CAN WE GET BACK ON TRACK AGAINST BRISTOL ROVERS?

What are your thoughts on Saturday's game?

well hopefully have got the loss out of the system. Barnard and Lambert should be more than capable of getting the goals to get us 3 points. Please no Diamond Nigel!

No Lallana, not even on the bench.

Davis, Butterfield, Fonte, Jaidi, Dickson, Guly, Stephens, Hammond, Forte, Barnard and Lambert.
Subs: Bialkowski, Richardson, Seaborne, Gobern, Chaplow, Connolly and N'Guessan.

4-4-2 and no diamond, thank god.

C'mon Saints, win. Stuff this up and if Huddersfield/Peterborough win, automatic promotion will be out of our hands.

Got away with it. Adkins has got problems now with Barney looking like he'sout for a while and 13 attempts on target with only 1 goal. Shooting practice required?

I wonder if it was as bad in the flesh as it sounded on the radio? The 'taters reckoned that Rovers 'wanted it more' which, imo is unacceptable when Saints are going for promotion. It sounded dire, with Saints very nervous but we can't afford nerves at this late stage of the season.

The injuries are worrying as much as the nerves are...Chamberlain, Lallana, Harding, Schneiderlin and now Jaidi and Barnard, all at precisely the wrong time.

Five games left, one is a game in hand. Win four and we're up. Sounds easy...but Saints don't do 'easy'.

Certainly Rovers were up for it 1st half but easy to chase and kick players makes it hard to play football. First half we were poor but much better second half. Plenty of pressure shots, near misses good saves etc. Rovers defended deeply and played 4 5 1. Always in that case the longer it goes without scoring the more frustrated the fans and players can get. Credit to the fans and players as they didnt lose faith and kept up the noise level and the pressure and got their just rewards. Have to admit how many more of these close games I can take!

No Lallana which was a worry, I would have on the bench even if he wasn't going to play just to worry the other side!
Difficult start with lots of misplaced passes, Rovers could have gone ahead when Kaffour had a chance from 6 yards but Davis made a crucial block.Lambert then had a chance with a header but flicked wide of the post. Guly then so nearly scored a high ball to him on right hand side of box which he volleyed superbly but somehow their goalie managed to block with his leg. If that had gone in then game may have been much easier. Lambert had a shot but comfortably saved then a great example of the terrible ref we had to put up with. Stephens scythed down but we had ball and were breaking. ref blows brings the ball back but just talks to the Rovers players. Either play advantage and talk later or book the player. As a result the challenges form Rovers got harder and later. Jaidi went off early, he had stretched earlier and Seaborne was brought on, must admit think Jaidi has been great lately but he simply can't keep pace with the number of games. Forte had a header which he did well to head downwards but bounced up and with goalie beaten hit the bar. The debate over female linos took a step backward with our female making some poor decisions. Gave a throw in when Guly had the ball and clearly kept in then the dork ref booked Fort who caught the ball but it was already out of play. She bottled it and didnt intervene as cant be booked if ball has already gone out of play. Ref continued to make cr*p decisions booked Barnard and Rovers player but the rovers player had grabbed Barnard, ref didnt see so books both! Butterfield had a terrible half, three times he passed straight to a Rovers player and better players would have made us pay.

Half time, and disappointing performance by saints was masked by the loud boos for the ref and his linos, they should be embarassed at their performance. Saints had 3 players booked first half yet the ones being kicked!

Nearly went in front at start of half as Guly had chance which he pulled wide. Forte nearly got the opener when ball played through by Lambert and he stretched but his poked shot just went wide. Also looked like he pulled something in stretching. Looked like Connolly was going to come on for Forte but following a cross which Barnard got up well to challenge but seemed to land awkwardly and ended up going off on a stretcher. Doesn't look good and without Lallana, Chamberlain, Scheniderlin now Barnard we probably shouldnt be to surprised that struggling to reach peak form.

