HOME TO HUDDERSFIELD

Just 3 points above the drop zone now and away games against Spurs and Man United coming next, vital that Saints win this one.

I get the feeling the players don't realise how serious the situation is. They probably see they are 12th in the table so believe they are comfortable. Maybe being down in the drop zone would make them put in some effort, something needs to!!

I just wonder whether it really bothers them, like most premiership players as they know they will just move on if it happens. Likes of JWP, Long and Austin will understand (plus funny enough Yoshida as does seem a genuine guy) and probably care but dont think the rest will.

Likely no Cedric or Bertrand so has to go 3 at the back (VVD,Yoshida and Stephens) Romeau, Hojberg McQueen and JWP in midfield, Austin and Long up front and then a choice of Tadic or Boufal playing behind front 2.

Just hope Redmond nowhere the squad.

Hard to call and out of feeling hopeful going for a 2-1 win

Well a game we should have won but Pellegrino's negative attitude, refusal to learn from his mistakes meant another 2 points thrown away. He has to be sacked before he does more damage but suspect they may keep him until after Utd and Spurs away as not expecting any points there then sack him before Palace game.

Yet again sets up with 1 up front, at home in a must win game against that world renowned team of champions Huddersfield! Drops Hojberg who has been the best player in recent games, no Romeau who despite a few average games has been our best player over last 12 months, chooses Davis, Redmond and Tadic to start, players who would not start in any other premiership team, Has destroyed Gabbadini and where is Shane Long. Of course the real problem is probably Les Reed, he appointed the last 2 managers, has bought players that are not good enough, Redmond, Pied, Boufal (potential but lets be honest no better than Ramerez with flashes of brilliance supplemented by loads of poor decisions and petulant fouls), never replaced Mane and Pelle. Mind you his poor performance not reflected in his salary or elevation on the board. Formation was effectively 4 2(Davis Lemina) 3 (Redmond Tadic and JWP) 1, should have been 3 5 2 with the "middle" 5 Targett, Romeao, Hojberg Lemina, JWP with Austin and either Long or Gabbadini up front

In first 20 minutes Huddersfield could have scored 3 times, we were carved open and shots pinged around like a pinball resulting in corners but nothing else. Redmond was on the left and Tadic playing behind Austin, sick and tired of saying what everyone else does Redmond is useless at best but when on the left he is dreadful. Never tracks back leaving Targett exposed and never made any runs. Our best effort came with a decent cross in by Targett punched away not convincingly and from the resulting pressure we had a corner, this time we just crossed it, first corner another short kick ending in a complete shambles, ball went to Stephens at the back who headed towards goal but going wide but Austin somehow got himself unmarked a couple of yards out and snooped low to head in. Then looked in control and had chances but wasted. Tadic was put through but turned back and passed to Redmond to lose the chance, Redmond was put through, should have shot first time with his left foot but as he always does had to turn to put on his right then scuffed the shot. Tadic and Redmond were doing their best to give me a heart attack being on our side of the pitch and in front of us, shocking, is the only thing I can use to describe them.

Huddersfield then nearly scored with a free header poor marking then their goalie just got to a through ball before Austin, slight contact which their goalie made a meal of it and ended up with a lengthy stoppage while his mascara was reapplied.

I should also say another scandalous performance by a referee, Probert, he is one of the worst of an incredibly inept bunch of referees we now have. Seemed to give everything for a Huddersfield player falling over yet gave nothing for saints. Classic was early on Tadic went down and while contact no foul so quite right, but after that were three blatant fouls on Tadic he ignored. As you know I am no Tadic fan but referees cannot pre judge a player which he clearly did and suggests the comments recently by Clattenburg about referees making their minds up beforehand is rife. On one occasion Targett played a great ball down the line to Redmond, who for once controlled and ran forward. Targett got taken out after the pass and Probert stops play yet obvious we had an advantage. To add insult didn't book their player then 10 minutes later Targett again taken out, any action from Probert nope! I don't think I have seen him referee any game well on TV as well, how he keeps his job really is a joke.

Second half we had chances to kill off with the second, the best when Redmond for once actually took on and beat his man into the box he passed to Austin instead of shooting who should have scored but placed wide, have no idea why Redmond didn't shoot, he has no confidence so why play him. After that a soft equaliser, Simple cross from the left where again Targett was exposed due to lack of support and Yoshida and Stephens, not for the first time failed to deal with a player using the space in between them to score with a simple header, Forster could have probably tried to come for the ball but the centre backs should have done better.

Could see it coming, obvious to the fans but Pellegrino did nothing sat down for large parts, the obvious changes were Tadic off for Hojberg and Long on for Redmond
when he finally acted was really to late. Austin had a decent shot well saved but then went off injured, looked like hamstring so there goes our only scorer. Not surprised really as for someone supposedly unfit he was all over the place, overdoing it to make up for the lazy gits Tadic and Redmond. Yoshdia had a header well saved near the end, cue another stoppage for their goalie to receive treatment not required, designed to stop the game, Probert couldn't wait to blow his whistle. Could have been worse as we were getting caught exposed as pushed forward but a draw should still be the final straw and MP shown the door, currently 4 to 1 which I think are generous odds.

Forster 6 a decent save first half, is really slow with his distribution
Targett 6 decent first game, bit exposed at time but did okay
Yoshdia 6 a decent game spoilt by slack marking which is to common, unlucky with his header
Hoedt 6 was okay defensively some clearances were a bit weak
Stephens 6 did okay played as RB we should just play 3 at the back
Davis 5 ineffective again, hard to see how he can start with Romeau, Hojberg on the bench
Lemina 6 a mixed game, a little weak first half but grew in second half and made some decent runs and defensive duties
JWP 6 decent work rate and some good delivery always tries hard
Tadic 4 lazy, selfish and an embarrassment with his theatrics
Redmond 4 lazy selfish and an embarrassment when he moans at others
Austin 7 boy will we miss him when he is out, 2/3 weeks at least
Subs
Hojberg 6
Boufal 5 beginning to think we should cut our losses to inconsistent, must be British players who can just get down the wing and cross the ball
Gabbadini 5 only on when Austin got injured.

Subs show a lot about Pellegrino, 72 minutes before he looked to change it, to little to late

Come on Santa give MP your sack and put him, and all saints fans out of our misery

Thanks for the report Matty.

Oh and have a merry Christmas.

Thanks Matty.....

All the best for Christmas to you, to Pete and your families!!!

Thanks Pete and Mike Merry Christmas to you.

Will be there for Palace game and going to cup game at Fulham, glutton for punishment! Actually looking forward to that game, nice club, decent fans, train trip(hopefully no delays!) and maybe a taster for next season.