IPSWICH POST-MATCH REACTION

Put it here......

Excellent performance, except the last five minutes where we let Ipswich get a goal and then panicked. And where did the five minutes stoppage time come from? Ipswich are a division higher but you wouldn't have known who were the higher placed team.

Oh yeah - up your ar$e Keane. that's for THAT thumbs-down gesture when we were relegated in 2005.

Really good team performance from Saints, fully deserved their win. Beating a team from the division above (who are in good form as well) with far from a full strength team shows us just how far we've come. A central midfielder who is good with the ball but can also tackle would make us the best team in this league now. At the moment we are quite direct and score a lot of goals on the break or from set pieces, so a midfielder who can drive us forward as a team like Danns or Stock would be great. Certainly today we were not as good in midfield as Ipswich. Pardew has said several times now that he still intends to replace Mellis, so it looks like we are in luck.

Davis 6 Fine mostly
Thomas 8 Scored a great goal and defended well most of the time
Jaidi 9 Was immense and won every single header throughout the whole game. A real rock in defense for us today.
Perry 7 Generally solid but didn't win enough in the air.
Mills 8 Grew in confidence as the game went on and was quick, athletic and strong in the tackle. Did let his man past him a few too many times but was mostly great.
Lallana 7 Worked hard and defended well but really made nothing going forward and looks like he could do with a rest.
Wotton 7 Battled hard and did his best to keep things going in midfield. Distribution was unimaginative as normal but deservedly got a standing ovation.
James 5 Never really imposed himself on the game and didn't really win the ball enough or use it well.
Holmes 7 Worked hard up and down the wing and tracked back well and kept the width.
Lambert 7 Won plenty of flick ons and almost scored with a 40 yard lob
Barnard 6 Some good movement of the ball but his touch was a bit off and looked a bit lightweight to me. Decent debut, but we were more of a threat with Antonio on.

Subs:
Antonio 7 Came on when the opposition had been weakened and worked hard and used his pace. I would always use him as an impact sub in future.
Gillett 6 Didn't really do much but good to see him back in the team. Perhaps with Hammond and Schniederlin out AP will keep him for a few more games.
Lancashire 5 Only on for a short while but didn't compete and let them past too easily.

Well a good workmanlike performance against a good Ipswich side. Ipswich certainly in the first half knocked the ball around well but AP has built a team that has an element of resilience in the side and never gave up and all of them put in plenty of effort to make life difficult for the Championship side. First 25 min Ipswich were clearly the better side but gradually saints got more into the game and started to create some chances.

Probably against the run of play when we went in front but what a goal to take the lead. Attacking down left when ball was played out wide to right hand side where Thomas out wide controlled, not that well, but from 25 yards and wide on wide just swung through the ball and it simply flew into top LH corner of net. Absolutely stunning goal and well worth watching on ITV tonight, don't believe Thomas will ever score a better goal.

Second half we had them on the back foot more and were creating chances but pretty good cup tie and end to end. Ipswich had a goal disallowed when it looked like it went straight into goal from throw in, got the arrogant Keane off his feet but ref was adamant no goal Then scored second with Lambert free kick and as ever he made the goalie work, got down low to save but Antonio only on a couple of minutes followed up for simple tap in. Lambert nearly added a third with dipping volley which ended up on top of net. Wotton went off with couple of minutes left with Lancashire on and when Ipswich scored on full time and then 5 mins added on yet again another nerve racking final 5 minutes. Ball bounced around all over the place but managed to see out the game which on second half performance should have been more comfortable.

For me thought the defence were immense today. Jaidi had a tough battle against Stern John but gradually imposed himself, Thomas had a good game, Perry as usual covering all over the place and Mills while sometimes caught out of position made a number of great recovery 50/50 tackles. In midfield was where we had a real battle as Ipswich were strong in that area. No lack of commitment and thought Wotton had a really good game just getting his foot in to break up play. James did okay but not great, Lallana much better game than midweek and Holmes got better as game went on, tended to run a round a bit in first half like a headless chicken getting pulled out of position but got better as game went on.

Up front Lambert had his usual battle and was a problem if not obvious goal threat but yet again with the free kick you know he will get on target. Barnard had good first game, holds the ball well, got in some shots and clearly not afraid to work for the team, closed down Ipswich player end of 1st half down by Saints goal line. Antonio came on and did well to follow up for second goal still about him as caused some problems but didnt seem to know what he was going to do with final ball. Great example in injury time down the right free, beats player and just has to go to corner flag. Doesn't look up and just fires in easy cross for their goalie to catch under no pressure and hoof straight down field and put us back under pressure. I know everyone says still learning but even U13 players would have gone to corner to run down clock! Gillet also came on and did okay if not spectacular, Lancashire on for final 5 mins and they score but didnt really see that much of him, opposite end of pitch.

Good cup tie against a decent team, lots of effort from saints and had following not in team Fonte, Seaborne. Otsebor, Hammond, Scheiderlin, Connolly. A real squad being built and twice as many at St Marys compared to Crappon Park. Lets have the Skates at St Marys next round and we can dump them out of cup and by then could be their last game as PFC!!!!!

Davis 7 Made some good saves
Mills 7 bit erratic but did put his body on the line when needed
Jaidi 8 Good battle with Stern John
Perry 7 Battled hard, how old is he?
Thomas 8 good all round game and cracking goal
Holmes 7 better as game went on
Lallana 7 much better work rate
Wotton 8 No clever stuff but the simple stuff is what he does well
James 6 didn't think he had a great game, no lack of effort but seemed off the pace against tough opponents
Barnard 7 encouraging first game, good touch and not frightened to shoot
Lambert 7 put in another hard working effort, free kick created second goal

Subs
Antonio 7 got the goal so have to give credit but still to be convinced
Gillet 6 did okay
Lancashire 6 only 7 mins on pitch and they scored, might be harsh but think he will be gone shortly

All in all another good saturday, no 1 in draw tomorrow, skates no 12

Stern John had lost a lot of weight since he was playing for us.

teamsaint wrote:Stern John had lost a lot of weight since he was playing for us.

Keane does salads for team meals.