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Saints absolutely MUST get 3 points.......but they won't. I can't make up my mind whether this will be a draw or defeat.

Absolutely do need to get 3 points nothing else will suffice, For once I am going to go for a saints win

Awful game, awful manager awful board.

Pretty sure we will be relegated, another insipid performance, so negative from the start against a poor side that we should have comfortably have beaten.

Yet again plays Redmond and Tadic though with Sims as well so just Romeau and Lemina in midfield. Tadic played in a sort of not 10 role, a position he is hopeless at, Redmond went on the left wing, where he is hopeless at, and Romeau and Lemina had so much to do that rarely got forward and both had poor games. So he left Hojberg and Ward Prowse on the bench and knowing the way he works it will be Sims or Ward Prowse on right, an either or as opposed accommodating both

Think it was 25 minutes before we actually had a shot on goal. and that was weak effort by Sims, Stoke nearly scored with a header that McCarthy did well to keep out, they also had a shot on goal early on when our defence parted as if Moses was there allowing a shot on goal that McCarthy safely gathered. Really nothing of any note from us first half even corners we messed up first two Sims played short to Redmond who then proceeded to pass the ball 30 yards back. First one was bad but to then do the same again was ridiculous. Carillo was totally ineffective, hardly surprising against Zouma. Might have been different if the Diouf had been sent off for stamping on Hoedts foot, video replays show it happened ref saw nothing, pretty much all game and that might have changed the outcome but pretty desperate when you have to reply on playing against 10 men to win. Still Hoedt did get his own back with a strong challenge which left Diouf with a damaged wrist. If you want a sign of how bad the club is at present. Diouf was down injured for a few minutes, they wanted a stretcher, why I am as his wrist but amazingly we didn't have one available, eventually he walked off but what the hell are we as a club playing at when something as basic as that happened, good job he hadn't broken his leg!

Tadic did have a good chance wide on the left of the box but as Tadic always does instead of going for goal turned back and chance lost. Sims had a chance but took to long to get away his shot.

Second half, was not any better for first 15 minutes. Stoke brought Crouch on who won several headers but showed actually what a clever cheat he is. Was constantly holding Stephens shirt but around the back so Ref couldn't see which was stopping him jumping. We could see it clearly but that is something you learn on the training ground, it was so unnatural just a shame referees are so poor that they have no idea what to look out for. After 60 minutes brought on Gabbadini for Tadic a act to check but I don't think Pellegrino has made any subs unless an injury until 60 minutes, just shows he cannot adapt to a game or take a risk and change it early if not working.

Cedric had a decent shot parried by Butland but was really to straight, Sims had a shot but again probably should have shot earlier. Then Stephens had to rescue us with a last ditch tackle after Crouch had set it up. Boufal came on for Sims and had our best chance but headed wide and at the end Long came on, shame he wasn't introduced earlier.

Yes we were the better side second half but of two poor sides, both heading for relegation. Crowd seem resigned like the players that nothing they can do, Reed (fat dumb and lazy) is milking the club for his pension pot and Pellegrino safe in a job he is simply not good enough for, worst manager since Branfoot, and we have had some poor ones in that time (Gray,Wigley, Sturridge etc)

McCarthy 7 didn't have a lot to do but was alert and caught crosses
Cedric 6 he really needs to improve his finishing as has chances
Stephens 6 some dodgy moments but also a couple of decent last ditch tackle
Hoedt 6 similar some good bits but still gets caught for pace
Bertrand 4 looked like he couldn't care less rarely got forward can only think he hates Redmond more than I do!
Romeau 5 a number of errors but the formation was wrong
Lemina 5 similar to Romeau, when players of this calibre play poorly you need to question the manager
Redmond 5 better second half complete dross first half
Tadic 4, contributed nothing
Sims 7 nervous at start, poor touch but got into the game and showed some willingness to attack, with composure he should add some goals
Carillo 5 runs around, never looked liked either scoring a goal or being worth £5m let alone £20m

Subs
Gabbadini 6 made some intelligent runs but our slow approach play meant wasted
Boufal 4 missed our best chance, didn't track back once yet should have been full of running clearly hated the manager so doesn't try
Long 6 at least he ran around when he got on the pitch.

Thanks Matty.

Sorry it makes depressing reading Pete, problem is he doesn't learn. Had to laugh last week in an interview Ward Prowse actually said team were looking at 7th place and Europe? He is either on drugs or deluded but a real worry that mentality is around the club. It is not an issue with 10 games left to go and you are 1 point of the relegation zone to say you are in a battle and have to fight to stay up. Sounds like no one wants to talk about it

Thanks Matty. Must have been painful for you