HOME TO STOKE CITY

Can Saints get another win?

Saints have a great opportunity to move up to 8th as Newcastle, just 2 points ahead, face a trip to Chelsea.......but will we mess it up?

Just 5 points behind Man United, we might never have a better chance to finish above them, is it too much to ask?

well weather conditions will certainly help Stoke as still believe most of their play will be in the air. so long as we have no more injuries expect us to get 3 points today a 2 - 0 win. heard Chambers may be doubtful but I prefer Cline so no loss there, 2 great RBs, no Gallagaher due to the sad news about his dad so guess will be Rickie and JRod with Guly as the "striker on the bench" and Wanyama has picked up a knock but that will just mean he will start with Cork which many would want anyhow.

Disappointing result and disappointing game. we have drawn both our last 2 home leagues games 2 - 2, one was a great game of football and one was pretty awful. One of those games involved Stoke City, you work it out.

Not sure why we still water the pitch before the game and at half time, its hardly like we are in a drought and just do not understand why they think a need.

stoke kicked off and promptly lumped down field, cue their tactic for the next 90 minutes. hilarious that Hughes reckons he is turning Stoke into an attractive footballing team, he must be on drugs, hoof ball, numerous fouls and constant complaining, not any different from when Pulis managed them. saints started quite brightly in passing the ball around and took the lead when from a short corner Lallana went to cross the ball and hand ball by Adams. ball was on left side about a yard outside the box and about 20 yards out. Mate next to me said wrong position for Rickie as he lined up the free kick, I told him no was perfect position into top far corner and hey presto Rickie delivered to exactly where I said he would put it. Rodrigues had a shot from distance but went miles over then pulled a shot a yard wide of the left hand post. Stokes main threat came from either long throws. free kick or corners. Saints had a great chance to get a second when following a Stoke corner Davis broke on the left side and was joined in the box on his outside by Cline who got a shot off but with his left foot and a comfortable save for Begovic. Shame Shaw had not made the break. Then against the run of play saints conceded an equaliser, poor defending by Yoshida and Shaw allowed Odinwinge a clean run on goal and although Boruc came out was easily put past him. Saints then hit right back with a soft goal. Davis hit a hopeful cross, lambert and a stoke player went for it and missed it and Begovic was flat footed as went in the goal. saints should have made it tight and get to half time in the lead but conceded a corner and Boruc came but didn't get the ball and Crouch half headed half bundled the ball in at near post. Poor goal to concede and Boruc should have done better as should the defenders, cant help thinking would not have been a goal if Lovren was playing.

Second half was pretty much one way traffic as saints passed the ball around trying to find a way through and Stoke sat deeper and deeper and frustrated us. Davis had a good cross which begovic punched away, Lambert had a long range free kick but tried to much on power and went miles over. Rodrigues had a chance from a corner but headed wide, Davis had a header saved by Begovic. saints replaced Cline who didn't have a great game with Chambers with 10 minutes left and he did seem to get forward better. Although saints huffed and puffed could not find a way through, I do not recall Boruc actually making any saves second half just catching couple of crosses.

Crouch then should have been sent off. all day he man handled the saints defenders and following one he kicked out at Fonte making contact, clearly should have been a red card but ref who have never seen before simply did nothing. A new referee not wanting to make decisions an don't good for the future, he then booked Crocuh who cynically pulled own Schneiderlin. Not sure if it is because slightly older now but no idea how Crouch did not get sent off, juts on the volumes of fouls he committed he should have got 2 yellows as well as some nasty challenges


So 2 points dropped and if I had a choice would love west ham and Stoke to get relegated as they play like championship sides and bring nothing to the premier league. Hughes and Stoke will get caught out next year but probably always able to bully their way to enough points to stay up, just glad do not have to watch them 18 times a season.

Boruc 6 should have done better with second goal
Cline 6 didn't get forward much and missed a few tackle
Yoshida 6 some good interceptions mixed with poor passes and slips
Fonte 6 tough day against Crouch but if ref had stopped the fouls may have been so different
Shaw 6 very quiet day for getting forward
Davis 6 a lot of effort and a goal even if a soft one
Schneiderlin 7 probably best of the midfield
Cork 6 really needs to try and goals to his game and the confidence to shoot
Lallana 6 not his best game but was kicked most of the day by Adam another dirty player
Lambert 6 scored a great goal but is not very mobile these days
Rodrigues 6 a few decent runs but his shooting today was pretty poor.

Thanks once again Matty....

Disappointing, as you say. Saints blew a great opportunity to move up a place.

Good to see Kat was there taking an interest again.

Two away games next week that are winnable....or losable......depending on Saints' mood. Hoping for at least 4 points please.

well I will be amazed if we get 4 points Mike as Sunderland game is cup game!

Hull look like are doing well with the addition of Long and Jelavic up front they have certainly strengthened in the Transfer window so I would be quite happy with a point there. Will be tough for Rickie to play 3 games in a week so expect Gallagher to get a run out in one of the games.

See Brown got his comeuppance yesterday with a red card after just 4 minutes so he will miss the cup game which at least means less chance of our players being kicked of the park and picking up an injury.

Hughes is definitely on drugs , he said they were better side in first half and cancelled us out in second. 60/40 possession stats and 17 goal attempts to 5 suggest otherwise but don't worry Mr Hughes you carry on believing that Stoke play entertaining football and that Crouch is a skilful player. You lump it long and take lumps out of the opposition, that is the "Stoke Way"

Sorry, I had my dates mixed up......was thinking the West Ham game was next Saturday not the one after.