WEST BROM......HERE WE COME!!...... (well it almost rhymes)

Think Saints can get a result?? I had visions of us getting beat.....maybe 3-2, but Rickie is sure to be buzzing so  

The fact we have been unable to sign a new striker worries me and if Shaw is not fit then think we will struggle. Would be happy with a draw but think WBA will win by 1. Have jinxed us anyhow as going to the game and never win when I go to away games in premiership

Rumours that Shaw and Clyne will be out, Maya and Ramirez may be jetlagged, hear Fox and Isgrove have not travelled with the squad......wondering what sort of line-up we will field today....

Like late last season, hoping to keep away from internet, TV and radio this afternoon, so I can watch the game on Sky tonight without knowing the result first.....I do hate watching a film if I know the ending!

Not going to try to predict the result but hope we can do something about our dismal opening-day success rate.     Also have a dread that Wanyama (or Lovren?) could try too hard to impress and end up with a red card!!  

Well Mike hope you do not read this until after you have seen the game on Sky but what a great way to start the season. Couple of surprises in the team Chambers started at RB, Ward Prowse in midfield ahead of Cork.

Saints started brightly passing the ball around and Ward Prowse and Chambers settled into a good combination. Wanyama made an impressive start breaking up play and making a couple of good runs through the centre, all that was missing was the final ball or for players to make moves for him. Saints had a couple of corners in the first 5 minutes but came to nothing and also had a cple of free kicks which ward Prowse delivered to the far post and thought Rickie may have taken them and gone for goal.

Boruc was in one of his "funny" moods and gave away a corner needlessly when a long range shot going wide he tried to catch for some reason and knocked the ball out for a corner, and also just a little erratic. Ward Prowse had a good shot from about 25 yards out which Foster saved. Saints then created a goal mouth scramble in the WBA box but the ball just didn't fall to a saints player.

Saints fans thought we had scored when Lambert headed back across goal and Lallana knocked in but was called offside. Other end of the pitch so no way we could see. Luke Shaw tested Foster just before half time with a swerving shot which foster turned around the post. All in all a very positive first half with saints on top for most.

Second half we again started brightly, forced an early corner then Rodrigues hit the top of the bar with a fierce shot but Lallana was penalised in the build up. WBA then started to get more into the game as Wanyama's influence began to wane, looked like he was beginning to find out what the Premiership is all about. Lovren then came to saints rescue with a great sliding tackle to thwart Anelka who looked ready to shoot in the box.

Ramerez came on for lallana with about 20 minutes left with Rodrigues moving to the left side and then 5 minutes later was replaced by Davis, but WBA were cranking up the pressure and for the first time in the game their fans started to make some noise, very quiet up until then.

Foster got some stick from behind the goal when saints fans chanted England Englands number four, which to be fair to him he took in good fun and held up 5 fingers! He then showed why 5th choice with a mess of a backpass which nearly ended up going in.

Then right near the end Luke Shaw got forward on a run cut in the box and brought down, bit of a soft penalty as he was going anywhere but a clear penalty right in front of the referee who pointed to the spot. Up steps sir Rickie and although Foster went the right way and got a hand could not stop going in. Think they have all sussed Rickie likes to hit in bottom left hand corner but he hits so hard unable to keep out. Cue mass celebrations amongst the saints fans but so nearly conceded an equaliser, deep cross into the box and was met with a firm header down but Boruc produced a world class save to not just keep out but push out to the right. A few more worrying crosses before the final whistle but a great start for the season.

Some good positives. Chambers looked very comfortable and a real prospect, Cline may well be worried! Wanyama will only get better as his fitness improves and looks a great prospect in midfield and Lovren brought some quality at CB. Ward Prowse had a good game and Jrod and SRL were a handful. We did however lack a cutting edge up front in second half so another striker for me remains a key priority, Ramerez may be lacking match fitness but he didn't do much in the 20 minutes he was on.

Boruc 7 bit erratic first half but world class save at the end
Shaw 8 looked class player and my MOTM.
Lovren 8 looks a good buy and played well with Fonte
Fonte 7 solid game, no messing around and made a good case for the other CB spot
Chambers 8 great debut and physically looks very solid, 2 England full backs at 18??
Ward prowse 7 solid game though tired 2nd half and linked up well with Chambers
Wanyama 8 very impressive first 60 minutes, will only get better.
Schneiderlin 7 solid game
Lallana 7 some good flashes of skill at times but did give away a few needless free kicks
Rodrigues 7 lots of running and some nice touches
Lambert 8 worked hard and tough battle against the WBA giants when ball in the air but another penalty scored.

So 3 points in the bag now need to follow up with a win against Sunderland, and after 3 away games last year and 3 defeats nice to break the jinx.

GREAT REPORT MATTY, thanks, you haven't lost your touch!

I only saw the highlights on TV but would like to say.....

1. After staying clear of TV, radio and the net all day so that I could watch without knowing how the game would end.......I was totally p***ed off by Sky who showed the scores on the screen at the start of the programme!! They never did that last season and don't know why they did it!   I have tweeted them (politely I promise) and asked them not to do it again. Will be interesting to see if I get a reply....or whether they do the same again next week!
Bloody annoyed as I might as well have followed the match progress during the afternoon or listened for the result at 5 o'clock.

2. By and large, very impressed by the team's performance. The new guys, Shaw, Chambers and Ward-Prowse seemed to do really well.....and I should think Clyne will have to fight hard to get his place back.

3. Rodrigues looked to be offside, and quite close to the keeper at the time of Lallana's disallowed goal.

4. From what I saw, Boruc seemed to do well and he certainly made a great save to prevent an equaliser late on.

5. Maybe, in flashes, Lallana seemed a little sharper than last season......but I think the jury is still out on that one.

6. I don't recall seeing anything noteworthy from Ramirez. I realise he was not on for terribly long, but did he make any contribution at all???

7. Oh ......and finally.......grateful thanks yet again to Lambert!!

Mike

you got it right with the observations, Ramerez didn't really do anything different to last year, roamed around a bit when he got the ball beat a cple of players then got tackled, didn't track back. To be fair he did travel back late in the week so is not match fit but still waiting to see a £12m player, Wanyama showed immediately yesterday why we paid similar money for him.

Lovren looks assured though think he may well be a bit of a nutter when you look how he reacts sometimes.