MILLWALL AT ST MARY'S

Can we keep it going? Will it be a packed stadium?

Well not a scintillating performance but a hard fought three points. I was getting grief b4 game that if we didnt win then I would be banned as my first game. Millwall were as expected, very physical, chased everything and with Hereiderson up front lumped balls forward fro him to barge players out of the way. Durso also proved true to form allowing so many pushes, elbows you have to think he lives near some millwall fans.

Sants did show their neat open football for first 20 minutes with lots of slick passing moves with Cork and Lallana playing some good balls. Saints nearly took lead when first Harding had a shot then Lallana shot through a crowded area and couldnt tell if connolly touched the ball but just scrambled away by Millwall. Saints took the lead on a quick break, great ball by Cork put Guly through on left side of box and hit a great right foot shot across the goalie into net for a deserved lead. (Chapel end). Lambert tried a long range lob which was not far away and connolly looked lively. Game sort of died down towards half time as Millwall didnt take control but their style of play was disrupting saints from playing their passing football.

Saints brought on Schneiderlin for hammond who had a decent first 20 mins but struggled rest of half, heard NA say no injury issue just hammond was knackered (exhausted I think he said). McCoid had a shot which flashed over as Millwall started the brighter team. Lambert dinked a long free kick to Fonte who brought a diving save from their goalie though didnt look like going in and schneiderling had a long range effort but didnt trouble the goalie. You could see saints tiring and clearly i brought the sun back from Spain was turned out to be a sunny afternoon.

Lallana was subbed on the hour mark which was slightly surprising though Adam had not had a great game he always presents a threat, Fox was brought on and played wide left. Millwall had the upper hand and begining to bully saints around and Durso had one of his typical games . Then followed some penalty area scares as first kelvin made a good save then appeared an almighty scramble with Richardson clearing off the line. Saints were struggling to get a grip and made the final change with De ridder coming on for Connolly. Think all 3 substitutions were due to players being knackered.

Although saints were under pressure in last 15 minutes and nervy they did seem to have weathered the storm and the substitutions while not having a great impact going forward did mean that we were now breaking up Millwalls game so in reality though nervy, millwall didnt have any real clear cut chances, just hoofing balls in for the knock down but saints were now making the crosses come in from further out so easier to deal with. Four minutes of extra time which was a joke, 3 subs in 2nd half so that was 1.5 min yet no other stoppages. Then dorky durso plays at least 5 mins, what goes on in his head no one will ever know.

So not a great entertaining game but no faulting saints efforts, 4 games in 2 weeks, and Millwalls style will mean few of their games will be entertaining. Credit this week to the defence, they had a hard game and all battled away. Harding rarely got forward 2nd half but made some good blocks, seaborne never looks composed on the ball but made lots of headers and blocks, Fonte had a battle all afternoon with little help from Durso and took at least one elbow to the head. Richardson was often beaten in first half but again second half made plenty of blocks and critical goal line clearance. Kelvin made some good blocks and came and caught well.

Man of match for me was probably Guly. Scored a great goal with cool finish and put in a lot of chasing especially towards the end when Lambert had just about given up the ghost.

Some trouble outside Northam end after match no idea why police allow fans when someone like Millwall to leave at same time as saints fans and they have to go past them to get to station. Asking for trouble and shows the senior police oficer hasnt learnt from the last game when we had trouble and played the skates. Dead simple for the few teams with idiot fans keep then in the ground afterwards while you let the home fans disperse.

Thanks for that Matt, great to have you back!!

Hopefully those taken off will all be fit and raring to go again next week.

I was a bit surprised the gate wasn't higher after the cracking start to the season.....