HOME TO READING

We really must win this one...........but will we??

I think we will get the 3 points for this one but is a critical game and a real 6 pointer

Matches with Reading always seem tricky..............hope we can get the 3 points and that Villa & Sunderland muck their games up so we can move out of the relegation zone........but my forecast a 2-2 draw at St Mary's.

Not sure what result I'd like in the Wigan-QPR game, maybe a draw would be best.

Nearly right, Mike.

Excellent result, now the same against Sunderland in two weeks' time, please.

Well at least this proves I am not a jinx and we win when back from hols. Vital 3 points and although should really have been more then one goal a victory and clean sheet against a relegation rival are all that counts.

Heard on Solent going in questioning why Rameriz wasnt starting and also could have let him stay in Uraguay. Being on the bench was obvious to me, hadnt trained all week with his team mates and always a threat to bring on, the injury to Lallana proved the case.

Saints started brightly pushing Reading back and Rodrigues was lively up front showing good pace and had an early shot. If he can improve his first touch he could turn into a very good striker and at his age will only improve. Saints nearly took the lead with good build up on the left between Cline and Puncheon with Cline cutting into the box but for me hit his cross to hard and Schneiderlin coming in had no time to control and hit his chest and went narrowly wide. Reading were not really a threat though a couple of times Kelvin with his short kick to Cork just outside box put us in trouble with us conceding possession.

Unusually saints seemd to be having a shoot on sight approach for once with lallana having a couple of shots one comfortably saved by federici the other he really should have laid to Puncheon but having criticised saints for not shooting I am not complaining. Lambert tried to curl one from the left side into the far corner but was a decent height for a goalie of federici's class to knock away.

Kelvin saved well with a shot at his near post then from a saints corner thought we had scored, corner went to far post where Puncheon headed in but ref gave a freekick supposedly for pushing. What really annoys me though is the inconsistent approach of refs, similar situation in second half when Cork is pulled to the ground when we are defending nothing given, in first half Fonte nearly had his shirt pulled off when up for a corner but nothing given. Todays ref, Moss, was pretty awful one of the worst have seen this season.

Lallana then went down under a challenge which saw him come off, needless to say the useless ref gave a free kick to Reading????? Yoshida had a header cleared of the line, then Lambert shot over but nearly gave away on half time going to sleep at a corner when they hit the post. Yes the defence looked better today but still goes to sleep on occassions and think still needs to be strengthened.

Yet again slow start by saints at start of second half, wish Nigel would change his team talks as we always seem to start slowly maybe needs to get them on the pitch earlier. We were giving away possession far to easily and a better team may have made more of it. Finally woke up with a shot from puncheon who for me had a fairly quiet first half. tempo and noise were rising, Rodrigues had a shot go wide when saints took the lead. started with a great nutmeg by Lambert knocking the ball through the legs of a Reading player to Cline. He ran down the line and fed Puncheon in the box on right side who hit a precision shot across the goalie that went in just by the post, perfect position and had to be to beat their goalie.

Reading had some possession but they were helped by some terrible decisions giving free kicks to Roberts while Rickie wouldnt have got a free kick if he was still playing now. Yoshida was knocked off the ball to easily for my liking just doesnt seem to be strong enough so think another class centre half is needed in January Have to say was very impressed by Shaw who had to deal with Roberts and Reading clearly targetted him with high balls and although not tall he has a good leap. Puncheon had a shot just wide and ramirez created some problems on the left, just couldnt get that second goal. Rodrigues came off with about 15 minutes left with Guly coming on, not a popular decison but Rodrigues had worked his socks off and think Guly up front is okay he has decent control and less of a risk if he loses the ball. Nearly scored with a great dipping shot from left side which ended up on top of net then had a shot right at the end saved by Federici.

