BURNLEY AT ST MARYS

Can Saints recapture their form from the first half against Chelsea and get the 3 points? Or will Burnley follow up their win against Man City with another good result?


I have a horrible feeling that this one could be a big embarrassing banana skin.......

Well I am expecting a tough game and Ings has been a handful last couple of games we have played Burnley but am hoping the team will be full of confidence from the point at Chelsea. Sure he will stick with Long and Mane up front and think we will actually score 2 goals for just the third time in 2015, Burnley to score though so a tight game but think we will win.

Well at the end a comfortable win though there were occasions during the game when it was not comfortable. bad news is the injury to Forster. saints had started okay but no real threats to either side when another long ball which Forster should really have come out and collected, he stayed on his line, ball played back and when he went to clear under pressure from Vokes injured his knee, will want to see on tv if Vokes made any contact as would be a stupid challenge but was typical of Burnley admire the will to keep running but a fine line with being dirty. Kelvin came on and soon had to make a decent save from Vokes. Pelle was having a pretty awful game unable to control the ball and when he had chances to shoot always looked to pass. The formation with just 2 "proper" midfield players in Davis and Schneiderlin meant we seemed unable to control the game, Burnley content to pump the ball long and hit in crosses at every opportunity. Schneiderlin had a shot that went wide.

Saints got the lead following some decent hold up play by Pelle, he fed the ball out to the left, cross came in but headed away, founds its way to Clyne on right edge of box, he had a shot which was going across goal and wide, Pelle tried to connect but missed completely but ball found long in 6 yard box and his first time side foot shot went into roof of net. Kelvin then made a superb save diving to his right to palm around for a corner a goal bound shot. S Davis then got on the end of a cross but his header was tipped over.

Saints subbed Tadic at half time for Wanyama, think he had not started due to being 1 booking away from a 2 match ban and immediately looked far more solid with Wanyama winning lots of the ball and Davis who had been poor first half having a much better second half playing further forward. Davis had a chance early on when the ball fell to him about 6 yards out to the left of goal but he fired into the side netting when really should have gone across goal. Saints got the important second goal following good work on the left. saints throw in and some close passing between Bertrand, Mane and Davis with a flick over for Bertrand to get in the box on the left, his cross was pulled back and Burnley CH could only get his knee on the ball and fire past their goalie. Fonte had a header from a corner that went well over and Pelle as last had a goal bound effort but a straightforward catch for the goalie. Burnley were far less of a threat second half mostly Ings chasing down anything, Vokes was disappointing a definite championship striker and needs to lose a couple of stone, very static. Pelle nearly got enough on a decent flying header following good work by Long, had a shot blocked and looked much better second half, at least going for goal. Ings went off with 5 minutes left and game was effectively over.

Worry is that Forster may be out for rest of season as looked like a knee problem, need not have happened if he had come out and collected the ball. Kelvin was far more willing to come and deal with crosses but who now goes on the bench, Cropper of Gazziniga?

Davis 8 MOTM for me, came in and showed no nerves and played like the superb pro he is.
Clyne 6 a sort of assist with his shot that was missing but again no where near performance in first half of season
Fonte 7 solid at the back
Toby 7 at times imperious though Ings did catch him a couple of times
Bertrand 8 much more of a threat than Clyne, good work for second goal.
Schneiderlin 7 looked comfortable with the ball
Davis 7 first half was poor but much better second half
Tadic 5 hardly in the game and no surprised he was subbed
Mane 6 not as effective as was out wide most of the time but did work well
Long 7 put in a decent shift and well taken goal
Pelle 6 would have been 5 based on first half but looked better once we had a 2 goal lead

Subs
Counted kelvin as if started
Wanyama 7 made a big difference when he came on bossed the midfield

Thanks Matty, another 3 points.

Seems likely from what was said on MOTD that Forster will be out for the rest of the season at least......... Vokes did not seem at fault, Forster just fell awkwardly. A bad day for keepers, as the Spurs keeper was stretchered off after just a few minutes as well.
I suppose Boruc's loan agreement does not include provision for recalling him in circumstances like this?


Overall I thought we looked a bit sharper than sometimes when going forward but rather shaky. But I did think we were worth the win and was annoyed when the crew on MOTD said Burnley deserved something from the match.

http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/03/21/report-artur-boruc-will-not-be-returning-to-southampton-despite/page/1/


See Matt Mogg's comment at the foot of the page there.

Second half we did dominate, Burnley hardly had any attempts on goal and certainly none I recall where Kelvin had to make a save. We should have had at least 2 goals second half and think Forster being stretchered off had an impact on saints first half. Playing Mane, Long, Pelle and Tadic for me will never work as leaves the midfield short and the difference was when Wanyama replaced Tadic.

Real shame about Forster , yes Vokes was not at fault but if Forster had come out and collected the ball when shown by the defender he would never have been under any pressure with his kick.

What is being missed with our run for top 4 is 5 wins from our last 8 games will guarantee 7th place, we have a 10 point gap which is a great place to be, Liverpool v Arsenal cup final please. Lets win those home games (Hull, Spurs and Villa) so all winnable and then see if we can beat Sunderland and Leicester we will be there , COYRs