Rovers were little threat in second half, main outlet was ball over the top for Kaffour to run on to but Fonte and Davis dealt with. Lambert should have scored when he had a great chance with a header but put over the bar. just head downwards and it would have gone in. Lambert then had a decent shot from outside the box which just went wide of the post. Just when you think it will be one of those days the enigma Guly turned hero. Stephens and Lambert combined to get Guly in the box, he took a couple of touches and lashed home a shot into the left hand corner. Cue frantic celebrations by fans as the tension was relieved. Guly is so unpredictable, at times great ball control and does have a goal threat but other time gives the ball away and just doesn't put the work in when playing in midfield. Nguessan came on for Forte who had gamefully carried on, beginning to warm to this player who looks okay. Nguessan then had a hard rising shot turned over by their goalie before we had to endure 5 minutes of extra time. Couple of crosses into the box which caused some worries and one chance when player came in at far post but Davis blocked but flag was up for off side.

Well another tough game but 3 points. Not a great performance but at least we kept going. Injuries have to be a major concern now as looked like Barnard's was serious and no lallana reduces our goal threat. Some positive was Connolly came on and looked lively, Forte looks ok and Stephens after a difficult first half thought he had a good second half. Guly scored but just cant make my mind up about him, think he is like marmite you either like it or hate it!

Davis 7 didnt have much to do but when he had to he was there.
Butterfield 5 poor distribution yet again, cant believe he gets picked ahead of Richardson
Jaidi 6 looked knackerd!
Fonte 8 took control at the back.
Dickson 7 got forward more in the second half.
Forte 7 Unlucky not to score with his header and was a threat at times
Hammond 6 poor first half improved in second
Stephens 7 Not a flash player but lots of short passes but unlike Butterfield to a saints player!
Guly 7 such a frustrating player lazy for most of the game but has spurts when he charges all over the place. Great goal unlucky 1st half with shot.
Barnard 7 as always buzzing all over the place, injury a big concern, think will play Guly up front but at least Connolly looked lively. Can he stay fit
Lambert 7. A few shots but should have scored with header, didnt put in the work rate again at the end he strolled around the park

Subs
Seaborne 7 did well after he came on for Jaidi
Connolly 7 was lively
Nguessen 6 one decent shot but looks like will get to play next couple of games.

Ref & linos 2 poor, poor and poor

You mention the female lino, but was she really bad as that or just being mentioned because she's a woman in a man's game? Don't forget plenty of male lino's make some really crap decisions, too. From what I heard on the commentary she did make a good decision in the last minute of injury time which could have saved us 2 points as Rovers were in on goal. I'm not accusing you of sexism, just wondering.

I though Sian had a very quiet game (which is a good thing for an official) but couldn't really see the Guly incident that Matty refers to from where I sit. Shame that the same can't be said for the ref who spoilt the game really. I rarely say anything about the officials but he was the worst I can remember for a long time, stopping play constantly and dishing out yellow cards for every foul in the first half which only wound up the players on both teams and the fans.

As normal I agree with almost everything Matty has said about the game. Not a classic but a gritty performance from Saints and a deserved win. Guly won it with a good goal and was really unlucky not to have another in the first half but he can be fustrating at times.

This team has a huge amount of character and the spirit amongst the squad is obvious to see, undoubtedly the best it has been since the Strachan days. As time goes by I am more and more impressed by NA. He is not a show off and is a modest and very hardworking man who clearly has earnt a lot of respect from the players. His attitude is reflected in the attitudes of the players who deserve to be where they are. Injuries are starting to become a concern but we have seen over the last few weeks that fringe players can come in and do a good job and NA's man management skills no doubt have played an important role in this. Forte I thought was always a threat today and put in a few good balls, Dickson is in good form, Seaborne passed the ball out from the back really well today. The big plus now is having DC back and I was reminded how good he can be today. The guy is great with both feet and has a superb footballing brain. I just hope he can stay fit for the last few games!

Onwards we go!

Hope Barney's injury isn't too bad. Hate to see any player go off on a stretcher and we will miss him if he is out for a while.