Match Report

IBO Reporter: A dispondent Spot51

Intro

|Whilst a win and 3 draws have failed to impress the fanbase, not losing is the bedrock of a decent season. Our unconverted chances against Swansea were laughable, but only the Swans smiled at that draw.

As a Saints fan, I’m used to identifying bad luck as a major reason for us not winning more matches, and this season (bar added time v Wrexham) our rubbish luck must surely change sometime.

Wood, Edwards, Charles and Scienza are fast becoming undroppable, but after Saturday, it seemed Jelert, Jander and Welington might be missing. I’d love to see 4-4-2 with Azaz alongside Archer up top, but with only Jelert out of the squad, it is more than likely Will could field 3-4-3 again with Wee Man at right wingback.

City have yet to lose away (W3 D2) but at home have only beaten Hull back in August, having drawn 2 and lost to Oxford and QPR. They usually play 3-4-3, but a couple of starting midfielders are currently injured. If there is a good time to visit Ashton Gate, this might be it…

The Actual Match Report

|Oh Dear! I’ve usually tried to provide a detailed account of each match I write about, but I refuse to pick at that open wound of a game. You have all seen that horror show and debated it at length on IBO. Here then are the brief bullet points.

Both sides made just one change: City replaced McCrorie with Sykes, and Wee Man was indeed our stand-in for Jelert. We wore yellow & blue.

Saints completely dominated the first 30m, creating plenty of chances but only testing City’s goalkeeper, on loan from OT, once. Scott Twine had managed 2 shots for them, but neither was on target.

City’s decent defence was finally breached on the half hour. THB won the ball on the halfway line and fed Shea. He moved infield and played a sumptuous pass through the lines, putting AA in on goal. I admit I expected him to hit the giant keeper, but he nicked it over him and we took a deserved lead.

They equalised with their next attack. Woody has been the rock in our back line ever since he won his place, but no defender can be perpetually perfect. A seemingly harmless ball came at him, but instead of booting it clear, he shanked it into the path of Mehmeti, who calmly beat McC - 1-1.

The remainder of the half was more even, but the two best chances were ours. Archer was played in one one-on-one but could not beat the keeper, and, in added time, Fraser got on the end of Leo’s cross but put his header right at Vitek. HT = 1-1.

I try not to drink midweek, but watching Saints again saw me with a huge G&T to numb the next 45 minutes. Leo Scienza looks the “man most likely” and for the second game running, he saw his shot come back off the woodwork. On 50m, he sent in a cross from the left which was met by Shea, but his close-range header went over.

The game was now end-to-end, but Herr Struber blinked first. He replaced the anonymous Riis with Sinclair Armstrong, a proper big unit forward who caused us no end of trouble. He was completely oblivious to his assist for their 2nd. A wild shot from distance was sailing wide till it deflected off his back and bounced off the post. Instead of dealing with it, McC jumped over the ball like it was a live grenade, leaving Twine to stick it past him from close range. Feck me, 2-1.

Sienza was unable to beat Vitek from range, and City killed the game with their next attack. Jander, another who has looked sound of late, played a backpass into the path of Twine. He broke on goal and easily stuck it past McC. Will then began making substitutions…

The last quarter was a fine example of game management by a well-coached Championship side as we huffed and puffed but blew feck all down. It was notable for City’s 4th shot on target, from Sinclair Armstrong, and the only one McC saved. THB and Fellows also saw yellow for taking their frustration out on the oppo. Final score = 3-1.

Man Of The Match

|That was a horrible watch. So much early promise, a great opening goal, then two defensive howlers and an outrageous fluke against. I feel for Will Still. Yes, he is part of the problem, but far more is wrong with Southampton FC than he alone can fix.

I was toying with giving AA my MoM for actually beating their excellent keeper, but that, TBF, is his job, and he should do it more regularly. Hardly anyone else stood out on a night when pretty much all the stats pointed to an away win. City only bossed the defending numbers and final score.

So, I’m left with the only player who failed to disappoint me. By default, Leo Scienza is my IBO MoM.