CHELSEA AT ST MARYS

Can Saints show they really mean business by getting something from this?   The win at Palace put us back up to 4th but a defeat against Chelsea could leave us 6th at the end of the year.

Sunday's game will take us to the season's half-way mark. It would feel good to be in the top four after half the season.

If only.....

http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/27/prince-wrights-premier-league-picks-southampton-swansea-manchester-city/?

I am going to plump for a draw which regardless of where that leaves us in the table will be an excellent end to the first half of the season and think we can then beat Arsenal to start the push fro second half of the season

And a draw it was.

Matty the old crystal ball is working just fine at the present.

Well done Matty, hope your forecast of a win against Arsenal proves right now as well.

How long do we lose Schneiderlin for after his 'red'? Hope we have Clyne back for Thursday.

Sorry late with report, went for drink after game and daughter staying so was knackered last night. Well great result, and despite only 2 shots on target all game was a really good game to be there as a fan, lots of tension, crowd really got behind the team especially last 15 mins willing them on.

No Clyne or Bertrand so both full backs out so went with 4 4 2 with Yoshida at RB and Toby at CB. thought he might have played Toby RB but he marked Costa as clearly knew him well and handled him superbly. Yoshida did well considering played out of position though partly at fault with goal but Hazard with out doubt their best player a real world class performance.

Chelsea started the better and it took us some time to get going but after 10 minutes we started to pass the ball around having got use to the formation again. Saints took the lead with a good goal by my mate Mane, he is beginning to win me over but he is so hot and cold in a game hard to predict what he will do, Saints closed down Chelsea on half way line, ball fell to Tadic who knocked over the top and Terry so slow played mane on side who headed over him and then calmly lobbed over the goalie, well taken goal and if he continues to score I will forgive him his lack of effort. looks like he only does good goals no tap ins!

Saints then really had the better of the game without either side creating chances. we had a couple of corners that came to nothing same as Chelsea and thought would get to half time in front when in injury time Hazard worked his magic left Yoshida for dead and Toby for once made a half hearted challenge giving Hazard all the room to fire into bottom corner. Bit of a blow as Saints deserved their lead.

Second half Willelm replaced Schurrle and made a definite difference, faster on the ball and quicker at closing down gave us problems and for most of the half Chelsea had the possession but around the box seemed didn't want to shoot as playing for a slight nick for a penalty. Fabregas went down in the box and although all the pundits say a clear penalty having seen on Motd I am not convinced, Targett slipped and Fabregas went down but on replays looked like Tragett had stopped his momentum and it was Fabregas whose momentum hit Targett and went down. yes contact but who touched who, certainly Targett made no attempt to move his leg or play the ball on the ground. Fabregas got booked but think it was for arguing as he had his 5 minutes worth with the ref at half time which I think back fired.

Was pretty much backs to the wall, Fonte and Toby really excelling, one worry when having just made our 3rd sub Forster came for a ball, did more often this game and got a punch on the ball but took out Fonte, fortunately he recovered and some teasing crosses towards the end but always a saints boot to block. JWP made a dumb back pass straight to Costa but fortunately he slipped and we recovered, looked like a Man U replay! Long came on with 15 minutes left but really didn't put in a shift, if under instructions but didn't seem to get forward or back but held a position. Schneiderlin got a second booking and red card, think he could have made more of an effort to track back first, seemed a lazy challenge and now misses Arsenal game.

Saints held out and fans celebrated as if a win, players deserved the ovation as they did give everything. Arsenal on Thursday and go into game full of confidence. If Clyne and Bertrand fit would go with back 5 and JWP, Reed and Davis in midfield as we did against Everton


Chelsea will clearly be there at end of season and having seen all the teams will be between them and Man City, those two teams are head and shoulders above everyone else. However while Chelsea have great players, like city have a good work ethic with strikers chasing back they are also one of the worst teams for professionally diving. Did it all game, slightest contact would fall over, Ivanovich probably the worst offender as built like a brick **** house but falls over whenever challenged. Fabregas, another who has all the skill needed but argues/falls over. At end of first half he went to ref and argued all the way to tunnel, have no idea what about but within 2 minutes of re start conned ref into giving a foul, all quite deliberate and to many did for it for it to be the individuals clearly coached by Mourinho.


Forster 7 solid came for more crosses, missed a few but made such a presence no one else got on the end
Targett 8 excellent full debut in premiership, wont get much harder than this for him
Toby 8 kept Costa quiet all game
Fonte 8 another captains performance
Yoshida 7 despite goal had a good game overall
Schneiderlin 6 two poor bookings to get a red card and sit out another game, perhaps he wants us to see we don't need him? (7 bookings now this season)
Wanyama 6 struggled to dominate midfield as done before looked a little slow
Davis 6 again thought he didn't have a great game
Tadic 6 good through ball but still not at the races, needs some warm weather
Mane 8 his goal and pace meant he deserves a high score but still frustrates me at time but showing why we signed him
Pelle 6 got little out of Terry and Cahill but battled away


Subs
Gardos 7 looked okay when came on for Yoshi
JWP 6 struggled for a little while to get into game and so nearly gave away a goal
Long 5 a beast against Everton more like Bambi today

Thanks Matty. I forgive you for not reporting last night and I'm sure Pete will too. And there ain't anybody else to notice!!

Actually felt exhausted after the game, think I was blocking every cross going into the box.

think Schneiderlin just misses 1 game, for now, think Ronald needs to have a word with him to time his tackles better

Don't know why but I have the feeling Schneiderlin has lost interest again......

Has Schneiderlin already played his final match for Saints given that he wants off in January ?

No reason for saints to sell, especially as either Spuds or Arsenal are our rivals for that top 4 spot so club should dig there heels in and no matter what he goes no were, only would sell if Kane was part of the deal and Morgan valued at least at £25m.

Ronald has said no one goes in Jan and think that will be the case, Morgan will have to get on with it

Let's hope that is the case.