UP FOR THE CUP AGAIN.....

I agree with your comment about young players coming through Matty. It's good that he is considering them but you can't expect many to walk right in to a regular spot in the team. As you say, Valery has done well...... and I think the forward currently injured had been doing well until injured.

Obefemi is the forward injured and he looks interesting due to his pace but very raw, his shooting is pretty wayward and doesn't have the physique, more like the Wallace brothers but they turned out fine! Lets see how he develops, if he works hard will get his chance and I remember when we had Antonio on loan from Reading and thought was okay but would never make PL but turned out a decent player in the end

I completely forgot about this........ first time ever I think. Still through to the next round 0-1

but injury to Redmond could be an issue as he has been pretty consistent. Still game time for McCarthy, Cedric , Danso, Boufal and Djenepo so that has to be welcome

So, away to Pompey......

Well think Ralph appreciates the need to win this one, hoping for a fairly strong line up and a 2 nil win

well a strong team put out and an excellent result. Shame Adams didn't get amongst the goals but glad Ings managed to get a couple and good to see Yoshida start.

Knowing our luck will be drawn away to Man City

It makes a pleasant change for Saints to be the more clinical team......


(You know our luck then Matty!!!)

To lose on Tuesday by less than 5 goals would feel like a success I think!!      If City decided to play their 6th team we'd be unlikely to get a result.

Have to agree with you Mike, I would keep Gunn in goal and protect McCarthy so confident for the upcoming league games. No Bertrand so who he plays at LB, why not Yoshida , Danso didn’t look very good there 2nd half Friday. 451 formation and try to stifle their midfield but that’s unlikely with our defence and midfield.

I suppose to lose by 2 wasn't too bad but we didnt have much of the play

In the end not so bad, finished quite well so will have helped restore a bit of confidence. Though Stephens is not the answer to our defensive problems just shows the extent of the problem. The marking for 2 of their goals was non existent . Vokins coming on at least is a LB played at LB cannot play Hojberg there Saturday. So if we can have a close game again even if we lose will help rebuild the confidence.

Some positive news Cedric and Djenepo back in full training , unlikely to feature this weekend but should be back for Everton game

FA Cup time again. A win against Huddersfield and a decent cup run would be nice.

Would be nice as an opportunity for others to get game time but for me not important as I think the league this year will be closer than many years as far as relegation and 40 points might not be enough.

Would start
Gunn, Vokins, Yoshdia, Vertergard, Danso, Slatterly, Romeau, Boufal (if fit), Djenepo, Adams and Obefemi.

Players need some recovery with Leicester away next week

Well pretty much the team I expected except Ward Prowse started which was a bit of a surprise in view of his effort in previous games. No surprise that the game wasn't great entertainment, Huddersfield kept their top scorer on the bench until they went behind and basically just sat deep looking to keep goalless as long as possible. We had lots of possession (70%) but not many clear cut chances in the first half. Long had a goal ruled out just before half time for offside which was a tight call but VAR ruled out. Vestergard could have had a penalty when pulled down but ref gave nothing and didn't go to VAR, it was an off the ball incident but the sort you would think would check on VAR. Only threat on saints goal was a breakaway that came after Vestergard was fouled but ref ignored and ball across goal was shot straight at Gunn who held comfortably. Second half only a few minutes gone when Danso got down the right, hit a deep looping cross that most gave up as going out but stayed in, Long didn't give up and headed back into the middle of the area and Smallbone took his time, waited for the ball to drop and volleyed a good goal. Youngster showed good composure, unlike Hojberg normally does, to wait for the ball and make sure he kept down.

That did spark Huddersfield into a more attacking approach which raised the tempo of the game but still few clear cut chances. At 1 nil always a worry and Huddersfield did have a decent free kick that was missed by their players, Gunn probably should have come for the ball. Fortunately saints did get the second with about 5 minutes left, a good pass with outside of his foot from Adams to put Vokins into space and he fired from 20 yards and dipped to go in off the bar.

So a comfortable win, a clean sheet, rest for most of the starting 11, 2 goals for the youngsters, 20000 gate not bad for a third home game in 10 days with poor opposition. Huddersfield look like a team in trouble, didn't even come to try and make life uncomfortable, little attacking intent and only 2 years ago were in the Premiership. Performance wasn't great but with 11 changes and no continuity in the team I am what some fans expect.

Gunn 6 very little to do, 1 save to make and he did that okay.
Vokins 6 looks a decent prospect, caught up field a few times but showed good pace to get back and scored a good goal.
Yoshida 6 looked a bit rusty but did okay, clearly not good enough to challenge Stephens or Bednarek.
Vestergard 4 Looked cumbersome, really slow in everything he did, did not seem to want to impress, think he will leave in the January window.
Danso 6 did okay at RB, made a few decent challenges and got forward well, some way of being ready fro first team but worth persevering
Romeau 5 very rusty looking, won some tackles but poor passing.
JWP 7 not his best game but was the architect of most things and the most energetic
Smallbone 6 took his goal well, showed some good touches, only 19 so will hopefully beef up a bit but will be happy with his debut.
Boufal 5 a game I thought he would take by the scruff but was poor, didn't look like scoring and think simply not consistent enough for the starting team.
Long 6 worked hard without creating a lot, unlucky with goal ruled out and an assist for the first goal.
Adams 5 maybe trying to much but didn't look like scoring, made a few runs in 1st half but we were to slow to see, good pass to set up second goal.

Subs
Armstrong 6 brought some energy to the pitch
Cedric 6 came on for Danso when he went off with a knock and looked solid.
Abafemi 5 wasn't on for long but hardly touched the ball, would loan him out to see what he does with regular games. Seems some youngsters (him and Valerey) don't seem to have the work ethic at the moment

Thanks Matty

Not overly worried about the cup but think he will put out a stronger side due to league position and chance to progress. A few injuries now so no doubt will not play Cedric or Bednarek, think JWP should be on the bench, chance for Adams to start
Gunn, Vokins, Stephens, Danso, Romeau,, Hojberg, Boufal, Smallbone, Adams Long. Subs McCarthy, Yoshida, Ings, Redmond, JWP Valerey,

Didn't go to the game but saw the highlights and from reports seemed a good game and a draw probably a fair result. Both sides had chances, Ings had an off day but still had a part on the goal. Good to see Boufal score and finished well. Not so good was Danso at RB and noticeable most of spurs chances game from his die, his positioning looked very suspect and while appreciate not his natural position would not like to see him start at RB on a regular basis.

A replay is not ideal as in the middle of the so called mid season break but we never play well after a break so maybe no a big deal, still the opportunity to rest Cedric, Bednarek and Armstrong for a couple of weeks to get them back to fitness. Would like to see a RB brought in but looks like will only be the RB from Spurs (KWB) and that is a great deal for us, would prfere taking a chance of the Notts Forest full back Cash