GEORDIES AT ST MARYS

Can Saints climb back to 8th by getting a win against Newcastle?

Some Newcastle fans don't seem very confident of their team's chances.

Views from a Newcastle blog.....

http://www.nufcblog.com/2014/03/26/magpies-should-expect-same-stuff-from-saints-on-saturday/

certainly some unhappy fans especially with Pardew. If we had a full fit 11 would see a comfortable win but our midfield will be light weight think will be down to who makes the least mistakes. Chance for Ramerez to shine but said that before this season and has failed, last chance?

Going for a 2 -2 draw

I have a feeling that Saints will win this.....possibly by at least a couple of goals (could be a good day for Gallagher?).... the trouble is I can't decide whether this is really how I feel or it's just wishful thinking!

Well I did say that if we played our full team would be a comfortable win and despite what was said before the game pretty much a full team, No Morgan but he was on the bench with Cambers in for Clyne. Importantly Jrod, Rickie and Adam up front.

Will be easier just to list the chances we created in the first half, was simply one way traffic as saints opened up Newcastle on numerous occasions and cannot recall a single shot in the first half that Boruc had to save.

lallana wins a corner after a few minutes
JRod gets the ball on left side of box cuts inside his player but shoots into the side netting , should have gone for far corner.
Rodrigues header saved by Elliot
Lambert with chance and tries to chip it over goalie who gets a touch.
Rodrigues at far post on left side has a header but hits same side netting, again should have gone back across goal.
Lambert heads the ball back across goal for great chance for Lallana but heads wide.
Lovren has a chance but heads wide
Lambert tries a chipped lob following a corner which goes just over the bar.
Lambert again sets up a great chance for Rodrigues who tries a glancing header but goalie knocks away.
Cross into box from shaw that Rodrigues tries a little flick goes about a yard wide.

Just when we were all despairing that after probably the most one sided half seen at St Marys saints got that all important goal. Ball reached Boruc who quickly threw the ball to I think Davis who for once hit an early ball over the top having seem the run by Lambert. Rickie beat the offside trap and was 2 on 1, Rickie and Jrod against their goalie, Rickie kept calm and squared to JRod who finally got his goal despite despairing dive by their goalie. JRods celebration showed just how much he needed the goal to get rid of his frustration as could easily have had a hatrick.. Genuine affection amongst the team as they celebrated the goal.

Second half with 2 changes by Newcastle but didn't really change things. Lallana had the ball on far side of box on right hand side attacking Chappel end, given acres of space and he crossed to the far post where Rickie had lost his marker, pulled the ball down then volleyed into roof of net. Cue chants of 2 nil to the Englanders , which apparently annoyed our northern friends. First real scare for saints when they broke on our left side ball was played into box and Boruc thought about coming but stayed on line and Cisse hit a low hard cross, but fortunately as he was their only striker no one else following up. Nasty tackle on Chambers by Sissoko that Mariner didn't even give as a free kick and for a little while saints lost their way without being bad. Saints got that important third goal as we never play well at 2 nil when Cork won a 50/50 challenge in midfield, probably half the refs in the Pl would have whistled for a free kick but he won the ball which Lallana collected. Then ran forward, realised no Newcastle player was going to tackled him so for once actually decided to shoot from outside the box. end result a screamer that their goalie could do nothing about as flew into net.

Now three nil to the Englanders ringing around the ground! Schneiderlin came on for Davis and quickly added some steel in the midfield. saints nearly added another with a cross that Rodrigues headed against the post, rebound was followed up by Ward Prowse with shot saved then rebound was blasted in yet somehow their goalie blocked. Rodrigues then had a header blocked for corner and Lovren went close with another header. Ramirez came on for Lambert who received a standing ovation, including Katarina, probably Rickie's best game for weeks. Newcastle had a free kick in a dangerous position and glad to see free kick was hit hard but blocked with head by Ramirez, good to see him getting his body in the way then he set up 4th, picked ball up in midfield, saw Rodrigues make a run from wide left and played into left side of penalty box, JRod brought down but a few yards from goal line and to left of goal, pulled the ball back to leave Williamson on floor and buried with right foot shot. Four nil, could and should have been 7 or 8 and no one could have argued.

Not sure how good we were or how bad Newcastle were but as I mentioned one of the most one sided games seen for some time. Been some poor sides at St Marys, WBA, Fulham, Palace, Stoke, Norwich but they did all work hard, Newcastle did not have the effort after 5 minutes and had an argument after 25 minutes between their Capt (collichini) and their vice capt (Tioto) on the pitch so as well for them that they are where they are, how they were above us before today I have no idea, the gulf in class between the two sides was huge.

Boruc 7 did not have much to do but good quick throw to set up opening goal
Shaw 8 another impressive display, hope he has a go at shooting soon
Fonte 6 did make another dumb pass at 2 nil up just like Norwich game so needs to keep concentration
Lovren 7 solid game plus a couple of headers on goal
Chambers 7 good game though looked a little slow on a couple of occasions but overall quite dominant
Davis 7 hard working as ever
Ward Prowse 7 much better game though opposition were poor, actually looked like might score
Cork 8 a positive display determination won ball for 3rd goal
Lallana 8 great goal another creative game
Lambert 8 assist for 1st goal plus others which should have been goals and took his goal well
JRod 9 could, probably should, have had 3 or 4 but still scored 2 and looking a real handful

Subs
Schneiderlin 7 good to see him back and made instant impact
Ramirez 7 good vision to set up final goal

Very happy, went into pub after to have a drink and think it doesn't get much better and on todays performance Hodgson must really be thinking about taking Lallana, Shaw, Rodrigues and Lambert (in that order) to Brazil, on form hard pressed to think of better players

Great performance....and great report Matty.

From what I saw on Sky and MOTD (only highlights of course) I thought our stars were maybe Rodriguez, Shaw, Chambers and Cork. It was a bad foul on Chambers? The ref missed it?

Ready for Man City now? Bring it on.........

Lallana and Lambert had good games, Mariner was poor and simply badly positioned for large parts of the game. Man city will be an interesting game, we will have to tighten up the midfield bur Schneiderlin should be fit so we could give them a real scare as they have to win.