SHREWSBURY IN THE CUP: Post-match reaction

Put it here....

WTF?

92 mins of being shut down by Shrewsbury, with me thinking we don't want a replay, will someone (don't care who) please stick it in the back of the net when up pops Connolly first as scorer then as provider.

Poor performance from Saints until Connolly came on with 5 minutes to go and showed the rest of the lads how to play football.

Better late than never!

Pretty poor game suddenly came to life in extra time and can't believe we actually won by 2 goals!

NA obviously gave Fonte and Schneiderlin weekend off with Jaidi starting and Guly given chance up front with Lambert on bench. Think Fonte decision a good call with still Martin on bench but with only Wotton midfield on bench wasn't the usual pressure on players in starting 11, surprised that Puncheon wasn't on bench.

Pretty scrappy first half with Shrewsbury playing 10 men behind the ball and making life difficult for Saints. To be fair we seemed to struggle with ideas to break them down, main threat came from Chamberlain with his crosses. Chaplow had a shot when well placed but went over the bar and Saints first real threat was a header from Guly after 30 minutes from a Lallana corner, met it well but Shrewsbury who defended well had a player on line to head over. Not much else in first half though Davis had to make a couple of smart saves to prevent an undeserved lead to Shrews.

Second half was more one way traffic as Shrewsbury dropped deeper and saints had more pressure but struggled to break through. Main threat was coming from Lallana who was able to regularly beat his man and get his cross in but never came to anything. Chamberlain was more quiet second half and saints brought on Lambert for him, putting Guly out wide right. We had plenty of corners but to high and close to goal and the big Shrewsbury defenders dealt with fairly easily, we need to vary our corner routine.

Chaplow had a couple of chances and while I am a big fan as he wins the ball in midfield don't think he will get many goals for us! Looked like heading for a replay with saints bringing on Connolly and Holmes for Guly and Barnard with 5 minutes to go, both were on side for about 4 minutes as ball wouldn't go out of play. 4th official signalled 3 minutes extra time and Shrewsbury fans were suddenly vocal as looked like had done enough for a replay when Lallana broke through in penalty area had a shot saved by goalie which seemed to bounce up and Connolly hooked into net. Couldnt believe we had finally scored. Shrewsbury clearly deflated, tried a quick shot from ko which trickled through to Kelvin and we built attack down left side. I was shouting take into corner but lallana had other ideas cut inside penalty box from left hand side and buried ball in right side of goal, bit of class out of keeping with game, Two goals in about a minute meant we were in draw for next round but we had not been convincing at all. Shrewsbury came to make life difficult and nearly succeeded, little going forward and in 2nd half don't think Kelvin had a shot to save.

Davis 7 Couple of good saves in 1st half
Richardson 7 looks a useful prospect at RB
Seabourne 7 another fairly solid game
Jaidi 7 dodgy in first 5 min but settled down after and very solid.
Harding 6 didnt think he had his best game
Chamberlain 7 main threat in first half less threat 2nd
Hammond 6 wasnt as good as Tuesday, lost the ball a few times
Chaplow 8 For me best player loads of tackles and just doesnt give up
Lallana 7 made the 1st goal and scored 2nd but had a poor first half
Guly 5 Just didnt put any effort in for me but if played out of position, played his best last 5 min in central midfield
Barnard 6 didnt really get going today.

Subs
Lambert 6 still looks of the pace
Connolly 7 broke the3 deadlock thank god
Holmes 6 he touched the ball

Final word goes to NC CE who I am not a fan of. Had a band , big screen tv and cheap drinks in Itchen concourse after game went along and great way to finish the day, might not have been if we hadnt won. Will be there on 20th and well done to saints to putting this on, hopefully more will take part. Apologies to band for the cheer when Robbie Savage scored his pen against the skates!

Thanks again Matty

Was a alright result to be fair, we shud'nt have left it soo late though, but fair play to Connolly for the effort, lets hope he can do this in and out every week.

Welcome to Southampton World Olly!