MAN UNITED AT ST MARY'S

Can Saints get a win???

not with Hughes in charge I am afraid. No doubt the same 433 formation as in previous games, same tactics just shuffle the deck of players. Watch Hoedt walk straight back onto the team.

2 0 defeat and while I should be happy withy that as will mean closer to Hughes departure if we are really going to go for Souza as his replacement then I really do des[air, just because Souza has managed in China seems to be what is persuading Goa and his cronies to go for him yet his record at QPR and Leicester in the premiership was awful.

Sack Hughes, being in Alladyce for 6 months to not just keep us up but bring some structure to the team and tactics. Then appoint a younger manager and give them time to develop a side

Well a better performance and at least we didn't lose even though we again threw away a lead. Odd selection in that Valerey made his league debut and played as a wing back, with a back 3 of Yoshida, Vestergard and Stephens. At least Hoedt was dropped.

We nearly went behind in the first minute when we messed around at the back ball played back to McCarthy who had a Foster minute and missed the ball, Rashford back heeled the ball into the box but Utd players contrived to miss the gift. We really didn't have much of an attacking threat but took the lead with a well worked goal, Redmond cut in from the right seemed to get boxed in but Obefemi took the ball and played to Armstrong in space on right side of box and he fired a good shot across DeGea into the far corner. That gave some confidence to the team and the second came after Lemina was hacked down by Rashford, Cedric took the free kick and placed perfectly in the top left hand corner, reminded me of a Rickie Lambert free kick. Even though two up didn't feel confident and both goals we conceded were a result of poor defending, Firstly Redmond gave the ball away in the middle of the pitch, Yohsida was then brushed of the ball by Rashford with Vestergard losing his man and ball played to Lukaku who even he couldn't miss.  Saints had a free kick  that was wasted by Hojberg and then surrendered another goal, Vestergard was caught out of position then Yoshida failed to close out Rashford, clearly thinking he had done enough and that ball was going out, he seemed more intent not conceding a corner . Ball was pulled back and bundled in though thought Mcarthy could have spread himself a bit better.

Second half didn't see a lot of action but Saints looked relatively comfortable in terms of actual shots on goal, the main threats coming from set pieces. Redmond had a decent shot from outside the box tipped over by Degea then Hojberg hit a low dipping shot that again Degea saved well. Still a bit nervy to the end as Utd given a free kick right at the death but dealt with comfortably.

Ref Friend actually had a fairly decent game, think he should have booked Fellani much earlier as he caught Redmond with his arm then did the same to Lemina which he was booked for.

McCarthy 6 no chance first goal think he could have done better at his near post for the second.
Cedric 7 played on left side and great free kick
Yoshida 5 weak challenge for the first and poor with the second goal but needs to play regularly
Vestergard 5 did okay but again slow in the build up to both their goals but again needs games to get used to Premiership
Stephens 7 played on right side of back 3 and pretty solid, one great challenge on Luke Shaw that put ball in row Z and Shaw nearly in row A.
Velerey 6 looked exposed at times and didn't really do much going forward and should have been subbed after around 65 minutes but Hughes oblivious, decent start
Hojberg 5 gave the ball way a fair bit.
Lemina 7 another good game from Lemina had a running battle with Pogba and came of best.
Armstrong 7 probably a 6 based on all round game but goals for us are priceless and beginning to show what he did at Celtic.
Redmond 7 a good game from an attacking viewpoint made plenty of positive runs but his decision making is still suspect. With some coaching could he become more like Sterling?
Abefemi 6 has some pace but his first touch not great and his lack of height means playing as CF he will struggle but  he did okay for a youngster

Lots of fans were happy with a point against Utd but this was a poor Utd team and there for the taking, defensively all over the place. We cannot hold onto leads yet we start likes of Valerey and Romeau remains on the bench when crying out for his defensive duties.  Clearly Hughes doesn't seem him playing in same team as Hojberg and Lemina but a decent coach/manager would work that one out.

Rumour is that Hughes will be gone this week with Flores the latest name in the frame, will be interesting to see as a few "in the know" comments on a fans website has seen Flores gone from 14/1 to 4/5 in an hour!

Thanka Matty.

Pity that Lemina picks up a suspension!!

But can do against Spurs a game we would probably lose then be available for Cardiff and Huddersfield, almost like it was deliberately timed?