HOME TO SUNDERLAND

The fantastic run of wins came to an unfortunate end at Tottenham, but can Saints get back to winning ways or will things start to fall apart a bit?

At the moment, I have a feeling that Saints will win a hard-fought game, maybe 2-1 and perhaps both scored by Shane Long, but my feeling could well change before the match.

Not expecting a great game will be a battle and think might be a couple of red cards, going for a scrappy 1 nil win but not expecting a great game.

My prediction of 1 nil was close, not!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111


8 NIL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I have just woken to this news, awesome ! I'm guessing that Sunderland was really awful.

Well Pete it was a strange game to start with after 20 minutes Sunderland had looked the better team but we were 2 up! Sunderland had knocked the ball round quite well and won a few free kick which fortunately came to nothing but saints took the lead against the run of play and in a bizarre fashion. Long made a run into the box on right hand side and looked like brought down by Cattremole, tight decision but ball was only half cleared, knocked on from Pelle to Schneiderlin who flicked into the box but had lost the ball, however the Sunderland defender facing his goal should have cleared with his left foot. for some reason tried with his right foot with a wild slash and planted in the corner of net. One of the best own goals you will see and will no doubt be on TV bloopers for years.. Again Sunderland came back but most threats from free kicks than another piece of poor defending gave saints our second. Ball was on left side and Gomez went to clear but kicked the ball against his own man, Tadic picked up the ball and played to Davis who looked up kept his cool and slid the ball between two players for Pelle to put in an open net.

Wickan Connor had gone in the book for a crude kick at Clyne and Cattermole was booked form pulling Long back with his arm around his neck which stopped them from hacking players down and Clyne was enjoying himself on the right side. Saints then started to take control and played much better but could have been a penalty when a through ball saw Fletcher through, his first touch was not great, Forster came out ball was knocked past and going wide when Fletcher and Forster collided. Ref gave goal kick but another could have given a penalty. From that within 2 minutes we were 3 up, Cork played the ball out wide to the left side, Tadic cut in the box and took his time then chipped the ball to far post and Cork who had timed a very late run to perfection met the ball a few yards out and while goalie saved was unable to keep out.

Not looking bad for a bogey team, we had played well only in patches yet were 3 nil up!

Second half and despite a slow start saints finally got into gear and ripped through Sunderland. Pelle had a couple of shots, which were not great but showed his focus as a goal scorer. Saints 4th came down left side, think Tadic in the box pulled back to Pelle who had time to take 2 touches then shoot at goal, Manone got a hand to the ball which then went on goal line and looked like Bridcut was going to clear but he couldn't get his feet synchronised and fell over with ball crossing the line.

5th goal came and again Pelle the man. Ball was knocked through down right side of box, Pelle running onto ball simply shot back across goalie into far corner, excellent goal showing no need to bring under control.

Davis and Long went off to good receptions, Long still doesn't look a goal threat had a chance second half but unable to force home, but a better all round performance. Goal number 4 was a great example of suicidal defending, poor back pass was followed by poor clearance form manone straight to Tadic who hit first time and curled into the corner. if he had taken a first touch oalie would probably have been back in position. No 7 goal was again down to Tadic with close control in penalty area before Wanyama blasted past in. Goal 8 was break down left side ball pulled back by Tadic and Mane got his first goal getting to the loose ball before his defender and side footing in.

still time for Mane to have a shot Parried away. Only scare on saints goal in the half was a near post header late on which Foster pushed round the post. Met some sunderland fans in the pub afterwards, have to feel for them, first 20 minutes were decent side okay first half, dreadful second half and surprising as they have not conceded many goals before today

Forster 7
Cyne 8 rampant down the right side
Fonte 8 lead the defence well
Toby 7 little shaky first 20 minutes but got better
Bertrand 8 another good game
Schneiderlin 8 excellent second half
Cork 8 great game from Cork, please get his contract sorted
Davis 8 another greatt game, slide rule pass for 2nd goal
Tadic 9 think he must have had 4 or 5 assists
Long 7 better game
Pelle 9 even when he misses I don't mind as he simply wants to score goals 2 goals could have been more

Subs

Wanyama 7 another goal did well
mayuka 6

Thanks Matty. Saints played well but have to say the Sunderland defence looked pretty pathetic.

A positive goal difference of 14 also looks very good today.

SaintMike wrote:Thanks Matty.  Saints played well but have to say the Sunderland defence looked pretty pathetic.

Their defence have been very good prior to playing us, think they had conceded 7 goals in 7 games before yesterday. Clearly some poor decisions impacted on their confidence, probably didn't help that they kept replaying the own goal on the big screens for 5 minutes after it was scored!

Once we got the 4th we did rip them apart, what was good was the movement off the ball, Pelle, Cork, Mane goals or looked like tap ins but were all about the movement to be in the right position and no one picked them up.

Some of the comments below this one make good reading....

If the decision were up to me I'd give the second own-goal to Pelle, give the guy a hat-trick.

http://www.footyplace.com/features/premier-league-team-of-the-week-8-1021302699?


or...

http://sportwitness.ning.com/forum/topics/three-southampton-players-in-premier-league-team-of-the-week

Matty, can you please give Mane his rating out of 10 for the Sunderland game? Thanks.

SaintMike wrote:Matty, can you please give Mane his rating out of 10 for the Sunderland game?  Thanks.

Please Matty.....then I can finalise our player of the month for October.

Sorry mike

thought I had done, would give him a 7 as only on as sub but created problems and should have been given a goal