HOME TO MAN CITY.....

It's a big ask, but can we get a result?

It may not last, but at the moment I have the feeling this is going to be a terrific match and think Saints could cause an upset.......maybe 3-2.

Have heard the injury list and don't have any confidence we will get anything out of the game and it could be a hammering with gazzinger in goal.

Out injured are Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Cline, Boruc, Davis (K). Fonte is carrying an injury so potential that Yoshida may play though think after Wednesday night will be Hoovield.

While he may be tempted to go for broke and play 3 up front I think that will guarantee an hammering. Chambers to start at RB, Ward Prowse in front of him as they work well as a pair Davis and Cork in the middle, Lallana left then 2 from 3 up front. I would go with Lambert and Osvaldo, not that Jrod has not played well but think he deserve a bit of a rest, to come on around the hour mark, Osvaldo scored wed so may be more confident.

For this game think they also need to rethink the play from the back, Gazzinger is not comfortable with that and that imparts to the rest of his game. With Rickie up front nothing wrong with the long ball and one positive with Gazza is his long kicks, will have to play differently if we want anything out of this game as with no Wanyama or Schneiderlin we will not have the midfield to protect the back

Well not a win but a really good battling performance and in view of the injuries and playing City an excellent point. Started badly with our defence looking pretty ropey and Lovren had to slide in to clear for a corner when Gazzinager stayed on his line showing no confidence and the goal conceded was so typical. Innocuous ball knocked in Fonte with no one around him should have simply headed back to goalie, no confidence so heads out but a weak header to their player, ball taken down wing low cross which 2 should have cleared both left and a simple tap in, Gazzinager didn't move and while not much he could have done at least some attempt to block would have been expected. looked like was going to be a long afternoon and it took another 5 minutes before we started to get into the game.

Rodrigues had a couple of powerful runs at the City defence and Lovren was unlucky with a header that went wide. Osvaldo chested down and shot over but was offside but saints were now getting a foothold in the game with Lallana buzzing across the pitch and Chambers proving a real handful as he constantly got forward. We still looked a bit dodgy at the back and was frustrating that we insisted on playing out from back every time yet City were quite happy when their goalie had the ball to kick long and get into our half. Cork was pretty awful for the first 20 minutes but got to the pace of the game second part of the half and had a go from distance, then Lallana nearly managed to trick his way through 3 defenders.

Gazzinager had a shot which he held well which was at least a good sign and then just before half time saints got the equaliser which their spirited display warranted. Osvaldo picked the ball up created some room then curled his shot into the net. Great goal and this might be the sign that Osvaldo can do the business, much better game all round and did cause problems for city.

Second half we could have taken the lead when Rodrigues went on a run where he got through the defence and clashed with the goalie, rebound went to Osvaldo who put in row Z! Great opportunity but at least the intention was good if not the finish. Toure had a shot that went close and Gazza made another comfortable save. Rodrigues had a good header that went just wide of the right hand post and probably felt he should have done better. Thought our luck was getting worse when Lovren went down after winning the ball and looked a bad injury but after some treatment managed to come back on the pitch showing great fight and determination which again lifted the rest of the team. Good to see Gazzinager recognised Lovrens problems and stopped the short passes to him and started to go long for a change. Osvalado went off with 15 minutes left to be replaced by Lambert then Lallana went at the end to be replaced by Ramerez whose first contribution was to give the ball away! Some bad decisions by the officials went against us, one an obvious corner given as free kick and an offside decision which was appalling as Kompany had the ball in his own box tried to be to clever and Rodrigues won the ball off him.

Saints continued to press and on 90 minutes Reed replaced Davis who had taken a few knocks in the game, showed his enthusiasm by racing 50 yards across the pitch to close down a city player. 4 minutes of injury time did not bring any scares for saints as we won free kicks and throw ins to see the game out. With a full team would have been disappointed we had not won but a really pleasing performance with lots of positives.

Gazzaniga 6 still looks nervous but did better as the game went on and did get a punch in on a corner, needs to take control of the box
Shaw 7 did well getting forward but made a couple of mistakes losing the ball
Fonte 6 looked okay, better headed clearance may have stopped first goal,
Lovren 8 another great display, hope he did not play through an injury, a real star
Chambers 9 tired towards the end but an excellent all round performance, possible future wing back?
Davis 8 non stop effort, battered bruised and exhausted at the end
Ward Prowse 7 played in the middle and not as comfortable as when on right side.
Cork 7 after dodgy first 20 min really grew into the game and will be chuffed at improved performance.
Lallana 8 no end product today but caused no end of trouble for city
Rodrigues 7 his runs when he makes them create havoc, another who looked tired towards the end.
Osvaldo 8 despite his miss in 2nd half great goal and 2 in 2 now, what I expect of a top striker

Subs
Lambert 6 not a long time and no attempts on goal but held the ball well and brought others into the game.
Ramerez 5 very little time but didn't do anything
Reed no time for a score but does look a live wire.

Great to see the make-shift team could cause City some problems. From the Sky highlights I thought Fonte did pretty well and his partnership with Lovren was effective.
I thought one of the best moments was the fantastic cross from Shaw which Chambers could only manage to head just wide. Good to see the 2 young full-backs linking like that in attack.....although really Chambers should have scored.

Thanks for another excellent report Matty!

Thanks Matty, a top report. It's certainly good to see at least one point after the past few games.

SaintMike wrote:Great to see the make-shift team could cause City some problems.  From the Sky highlights I thought Fonte did pretty well and his partnership with Lovren was effective.
I thought one of the best moments was the fantastic cross from Shaw which Chambers could only manage to head just wide.   Good to see the 2 young full-backs linking like that in attack.....although really Chambers should have scored.

Thanks for another excellent report Matty!

Mike to be fair to Chambers he had a player all over him and the angle he came in at meant just getting a head on the ball was tough