BACK TO WINNING WAYS ON BOXING DAY?

Two home games coming up and, if Saints are to remain credible candidates for automatic promotion I think they need 6 points. Can they beat Palace on Boxing Day?

Good news on Chaplow and Connolly.....

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/news/9435981.Duo_s_return_to_fitness_gives_Saints_an_early_Christmas_present/?ref=rss

Good news indeed but suspect at least 1 if not both will start on the bench against Palace, despite the moans against Guly he was our best player against Blackpool and I remember at Coventry where Guly had a key role in 3 of the goals. He has also scored 1 more goal than Lallana this season!

Palace will be a tough game as just outside the Play offs but think we will win and also take 3 points against Bristol city. Does look like Maynard is going so hopefully will be making sure he doesnt get injured, has had his recent goal spurt now needs to stay fit.

Message from Chaplow at 11:20am on Twitter....

"3 points please, full house should be a great atmosphere, good luck to the boys!"

Looks like he is still out........

On Twitter....

Great win for #SaintsFC today. Only bad news is that Nigel Adkins confirmed to me that Chaplow looks be out for at least two weeks.

Well was always confident the lads would get back to winning ways and they didnt disappoint. A good comfortable win, saints were clearly the better team against a side challenging for the play offs and in fact Kelvin was rarely troubled, no real saves in first half and a couple of fairly straight forward saves second half, though Bart showed no such thing as a simple save. Guly grabs the headlines with his two headers but was quite poor apart from that but his goals were well taken.

A full house at St Marys though atmosphere was a bit flat, to much of us been drinking! De Ridder started on the right side, Schneiderlin played in centre and Hammond dropped to bench, Connolly also on the bench. Palace were a big side and were looking to stifle play. Sainst nearly took the lead with a decent cross in by Schneiderlin which Lambert met at the far post with a firm header but Speroni was across well and blocked. Saints had a few corners without manging to get a shot/header on goal though Lamberts shirt will be xxxl after today as was being pulled all the time. De Ridder was playing well on the right but his crossing let him down, Guly seemed quite lazy tody, know a criticism of him at the saktes but just didnt seem to have any energy.

Fox got an unfortunate booking when he clashed with Zaha, didnt seem anything in it but Zaha reacted and grabbed Fox yet walked away scott free despite lifting his hands against Fox. Yet again another referee who really should hand his salary back if he had a conscious, poor display all round and avoided tough decisions. Saints took the lead after about half an hour good play on the right saw De Ridder cut into the box and for once hit a decent cross to the far post and Guly got up high and made good contact with the side of his head past Speroni to send Northam end into celebrations. Saints looked in command now, De Ridder chopped down which earnt a booking though had a final scare before half time another dumb decision by ref to give Palace a free kick drifted into box but Kelvin came out to punch clear.

Half time entertainmet was funny with the kids race around the touchline to the Benny Hill tune. Last two dribble the ball from half way once in penalty area get to shoot, both kids managed to get in the box and miss an open goal!! Think the Northam chants of ****ing useless da da da da da ****ing useless was a bit harsh!

Saints looked bright at start of second half Guly had a chance but saved by Speroni then a couple more chances but some poor final passes. ref continued with poor decisions when looked like Palace could have had a penalty when looked like some holding by saints from a corner but then bearing in mind the number of holding calls we had at least he was consistent. Saints had a free kick close to our own penalty area which palace player kicked the ball away. Clear dissent, the rules say a booking but was player who had been booked earlier for bringing down De Ridder walks away nothing. Didnt think refs could choose which rule you apply or not? Freedman didnt mess about though and subbed the guy 5 minutes later.

Saints finally got that all so important second goal with about 15 minutes to go ball was played across from left side to Richardson who hit a peach of a cross into box, Guly who looked like was going to be subbed rose high in middle of box and powered a header past Speroni who had no chance. Just goes to show even with a big side like Palace if you hit a decent cross always hard to defend. Guly in my view had a poor game but two great headers made the difference. Before the goal saints could have scored when de Ridder had a great chance following a run through the middle, Guly was free on left, just like Blackpool game but went right again and his shot was blocked. De Ridder's final ball is questionable though thought he had a decent game today, got back and made some tackles as well as cross for first goal.

Saints looked comfortable from then, Connolly came on for de Ridder with Guly going on right side (he looked better last 10 minutes) Palace had a shot low down by the near post but no real power and no trouble for Kelvin. Schneiderlin went off with a few minutes left for Hammond to come on and Saints saw out the 4 minutes of extra time with no real worries.

Davis 7 Solid display from kelvin though no difficult saves, kicked the ball well today.
Ricahrdson 8 extra point for his delivery for second goal, Billy sharpe will be licking his lips if he sees that!
Fonte 7 Captain for day against old club and didnt put a foot wrong
Hoovield 7 fairly solid game though the odd misplaced pass, dealt with balls in the air strongly
Fox 7 doesnt get forward enough but bearing in mind Zaha'a reputation kept him very quiet
De Ridder 7 his final ball at times is pretty poor but worked hard and was decent cross for first goal
Schneiderlin 7 Good game after a shaky start
Cork 7 couple of times whene he didnt win those 50/50 balls but calming influence
Lallana 6 no doubt his fan club will say wonderful but another poor performance for me as one of the most talented players yet seldom looks like scoring these days.
Guly 7 on his overall performance would have been a 5 but a point each for his goals!
Lambert 7 good supporting play but dont think he had a shot or header on goal which is unusual.

subs
Connolly 6 looked way of the pace but good he got some match time and hopefully soem more against Bristol City
Hammond no time to make any impression.

so no xmas hangover for the saints who looked the better team throughout, do need to press home the advantage when we have the pressure and still think we need another striker to put some pressure on others and give NA options to change it around

Thanks again Matty, good reading! Interesting to see your comment on Guly that he was pretty poor apart from the goals.........I listened to the commentary on 5 Live and they reckoned that Guly deserved to score them as he was as good as anyone on the park!

Mike

I like Guly who think is skilful and adaptable but yesterday he just didnt seem to be running around with any energy. Several times laid the ball off in midfield then didnt bother getting into the box, forgetting he was meant to be a striker. I have seen him work a lot harder for the team but maybe the criticism the other week got to him.

There were a couple of morons who were giving him stick which wasnt warranted especially when you consider he has scored 3 goals more than Lallana now. just not one of his better games having seen quite a few of his performances this season.