Massive stroke of luck for our goal but we'll take it. Not out of this yet, Asprilla close before Porteous scored. Bayo also with a chance. Need to try and push forward more second half, if they get a third though it's probably over.
What a shame We were outclassed , but made a good fight of it. Quite like Porteous further forward. 2nd half probably showed more spirit than we have most season. Looked like the 3rd goal was a handball Fair play to Southampton they are obviously a good team that play at speed and have quality.
We'd have drawn this under peak Cleverley. He's clearly lost the dressing room and run out of ideas. Time for him to go.
I so wanted to give Rajovic a chance. But he’s terrible and his stupid foul has cost us there by extending the game. Given Cleverley made a point of talking up Grieves and saying he’s deserved more minutes than he’s got, I confused why he doesn’t get them when I watch Bayo and Rajovic lumbering around.
FFS. A few people might try and jump down my throat for this considering I've stated I dislike 3 at the back, but Clevs seemed to make a mistake today in switching away from it at this moment in time for such a game, when it had kept us tight at the back for other ones against tough opponents - especially when it meant us playing Porteous at RB who was a complete fish out of water (even more so than TDB had been). Basically all of their attacks, and both of their goals, came from down that side. Surely TDB at RWB would have been the obvious move and then wait to switch back to the more attacking 433 for the game at home vs Hull when Andrews would be able to play RB again. On top of the seeming confusion caused by having shuffled things around so much, we also in general throughout the team started the game as if we hoped our trip to the sunny south coast would be one we'd be spending on the beach, with our energy and concentration levels poor. But at least we showed some character to get ourselves back in to the game and the last minute loss is very annoying - I didn't think the free-kick the ref gave against Rajovic looked one, then it seemed as if the full-time whistle should have been blown before they could have got and taken the corner, then the winner was controlled with the player's arm. Saints have ended up being a bogey team for us all season. Some notes on individual performances - Porteous was hopeless defensively from his RB role, but was at least a threat when he got forwards. Chak continues to be an infuriating player on the ball - 12 minutes in to the game he decides to make a tame shot straight at the keeper from outside the box when he had an easy pass to slot in Asprilla who was through on goal. Then in the second half he has an excellent chance to score from about 8 yards out just to the right of the post where it has a good chance of going in if he can just at least get it on target, but instead he wildly slashes at it to put it wide. It seems that his final ball every single time is just the wrong one. Asprilla also wasted two good scoring opportunities with poor first touches - his trampoline foot is not the kind of trait you'd usually expect to see from a technical South American attacking midfielder (and maybe had Chak put him clean through on goal 12 minutes in he'd have over-run it anyway!). Kone had been a waste of space for most the game, but fair play unlike Chak and Asprilla he was able to have some composure and find a finish when the chance came his way. A shame we couldn't keep our unbeaten run under Clevs going, but it is what it is and maybe he'll gleam some things from it. Also, given Saints have been such an irritating team for us to play against this season maybe it wouldn't be the worst thing if they somehow bu99ered off and went up.
Hand of Flyn. Never a legal goal he pushed that past Bachmann and the ref let it stand. A real tough one to take despite doing very well to come back from a terrible start to draw level. Reminds me a lot like the FA Cup game at the Vic where we were moments from going through then Dennis let them score. Lots of effort second half and we did ourselves proud today overall. We were bound to lose one of these fixtures eventually but at least we played all these teams to the wire, which is encouraging. Porteous at fault for their first goal and TDB for their second. However it's hard to criticise Porteous too much as he redeemed himself with a good goal and came close to a second goal as well. Overall he did pretty well playing as RB. Andrews was supposedly injured but yet still makes the bench? Did not really see the point in taking Bayo off for Raj although he did miss a big chance not long before they scored the winner. Lewis was his usual level of bad, was glad when he went off. Credit to Kone' for putting his poor performances behind him with the equalising goal. I really thought we were going to do another Ipswich and WBA and hold on but today it wasn't to be I guess. Still at least one point from our final three games will see us mathematically safe (I think). Clevs' again did himself proud today by the way we came back and never really threw in the towel. Southampton were bound to push for the winner at the death and it's just a shame their goal came from a bit of cheating. However having said that, ask any Saints fan right now and they will say justice done considering Doucoure' did the exact same thing against them in the PL. If we can at least win at home before the season ends, then I think we can close this season out with a "thank god it's over" rather than "crap we're going down" as it looked likely under VI. Hull and Sunderland to go for that elusive home win now.
Retribution for Doucoure a few years ago. Something in the air this week with officiating in football and tennis. It's been unfathomably poor in Monte Carlo but to add extra minutes and to concede in that manner sticks in the craw. Doesn't excuse the woeful start.
Gutting for us. Didn't help ourselves of course but least we didn't totally fall apart. Positive fightback all in vain at the death with a handball goal in the 9th minute of 7 shown although guess that is a minimum.
The same way deeney scored in the 7th minute of 4 in the Leicester play off game. Although Southampton were lucky to get the additional minute in this case with the ref continuing with a series of set plays.
Seen the 3rd goal again, still don't think it's a handball. What was TDB doing for the 2nd by the way? And can we be honest about the contribution of Dennis this season?
Don't think Mr French was impressed at the end. watfordobserver.co.uk/sport/24251548.ridiculous-stoppage-time-decision-officials-rob-watford/ Probably had to re-write his whole report!
I forgot he was on the pitch to be honest. Bayo at least showed a bit of industry to get forward and at least took a shot on goal. I think Dennis has been very below the level we know he can be at this level especially. It's not as though Southampton marked him out of the game. But to be fair he's had more poor games than good ones. Yes he was rusty when he came back on loan but that excuse just doesn't hold any water now. A bit like when he was with us before, he has games where he bothers and games where he doesn't. Going forward from this point perhaps it's a good thing we let him go in May.
