MK DONS: POST-MATCH REACTION

SaintMike Sat 02 Apr 2011, 12:26 am

Put it here.....

matty07uk Sat 02 Apr 2011, 8:33 pm

Well many more games like this and I will be getting admitted to A&E for my heart attack!

No chamberlain so Adkins went with Guly but as I feared he also went with his diamond formation with Guly seeming to have a free role, which might explain why he was all over the place.

Saints started brightly for first 15 minutes putting MK Dons under pressure and several crosses but not a great deal on the end of it. Barnard had a good run through the middle and although Lallana was free on his left went for goal but Dons goalie got down well to save, as a striker cannot blame him for shooting. Some intricate play saw a chance for Guly on edge of box but he tried to pass to others, Lallana then cut in from left and got a shot away but was a fairly comfortable save. MK Dons had not looked a real threat, were trying the long ball into the channel, mostly Butterfield's side and to see if they could out run him. Really against the run of play Dons took the lead. Jaidi got his head to long ball in but came off the top and went for a corner. From the corner lack of marking gave their CH a free header which was buried past Davis, have to ask who was supposed to be marking must have been Lambert or Guly. poor goal to concede and not the first from a corner with CH left unmarked. Apart form a long range effort form Hammond which was well over the top Saints didnt threaten much up to half time, no corners in first half and missed Chamberlains pace. The diamond formation meant we played down the middle to much and got blocked and the FBs didn't get forward to give the width desperately needed.

Saints started brightly again with Lallana coming more into the game and at least won a couple of corners, 50 minutes to get our first corner when at home suggests not good enough. then got caught on a sucker counter attack. Ball was hit long to their striker on left side in box, Butterfield made no attempt to tackle and allowed him inside with shot on goal and credit to the striker he hit it well but still shouldn't have beaten Davis at near post, similar to the goal conceded against PBoro.

An hour gone, 2 nil down and the side looked totally disorganised. Then a series of substitutions which seemed to take Saints forever to work out what they were going to do. Forte came on for Chaplow who had tried but was getting rattled, think the diamond shape frustrates him. Stephens then came on for Guly. By the way never listen to saints fans from Salisbury! Forte came on and regular from Salisbury said he was ******* rubbish! Then out of the blue Saints pulled a goal back. Ball in from the left seemed to be flicked on by Barnard and Forte pounced to volley. First touch a goal and so pleased to see one of our strikers actually in around the 6 yard box, someone tell Lambert where it is.

Goal gave the fans a lift and they raised the noise level then 2 minutes later with his second touch Forte gets his and saints second. Lallana went down left fed in Harding his cross/come shot was parried by goalie and Forte in the right place tapped in. Cue wild celebrations on Northam and couldnt believe we had got back into the space of a few minutes. Barnard then fired over from a difficult angle before Adkins made his last change Richardson coming on from Butterfield, good move as Butterfield was getting a tough time.

Then with about 15 minutes left we took the lead, Lallana held the ball up well then fed Barnard on left side who controlled well then buried past goalie, another well taken goal by Barnard. Lallana went on another good run and shot across goal which went agonisingly close and no one else coming in for a tap in. We then had a nervous last 10 minutes plus 5 minutes extra time which was a bit rich as was all down to Dons wasting time from the start, similar to Brighton in trying to slow the game down. Dons had a corner then they claimed for a penalty with Fonte 's arms all over their striker but for me he had backed into Fonte, ball fell to one of their players who shot across goal and went inches past the post. Then Dons given a free kick in dangerous place just outside of box despite no contact being made by Saints player. Ref was going to give something to make up for penalty call. Allowed to take the ball about 5 yards from where it should have been and shot hit the corner of post and bar. If they had taken from right spot might well have gone in, so serves them right. Saints then had a breakaway with Barnard who could have gone for goal but sensibly ran to corner. With Lambert and Lallana down there we were able to play out last couple of minutes.

Well complete turnaround and felt drained at end of game so went to Itchen stand for a few pints. Think it was the mixed emotions, anger and frustration at our performance in first hour, followed by elation at Fortes double then Barney's goal followed by nervous tensions as held on. Special mention to Lallana who clearly hadn't trained all week but gave his all, made some runs towards the end which really must have hurt him but gave everything for the cause.

Please Adkins bin this diamond shape, to complicated for div 1 get the ball out wide with Lallana and whoever on other side and tell them to get the ball in the box, Lambert and Barney get on the end of the crosses.

As for latest Respect campaign for officials suggest they sack the useless cretins that turn up every week and get paid yet get so many decisions wrong and fail to clamp down on the cynical cheating aspects, time wasting after 10 minutes, players rolling around and not touched. They might then get respect but the clowns today deserved nothing.

Now for Charlton and first of our games in hand, must win again and BWP seems back on form but have to press on. Would start Forte and drop Guly as his presence seems to disrupt our shape

Davis 6 will need to see second goal again but shouldnt get beaten at near post
Butterfield 6 at fault for second goal and would start Richardson against Charlton
Jaidi 8 a storming game in the air and best defender
Fonte 7 wish he would not put his arms all around the strikers and will lead to a penalty soon.
Harding 7 much better second half when he got forward far more, again think this diamond thing holds him back.
Hammond 6 poor first half but better second half.
Chaplow 6 always battles away but could see his frustration
Guly 6 real mix, ran back to defend but showed no effort when up front couple of occasions when he just watched the ball instead of chasing.
Lallana 8 Great effort by Adam even if not fully fit, he remains crucial for our run in and hope he is okay for Tuesday night.
Lambert 7 played out wide a lot and while control is good he wont score from there!
Barnard 8 quiet first half but poor service, great goal for winner

Subs
Forte 8 2 touches 2 goals didnt do much else but who cares
Richardson 7 defended well and tried to get forward as well
Stephens 6 didnt see much of him and fairly quiet but he came on when it was all going on

Nostromo Sun 03 Apr 2011, 5:52 pm

At 2-0 down and playing poorly I thought we were dead and buried and had chucked the points away, but when we scored and then scored again within a couple of minutes I felt we'd go on and win. A bit dicey at the end, though but it showed the team that they can come back from 2-0 down as well as 1-0 down.

I think a lot of Saints fans are probably going to need to be checked for raised blood pressure when the season's over!