NEWCASTLE AT ST MARYS

Can Saints get their first home win.....and back to back league wins for the season?

After being away on international duty, it is clear Mane will not be making his debut and it will be interesting to see the team selection, particularly in defence. Can't see Fonte being dropped and Toby is likely to be a fixture, so Gardos may have to be an expensive benchfiller??

think will be Fonte and Toby as CH pairing Saturday, an opportunity for Gardos to get up to full fitness before starts challenging Fonte

Will you be going Matty ?

yeap, first game of the season for me, going to be pain parking as couple of cruise ships in, Southampton boat show as well!

better practice my match report writing, been so long!

Headlines

First home win of the season
First home goals of the season
New faces fitting in well
Cork starts and impresses, again!
Newcastle and Pardew in trouble.
Refereeing standards not improving going down!


Saints started at a fast pace and could have been in front after 20 seconds, ball pushed forward Coloccini sent short past to Krul, who hacked clear with Long running in, ball hit Long and went behind for goal kick when so easily could have gone in, very early sign of the defensive frailties of Newcastle. Then within a couple of minutes good ball through Long chased and Krul with rush of blood went to punch clear but thumped Long in the head, Penalty and sending off any day of the week yet amazingly Foy gave nothing, terrible decision. Saints then had a couple of corners and had Newcastle on the rack. From one corner half cleared ball Cork won the ball back and passed to Bertrand his cross hung up and Pelle hit a powerful header into top corner of net with Krul stranded.

Pelle was enjoying himself and had a couple of shots to test Krul, first time I have seen and quite Like Lambert and physique and looks a decent player, held the ball up quite well and very difficult to knock of the ball, first touch could be better but looks more than capable of 15 goals a season given the service. Saints and Pelle got their second when Williamson head to Pelle, he took aim and fired a shot, which was awful went 20 yards to his left as opposed the goal however went straight to Tadic on left side of box, he could have gone for goal but instead laid the ball back square and Pelle had a simple tap in to an open goal.

wasn't much of a threat from Newcastle but what there was came from Sissoko who was giving Schneiderlin a hard time with his pace and he managed to turn and lose Morgan laid the ball off and when pulled back into the box had the goal at his mercy but Forster stood firm and shot straight at him was beaten away. Colback then had a shot down low that Forster got down well as saints took their feet of the gas, Colback received a yellow card as he brought Tadic down as he broke away. Then really odd incident, game was stopped and Long had to go off for treatment, only conclusion was due to his head injury, but that happened in the 4th minute, this was 29th! Don't think the officials knew what they were doing and Saints had to play about 2 minutes down at 10 men so we suffered.

Half time came and saw Franny Benali get a great reception for his 1000 mile run which was over 30 marathons in aid of cancer research.

Long didn't reappear for second half guess linked to his knock in first half, replaced by Wanyama and saints started again on fire, Tadic had a shot saved by Krul then Cork who is playing higher up the pitch got his second of the season, Davis picked up ball on edge of box and slip the ball through to Cork, Williamson made hash of his challenge and Cork on right side of box took to his right past Krul then turned the ball back across the goal into the corner. No goals in 130 + previous appearance now 2 in 3!! Again 3 up the spirit from Newcastle pretty much gone so not much of a contest then a couple of incidents towards the end, Forster flapped at a cross looking to punch and missed, goal mouth scramble followed and 3 Newcastle players had a chance to score but all missed the ball and chance went begging. Ward Prowse had come on for Tadic and near the end Gardos came on for Cork who received a standing ovation. Gardos went in at CH with Alderwiereld going into middle of park.

Game petering out when in extra time saints knocked the ball around and found Schneiderlin on left side of box, turned back in towards goal and curled the ball high into the far top corner, best goal of the game and now Schneiderlin has 3 in 4. End of today we were above spurs in the table, so much hope we end there at end of season and having seen todays performance not out of the question.

Forster 7 couple of top class saves first half, bit of a flap on a cross towards the end was a worry.
Bertrand 6 good going forward but not as good as Shaw defensively especially in the air.
Fonte 8 hard to judge if Newcastle were any good but didn't put a foot wrong
Toby 8 half the price if we buy of Lovren but just as good, impressive debut, good in the air good on the ground.
Cline 7 good going forward , occasionally caught out at the back.
Schneiderlin 8 would have been 7 but goal was excellent, Sissoko gave him a hard time.
Cork 9 non stop duracel bunny and with a goal
Tadic 7 tired a little and seemed to be happy to pass when had chance for goal but clearly a skilful player who links well with Pelle
Davis 7 decent game keeping midfield sticking over, not as far forward as last year with Cork adopting that position
Long 6 was not overly impressed and certainly doesn't look a goal threat but might make some assists, still think he should have had a penalty.
Pelle 8 two goals and a younger Lambert, good target man but will play against better defenders

subs
Wanyama 7 took over job of marking sissoko and had his typical beast game, won a lot of tackles
Ward Prowse 6 busy and had a decent shot that he put over the bar
Gardos not long enough to score but he got some time on the pitch.

With Gardos, Wanyama, Ward Prowse on the bench, JRod and Mane to come into the squad certainly looks stronger than previous squad. Thought we would be looking at around 14/15 but certainly think we should be pushing for 9/10

Thanks Matty, have missed your reports.

I only had the benefit of Sky and BBC highlights but we certainly seemed to have a great day. We could easily have scored more.....Long in first minute........the Long penalty incident......and a good 2nd half effort from Ward-Prowse that went just over spring to mind. Thought Pelle really looked to be enjoying himself, great to see.

Good to see Saints 4th in table.....Tino's Spurs 6th.... Chambers and Arsenal 7th..... Liverpool with Lovren, Lallana and Lambert 8th..... Man United and Shaw 16th. Hope we can keep it up. I wonder if any of the deserters are starting to doubt the wisdom of their move.

My ratings (best I can do from edited highlights).....

FORSTER 7
CLYNE 7
TOBY 8
FONTE 8
BERTRAND 8
SCHNEIDERLIN 7
CORK 8
DAVIS 6
TADIC 8
LONG 7
PELLE 9
WANYAMA 6
WARD-PROWSE 7