SWANSEA AT ST MARY'S

Can Saints get 3 more points in the bag?

I would settle for a draw, Swansea have impressed me this season but both play similar styles so while everyone is expecting a great game if we will cancel each other out. Will be interesting to see how Fonte and Lovren handle Bony and Michu. Plus of course Dyer will be a menace.

I am going for a low scoring game 1 - 1

Got a feeling we may win this by one goal.....maybe 2-1. Fingers crossed.....

Well your feeling was right Mike though have to say we rode our luck today. Swansea dominated possession for long periods, Dyer had freedom of the park with Fox to play but some resolute defending saw us through and 2 good goals has seen us back into 4th.

Shaw was not fit and although thought might go with Chambers RB and Clyne at LB in came Fox. Have to say he was pretty awful, clearly has no confidence which showed in a lack of commitment in making any tackles and his passing was just as bad, when he did well and won the ball then gave it away cheaply. He is proving a liability and he seems to know.

Fairly open start with Swansea knocking the ball well, they had Routledge, Dyer, ,Michu and Bony so knew would be a tough day. Mind you if Dean , who I think is one of the worst refs in the PL had been up with play could have been an easier game. Ball went out the Swansea box, Vorm went to gather but under pressure from Osvaldo, clearly handled the ball, dean gives a goal kick. If he had got it right should have been a red card. Osvaldo then had a chance at the far post but couldn't get the ball out of his feet and when he did shoot from right side blasted over the bar. Osvaldo did a good flick to Lallana which ended up in a corner. Then saints got the lead through a good goal by Lallana. Ball was knocked over and Davis played a good ball to lallana in a similar position to Osvaldo and lallana hit a great volley past Vorm into the far side of goal. Then he had another shot and was clearly buzzing.

Swansea came back though Michu had a good header well saved by Boruc pushing around the post, then saved from Michu and gather a low difficult cross from Dyer. Dyer was very unlucky not to score, he was having fun against Fox cut in from the right inside the box and shot which hit the inside of the left hand post, then went all along the front of the goal and somehow bent around the right hand post to go out for a goal kick. Lambert had a free kick from about 25yards which Vorm got down well to as looked like going in at far post. Bony then got in a decent header which Boruc saved and then Dean in 2nd minute of injury time when only 1 given allowed Swansea another attack and Dyer pulled the ball back for Michu to get in a header on goal but was straight down the middle and Boruc had an easy catch.

Saints started slowly 2nd half, with Swansea dominating possession, they had a few crosses but no one on the end Bony had one header but put well wide. Then Shelvey had a free kick from just on the edge of the penalty box which thought he would blast but went for gentle chip which thankfully went over the top of the goal. Osvaldo went off, had taken a knock earlier and was replaced by Ward Prowse clearly in an effort to try and stem the flow from Swansea and provide some cover to Fox. Lambert was next to be replaced by J Rod and clearly with 1 up front Rickie was struggling. Swansea were still looking threatening but saints were gradually getting back into the game. the crowd in the Northam also recognised the need for support and had a good 5 minutes of Oh when the saints which got louder and seemed to coincide with saints battling back in the game. looked like saints had got that important second following a corner, headed on and Wanyama poked home, only for Dean to disallow. My view is it was never a corner in the first place, blatantly was a goal kick and reckon Dean realised and evened it up by disallowing the goal, poor referee and should be retired.

Thankfully saints got that all important second goal with ball over the top they didn't deal with and JRod was on hand to control and fire across Vorm. Against the run of play but all credit to saints for battling back having been under pressure for long periods. Game over really as shown by Guly coming on for davis, we won at home 2 nil with Guly AND Fox on the pitch!

Boruc 9 really great handling took some difficult low crosses, have a worry for England when he is in this form.
Cline 8 strong game tested defensively and got forward well when he got a chance
Fonte 7 tough game couple of errors, poor back pass nearly lost us a goal but stuck at it.
Lovren 8 another great display against top class strikers
Fox 4 he really is a liability, was targeted all day by Swansea and his confidence is shot, his passing was also atrocious to day.
Schneiderlin 7 lot of tackling to day
Wanyama 7 again some great stuff and some awful staff. Came strong at the end of the game
Davis 8 really battled well
Lallana 9 I am not his biggest fan but back to his best today
Lambert 7 plenty of work and won a few balls but couple of time when he a chance to shoot he was looking to pass, need to get greedy.
Osvaldo 7 some neat touches and good balls through which we were slow to pick up on.


Excellent result, keeps us 4th and go to Old Trafford in good heart, just need Shaw to be fit as afraid Fox is simply not up to the job, would rather have Targett or Yoshida.

Thanks for another excellent report Matty. From the TV highlights it seemed Boruc was clearly man of the match, while a few others had good games especially Clyne and Lallana.

Has Dyer improved an awful lot since leaving Saints or is it just my imagination??

Thanks Matty, nice report.

Your welcome Pete.

Yes Mike, Dyer has definitely improved but he may have looked better as was up against poor Danny Fox. when he played for us was juts used as a winger, get down the flank and cross. now cuts inside more and has a goal threat.