CARLISLE: Post-match reaction

Put it here.....

Well 3 points but we were poor today and on this performance automatic promotion no chance, thankfully Carlisle were a poor team with no real attacking threat. Guly started up front, Nguessan on left with Barnard on bench along with Lallana. First half was dire, Saints had no energy and so many misplaced passes wasn't true. Nguessan started but for some reason was seldom on left wing and constantly came inside meaning we had little threat on left. Nguessan also had two great chances to open his account, one of the few decent moves of the half involving Chamberlain saw ball pulled across goal but with goal at mercy put over from 12 yards. Then had another chance where he should have hit fist time, tried to control it first knocking the ball about 10 yards away to lose the chance. Lambert had a great chance with a cross from the left, Jaidi could have headed for goal but heard Lambert shout who tried to volley and made poor contact shooting from right hand side of box and missing left hand post. Guly had a free kick which went just over. Only real attempt from Carlisle was a header that Davis made a decent save diving to left but player on line would have covered. Apart from corners not much threat from Carlisle. Carlisle then had a player sent off which was all a bit soft, player had previously been booked and fouled chamberlain but if it was the foul or his complaining got the second yellow card and sent off. Almost immediately saints took the lead, Chamberlain won the ball crossed and Lambert had a flick on header which beat the goalie.

On attempts on goal saints deserved the lead but overall the performance was poor. We were all expecting against 10 man side we would use our pace and width to open them up in the second half. Sadly never happened. Lallana started second half in place of Chaplow, can only think Adkins was worried Chaplow would get sent off as booked first half and had made a couple of feisty challenges, think he was frustrated at the lack of effort from his team mates. Lalllana played central midfield and amazingly Guly seemed to drop into a central role, certainly not up front so 1 up at half time against a side with 10 men Adkins goes 4 5 1. Lots of possession and lots of sideway passing going nowhere. Lambert had a shot on goal in first couple of minutes which goalie saved though had gone to ground early. Hammond had a long range shot then a rare bit of class as Chamberlain cut inside from the right beat a couple of players and through on goal and drew fine save from Goalie down to his right. Nguessan was replaced by Forte, pretty poor home debut to be honest didn't see much of his pace but don't know if it was Adkins tactics keeping him in the middle. Then took off Lambert replacing Barnard but Guly remained in midfield so still only 1 striker. Forte looked a bit better than Nguessan but was playing against tired players. No major threats though we were nervy as one goal is never enough. Carlisle got a couple of free kick in their half which goalie lumped forward and needed a couple of blocks.

Just as well we won as all the others did but something still not right, no energy in the side and Adkins was unable to inspire anything. Guly had a poor game with passes going astray, and whether he was used up front or in middle was again off the pace. Nguessan looks like a player who once every 3 or 4 games will have a good one the others poor. Midfield didnt have any real creativity and Lallana looked as expected rusty when he came on for second half but was played in central midfield as opposed wide left. Think we still have to many players not prepared to put in the effort, Guly, Lambert, Nguessan and can't afford that in this league. At least Chamberlain did have a bit more about him this game though is trying to do lots of fancy staff as opposed the simple stuff and has clearly been watching Arsenal as when fouled now has added a little jump before going down!

Davis 7 not much to do in terms of shots, probably touched the ball more than anyone else with all the back passes.
Butterfield 7 ropey start but settled down and got forward quite a bit
Jaidi 7 as always good in the air, distribution awful!
Fonte 6 gave away a couple of stupid free kicks
Harding 7 like Butterfield got forward well
Nguessen 5 didnt see his pace and missed his chances
Hammond 7 put in a lot of work
Chaplow 6 Put himself about and should have been left on the pitch but told to behave
Chamberlain 7 perhaps expectations have got to high as was critical of him but was involved in all our attacking options
Guly 5 Poor passes and at times looked totally frustrated with Nguessan not being where he thought he should be.
Lambert 7 another stroll in the park for Ricky but scored the goal
Subs
Lallana 6 good to see him back even if off the pace
Barnard 6 no service
Forte 6 looked better than Nguessan

Thanks Matty.