow because he has been of the reasons the midfield has been so much improved since January. Before the match Jonny, who has been at uni for the past 5 years so hasn’t attended so many games decided to make his 3rd appearance of the season. The other two were Sheffield United (away) and Bristol City (home). Each time he put a first goal scorer, each time we conceded within the first minute. Learning from his lesson he went for last goal scorer and picked McAnuff. My tip was Cauna at 16/1 but chose not to waste my £1. We weren’t playing well but it still seemed to come as a gut wrenching shock when Southampton took the lead. It is becoming a worrying trend that we seem to be conceding quite a few goals from corners. The ball came in, the Saints player was free and powered a header past Loach who had no chance. It reminded me of the goal against Charlton. I sunk back in my seat but kept the hope that the Saints defence would buckle at some point despite the fact we hadn’t put any real pressure on them. Cauna took a while to get into the game but once he got used to the style he showed some nice touches, intelligent play and the signs were promising. Doyley took the throw in finding Priskin who pulled the ball back for the Latvian. It looked at first glance like it was slightly lucky, that Davis had made a mistake, however judging by the match reports it seems that wouldn’t give the goal justice. It did however take everyone in the Rookery by total surprise. Far from encouraging the players we seemed to become even more subdued (if that was indeed possible) and there were few real chances of note though Loach was forced into a good save. We were improved in the second half finally showing greater threat in the attack however Priskin, who a few games ago looked unbeatable in one on one situations was wasteful followed by the usually reliable Smith. The game was open and both teams were trying to break the deadlock and Southampton had their own chance to take the lead when Euell broke free into the box. My breath was caught in my throat but thankfully he delayed his shot and Loach did well to save. Jonny’s excitement levels rose to extreme levels midway through the first half when Rose crossed. The ball took a couple of deflections and McAnuff tried to head it in but couldn’t get enough power on the ball and it was cleared off the line. The goal finally came from Priskin and came from McAnuff. The ball came in Cork flicked the ball on and Priskin instinctively knocked the ball past the keeper. The Saints fans who had previously been critising our support (a bit rich considering in the past 2 matches at Saint Mary’s a number of their fans have left before half time) fell completely silent. With that we went on a rampage and should have scored more. The game should have been over. Priskin had two chances to seal it but seemed to have too much time and the chances went. We should have had a penalty when McAnuff was fouled in the box, true the foul started outside but the referee did not blow. He played advantage, when McAnuff went down he brought play back. It was one of those where if the penalty had been given there would have been complaints but penalties have been given for much less (not least at Ninean Park) but it’s unlikely the refs are going to give a controversial decision in our favour this season? At 2.1 there was always a risk Southampton would equalise and to their credit their players continued to battle. With the minutes ticking away Rodgers made a tactical error. He took off Priskin and brought on a defender who had never played a minute of English football. It wasn’t the defenders fault, but it wasn’t a sensible decision as it changed the shape. Sure enough the change was almost immediately punished when Southampton equalised. It was a superb strike but devastating all the same. Yet again it was ill discipline from our team and a decision by a match official that cost us. The Southampton fans celebrated like they were staying up, at the time I felt a draw didn’t suit them, but on second thoughts coming back from the dead might be the kick they needed. As for us, it was another blow and it feels like the refereeing world is against us. I mentioned during the game it’s the fault of Boothroyd and whilst it was partly in jest he was the one who encouraged the perception that we would try to ‘win at all costs’. He was the one who made people (referees) think we were a physical side, a side who would attempt to manage the game if it was needed. We are not that team anymore, in fact even at the end of Boothroyd’s reign we lacked the height, strength and battle. We are now a flair side but referees don’t seem to notice when our players are getting fouled and Southampton did their fair share which went unpunished. Rose should have scored immediately from our first attack from the restart, the ball was crossed in at a perfect height, he was unmarked at the back post but seemed to jump over the ball and the chance was gone. With seconds to go Southampton received another free kick. The bloke behind summed it up when he said ‘So we’re gonna lose 3.2 then’. It seemed destiny, but thankfully it was a wasteful effort. This weekend is huge for most teams in the league - it‘s so tight there are very few who appear to have nothing to play for. Both teams we play over the weekend are fighting for their lives, and we certainly aren’t safe yet either but we are in a much better position than most could have hoped for when we were first due to play Southampton.
