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Well Arsenal's good run must come to an end sometime.......just can't see it happening at St Mary's!!

Well looking forward to seeing how the team line up and how they play. I think we might surprise a few and get a point, just need a few breaks for once and a decent referee (unlike that clown Moss). We have Kavanagh Sunday not the best but not the worst.

Well at last I have seen a home win, last one was April!!

What a great feeling to come away from the ground excited and feeling not only is there hope but also watch a team that actually played as a team.


Interesting team selection played 3 at the back with two wing backs. No Cedric, Valaray preferred. CBs from Vestergard, Yoshida and Bedanek. No Lemina, supposedly stomach strain picked up in training and no Gabbadini in the squad, Tyrone Johnson from U23 preferred on the bench along with Austin and Long.

Nor surprising a slow nervy start and needed McCarthy to come to the rescue to  prevent a goal. Then settled down and saints had a couple of shots on goal, Redmond had a shot deflected just wide and Armstrong hit a decent shot though a comfortable save for Leno. Saints took the lead through a decent move down the left think it was Hojberg who won the ball and released Targett who hit his cross early and a peach of a cross. Ings sneaked between two defenders and met the cross with a firm header into the net. You knew we wouldn't hold the lead for long and Arsenal hit us down our left with a cross pulled back and Mkitayarhan headed in from around the penalty spot. thought McCarthy might have been able to get to it but the guy was unmarked. Could have been worse as saints clearly were rattled and a last ditch block by Bedanek prevented a second. Yoshida was a bit of liability. Still the team weathered the storm and came back into the game with Armstrong having another shot saved and then just a couple of minutes before half time we regained the lead. Redmond got in to the box and sort of lofted a cross that didn't look that dangerous, Ings was between two defenders but somehow won the header though this time a looped header which floated into the far corner. Almost surreal as we all thought was not going in and took us a few seconds to realise it was a goal.

Second half no subs for saints but Arsenal brought on Lacazette for Bellerin and Arsenal were pressing, McCarthy made another decent save then they scored a lucky equaliser. Romeau had won the ball outside the box but dallied on the ball allowing Arsenal to win it back, then a shot from edge of area that McCarthy seemed to have covered caught Vestergard leg wrong footing him. So typical of our luck this season, Redmond's shot gets deflected wide, theirs hits  a player and goes in. Redmond then went off following another foul on him, he took a few knocks today ad did Ings, with Long coming on.

It was a fairly even contest and saints were still battling and thought we had take the lead from a corner. Decent cross well met by Yoshida and well saved and in the scramble Long put in but ruled out for offside. Certainly seemed to be in offside position, just depends if an Arsenal defender touched the ball before it reached him. Then Ings was subbed, to the surprise of many but he did look shattered and he had been kicked quite a bit. Was all getting a bit nervy as both side tried to win it. Then with 5 minutes left, well 10 actually as they added 5 minutes extra time, Hojberg on the ball in midfield and made some space for himself and fed Long on the right side he could have gone in on goal but saw Austin peel away at the far post and dinked his cross to him, Leno the Arsenal goalie came for the ball but missed it leaving Austin the open goal to head in. Not as easy as it sounds as the goalie would have been in his line of sight but kept his eye on the ball to head in. Cue mass excitement in the ground followed by the nerves, could we hold on??  

Some great defending, blocks, tackles thrown in, I was keen for Valary to be subbed as thought he looked shattered but right towards the end he shielded the ball going out, with close pressure from the Arsenal forward, showed great composure as wasn't sure it would reach the by line. Five minutes seemed to take forever but at last a win to celebrate


McCarthy 7 a number of decent saves.
Yoshdia 5 really poor first half but did play better in the second half
Vestergard 7, credit to coming back from last week and was much more assured, still looks a bit like Bambi on ice at times but did well.
Bedanek 7 a nervy start  but a good game especially in second half when we had a good view of his and looked a much better player
Valaray 7 showed a lot of composure as Right wing back, not the finished article by a long way but has more of a physical presence  than other youngsters
Targett 6 some dodgy time with his defending and struggles to get distance on his clearances but great cross for the goal.
Romeau 6 a mix of good and bad won the ball well but at fault for the second equaliser
Hojberg7 typical all action game, does lose the ball but made lots of tackles and key role in first and last goal
Armstrong 6 not a bad game did have a couple of decent shots but a little lightwietght at time but worked well in the team.
Redmond 7 wasa pain for Arsenal and while no real goal threat, just wish he would shoot sometimes he can claim an assist with the second goal.
Ings 8 two great goals, got a fair kicking as he chased and harried. Need to treat him carefully as he makes such a difference.

Subs

Long 6 didn't do a lot but then made the run and cross for the winner.
Austin 6  did what we all want him for, scored a goal, took his chance well. seemingly his 5 goal in 6 games against them!

A good start for the new manager clearly players know what he wants them to do, and that probably wasn't the best 11 individuals but was the best collective performance all season Think a few players will be shipped out in January and though early days I would trust Ralph to bring some quality replacements at low cost.. Big game Saturday away to Huddersfield, while another win would be great is a game we do not want to lose. Will be interesting to see who is in the squad next week, those not in again may be on their way out,

Thanks for that Matty.

Thanks Matty...... it was great to see the whole match on TV.

Think I heard or read that Valery's inclusion was due to a Cedric injury or illness, and not a preference to pick Valery.

I think if he plays 3 at the back with wing backs then Valeray my get the nod, if he goes 4 at the back then will be Cedric