Most threats from Reading were from set pieces, which with this useless ref was to many! 3minutes of injury time didnt really bring any scares and saints for once played some good possession in their half to run down the clock

Davis 7 not a lot to do but did well and punched well on a couple of difficult free kicks, Gazzinger would have dealt with.
Shaw 8 great game and really learning the game at the toughest place, looks like he will have a great future, better than Bridgey.
Yoshida 6 some good headers and blocks doesnt do the physical side very well
Fonte 7 has improved since the start of the season
Cline 7 developing a good relationship with Puncheon
Lallana 7 was looking good before going off injured
Cork 8 another good game loads of energy
Schneiderlin 6 for me struggled to be at the pace of the game giving away needlesss free kicks
Puncheon 8 quiet first half much better second took his goal very well
Rodrigues 7 good game lots of running and was a handful, think he will prove a top buy.
Lambert 7 very quiet first half, much better second and look for his nutmeg on MOTD.

Subs
Ramirez 7 proved effective on the left side, great control needs to have a pop at goal more often
Guly 6 only 15 minutes but did a good job.

Sunderland next at St Marys and need another 3 points. if we can keep winning at St Marys then we have a good chance of staying up. side looked balanced and had Ramirez, Mayuka and Davis on the bench. Reading on the other hand didnt seem much different to what we played at end of the season with not a lot on the bench, more of the same.

Now for a beer!

Nice report, enjoy the beer.

matty07uk wrote:Rodrigues came off with about 15 minutes left with Guly coming on, not a popular decison but Rodrigues had worked his socks off and think Guly up front is okay he has decent control and less of a risk if he loses the ball. Nearly scored with a great dipping shot from left side which ended up on top of net then had a shot right at the end saved by Federici.

Some people were booing Guly when he came on, which was moronic in the extreme. I'm not his greatest fan either, but booing him is pathetic.

I wasnt keen when he came on but the northam did start some Guly Guly chants which cancelled out the idiots that booed him. There was also the chant "we're on the pitch if Guly scores , we're on the pitch if Guly scores so some terrace humour.

The best way to silence them though is for him to do his stuff on the pitch and at last he did. Held the ball well, good passes and had a couple of attempts at goal. He has probably sufferred being played in a number of positions and esepcially out wide right where for me he is out of place and ends up wandering into the middle and getting in the way as well as leaving his full back exposed. I think his best role is up front or just behind Ricky where he has a bit of freedom to roam around and use his undoubted skill.

Every club has its idiots and never know why you would boo your own player just because you dont think he is not good enough. think some stpid rumours started by morons about having in his contrcat he has to play which got peopel going. Absolute garbage but like family you cant choose who else supports your team!

Great report Matty!

Watching on Sky I thought our best players were Puncheon, Shaw and ..... Schneiderlin who seemed to make a number of top passes.

I now would like to see West Ham lose today, they are still top half but I think they could yet slide .....

SaintMike wrote:Great report Matty!

Watching on Sky I thought our best players were Puncheon, Shaw and ..... Schneiderlin who seemed to make a number of top passes.

Amazing what TV highlights can show! Thought Schneiderlin overall had a poor game struggled with his tackles, also really hacked us off on a corner, reading looking to to take short and he saw but instead of going to it shouted at Rodrigues to go who by the time he knew what he had to do was to late and corner taken. Right at the Northam end so we had a good view and was a real case of passing the buck to me and having been caught out on a short corner in first half when they hit the post just a poor decision.

He has played reasonably well this season and definitely has the skill to be in the premiership but sometimes his attitude is a bit suspect and like most of our midfield in a bit lightweight when it comes to tackling.

Liverpool just scored!

Liverpool won at West Ham. Saints are 7 points behind the Hammers who are 11th.....and they have still to visit St Mary's so we could cut the gap to 4 points. I should like to see us finish above them.

Me to Mike, if they had won yesterday would have been 10 points but as you say 7 points come to our place and down to 4 points then the pressure tells and to be honest have been surprised they have won as many points as they have, last week chelsea should have have buried them by half time.

Important to drag as many teams as possible down in to the bottom half, dont see Newcastle staying there, to many good players when they are fit but W ham and Fulham are 2 teams think we can catch if we continue to improve and their luck evens out.

Big game tomorrow night , sunderland v reading think draw would be best result.