HOME TO WEST HAM

Anything less than 3 points would make it a pretty disastrous start to the season, so can we get the win?

This game was switched to St Marys as the West Ham ground is not ready? If so, I'm thinking that it's a little unfair on Saints as it will mean a run of away fixtures later in the season. If this is being done to suit West Ham, then I think it would be only fair for both fixtures to be played at St Marys....

Law of averages says we will score soon at home so am going for a 2 - 1 win, providing Carroll doesn't play. Hoping Lemina starts and think Long should be given an opportunity with either Redmond or Tadic dropped

Well 3 points so happy with that but not happy with the performance or Pellegerino who seems very similar to Puel when it comes to favourites

Fairly even start to match, Lemino looked at home and showed some neat touches. Stephens lost the ball in a dangerous position but fortunately Yoshida covering saved him. Antonio went wide for WHam before saints took the lead with Redmond doing just about the only positive thing all day when he slipped the ball into the left side of the box and Gabbadini shot across Hart who was a bit slow getting down and the ball went in just by far post. Tadic was doing nothing and lucky just a yellow card when he took out Arnautovich on the touchline waist high. really poor tackle and think Mason let him off knowing he is crap at tackling but was a stupid foul to give away. Forster then came to the rescue with a decent save down at his near post from a header. Game took a turn when Arnautovich picked up a stupid red, he had been in a collison with Lemina earlier but was a 50/50 high ball and for some reason best known to him took out Stephens with an elbow to his head. I didn't see originally as following the ball, though saw Stephens go down, fortunately Mason was actually watching as was the lino and when seen again no doubt a red card, (Hernadez for them said "not a full red card" ) well trust me it was a full red!

Then couple of minutes later saints extended the lead, Davis beat Fonte in the box with Fonte pulling him back with a half nelson on his neck. Cannot understand why players object when so obvious. Gabbadini wanted to take but Tadic insisted and would not let go of the ball, selfish as ever and his penalty was pretty poor, more of less down the middle but fortunately Hart had dived early and while he got his foot to it the ball went in. So 2 up, WHam down to 10 men should have been a stroll, but not this saints team. Davis should have scored when in a good position but blasted over then Cedric was set up probably about 10 yards out and again blasted over. Poor finishing and not acceptable that neither made Hart make a save. Then just before half time we backed off and backed off Antonio had a shot which Forster got down and saved but Hernandez fired in the rebound.

Second half we seemed slow and you couldn't really tell we had a man advantage, our build up play was slow and predictable, Davis fired wide then Hernadez had a shot Forster saved to his left. Gabbadini then I think fed up with lack of service had a dipping shot from outside the box tipped over. First sub was JWP for Lemina after 65 minutes, no doubt due to lack of fitness but he was still doing more than Redmond and Tadic. Saints then conceded an equalizer when Sakho won another header, we were poor defensively in the air all day, Forster did well to keep out but again our defenders were sleeping and Hernadez got there first and fired in. With 10 minutes left Pellegrino finally brought on our other subs, Long and Austin though amazingly Tadic and Redmond stayed on with Davis and Gabbadini taken off. Long had the ball in the net but looked an obvious push on Hart, Redmond had a deflected shot off the top of the bar and just when it looked like we had thrown away another two points, a cross back into the box and Yoshida was fouled by Zabaletta, who had looked good all game. Be interesting to see on TV tonight, it did look a foul, bit soft for a penalty but how many times are fouls outside the box always given but not when in the box. Austin took the ball and fortunately Tadic no where to be seen, and a lot of delaying tactics. Austin kept his cool took his time and saw Hart go early to his right and went to his left.. No time for any more drama so we have 4 points on the board, should be 6 but could easily have been 2.

Worrying for me when we were poor in second half Pellegerino kept rolling his hands to say work more but left Tadic and Redmond lazing around the pitch, instead of 11 v 10 those two made if 9 v 10, he also sat down when at 2 - 2, don't do a Puel. You do wonder how much advice he is getting from Black but hope he gets his own man in so he makes his own calls.

Forster 7 did okay, no fault with the goals and a couple of decent saves
Cedric 7 excellent first half and carried on in second.
Stephens 6 individually is okay but quite weak in the air and needs to paly alongside a dominant CB
Yoshida 7 again weak in the air, his headed clearances do not go far but his covering was good and seems more mobile than Stephens.
Bertrand 5 didn't have a good game at all, didn't seem fully fit and he certainly doesn't seem to enjoy playing with Redmond.
Romeau 7 Got through a lot of tackles. he is our rock
Lemina 6 decent first game, bit like Schneiderlin, a couple of meaty tackles though rolled around when he got the ball in the groin area, will need to man up.
Davis 6 busy but playing forward is a bit pointless with his atrocious finishing.
Tadic 5, yet again poor lack of effort, lucky only a yellow card and his penalty poor but he did score, would have been a 4 otherwise
Gabbdini 6 took his goal well, decent shot later, to often out wide and no one took his place in the box.
Redmond 4 a good pass to set up Gabbadini but this guy would not start in most other Premiership sides, ship him to Liverpool, he started poor last year

Subs
JWP 6 some decent crosses, hit with pace and lower than those from Tadic and Cedric high and to back post easy for CBs against our forwards
Long 6 didn't have much chance with just 10 minutes,
Austin 6 great penalty, kept his cool.

Wolves next and I am hoping to see Targett, McQueen, JWP, Hojberg, Long and Austin to start and show Pellegrini to look at others, I hope Tadic and Redmond are nowhere the side.

Thanks Matty.

Great report Matty, thanks

Don't always see all the detail at the game, on highlights Romeau got well beaten for Antonio's shot leading to first goal, Bertrand now where, second goal Prowse slow to close down, though Tadic was on that side, Yoshida wrong side, Stephens completely lost in the box, was nowhere near anyone and Cedric not as quick off the mark as the striker.

Still without doubt Noble should have been red carded first so Lee Mason didn't get everything right and think was decent penalty shout for hand ball against Stephens

What did you think of Lemina Matty? All I saw of him on highlights was a couple of bad passes!!