Southampton FM 2011 Story: Let’s get started.

Hello all, first of all sorry for the lack of a post, my internet completely died the last couple of day, but I’m back, and so is Roberto. So… Here it is. July to September. Enjoy.

Jonny

July.

So, it all began, I signed for Southampton, I immediately told the board I would win the league and was rewarded with a transfer budget of £670k. I began by looking at my squad; I noticed a gap in the goalkeeper department so I asked my assistant to compile a loan report for goalkeepers. This led to me loaning young Polish Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
I then looked into players on the loan list. I had to rule out players such as Chris Wood of West Brom and Nile Ranger of Newcastle due to the fact that I could see that top Championship teams were interested in them. So instead I ended up scouting 7 other players. None of which I deemed essential for my plans this season. During July I also managed to sign young English strikers, Jack Sampson and Tristan Plummer as well as central midfielders Nicholas Barrett, also from England, and Irish youngster Paudie Quinn all on free transfers. To balance out the youth I brought in some experienced faces in such as Spanish centre midfielder Vivar Dorado, American Centre back Jay DeMerit, Irish full back Derek Geary and Turkish Attacking midfielder Yildiray Basturk. In addition to this I spotted a brilliant deal to bring in acclaimed Senegalese goalkeeper Tony Sylva. Yet again all of these signings were all free.
In addition to these, I also managed to bring in Midfielder Magnus Wolff Eikrem on loan from Manchester United and young English striker Jose Baxter in on season long loans. I also took a few players on trial to take a closer look at them such as Fernando Ricksen and Ousmane Dabo, So my squad is looking tidy. May have to trim a few players I don’t want, but things certainly look promising.

Anyway. Pre-season:

Match 1:
Southampton Vs Southampton Reserves

Starting line-up: Davis (Bialkowski 73), Butterfield, Fonte (Seabourne 73), Jaidi (Martin 73), Harding( Dickson 73), Do Prado, Puncheon, Hammond (Schneiderlin 73), Lallana (Holmes 73), Lambert *MOM*, Connolly (Barnard 73)

So here we were, my first game in charge, it may have been a friendly against my reserve team but it was a real chance to get to know my squad, I named what I thought was my strongest line up from what I had. And I couldn’t have wished for a better start. Within 18 seconds Rickie Lambert had blasted the ball into the top corner after some nice build up play from David Connolly and Jason Puncheon. There was a chance each for the afore mentioned players before one became two on 19 minutes, Lambert middling the ball after a run down the right for Connolly to beat the goalkeeper from 6 yards. We created more chances before the game was finally put out of the reserves reach just before half time after Lambert dispossessed Tom Johnson on the edge of the box and proceeded to steer the ball beyond Tommy Forecast from 18 yards. After half time the match carried on in the same way, with us relentlessly attacking the oppositions goal, and once again we extended the lead on 56 minutes, Guly Do Prado swung a corner across from the right and Tommy Forecast made a mess of it before the ball fell to Jose Fonte who slammed the ball into the net on the half volley from point blank range. After that there were chances for both teams, but a mixture or good goalkeeping and poor finishing meant that the match finished

Southampton 4 – 0 Southampton Reserves

Match 2:
Eastleigh Vs Southampton

Starting line-up: Davis, Butterfield (Ricksen 76), Fonte, Jaidi , Harding, Do Prado (Schneiderlin 45 *MOM*), Puncheon (Holmes 76), Hammond , Lallana, Lambert (Holmes 73), Connolly

So we travelled just 7 miles up the road to play our first real game of pre-season against our feeder team Eastleigh. As expected we were on top throughout the game, but found Eastleigh’s young goalkeeper in fine form as he kept out shots from David Connolly and Guly Do Prado but the real reason for a lack of goals was some absolutely awful finishing from Dean Hammond, David Connolly, Jason Puncheon and Adam Lallana amongst others. Finally we did take the lead through a nicely worked throw in from Adam Lallana; David Connolly picked the ball up, beat one and swung it across from the left by-line where Guly Do Prado leapt superbly to nod it past Toomer. That’s the way it stayed till half time when after seeing that Guly Do Prado wasn’t in the best physical condition, I brought on Morgan Schneiderlin, and reshuffled my midfield. The second half began and we doubled our lead just 4 minutes later, a cross from puncheon wasn’t dealt with by the Eastleigh defence and the ball fell to Schneiderlin to prod home. Following another onslaught from us the Eastleigh defence caved for one final time on 66 minutes when Morgan Schneiderlin scored a peach from 35 yards. Despite further pressure from us, Eastleigh kept us out for the final 24 minutes.

Final Score: Eastleigh 0 – 3 Southampton

Morgan Schneiderlins goal 66 Minutes

Match 3:
Wycombe Wanderers Vs Southampton

Starting line-up: Szczesny, Ricksen, DeMerit, Jaidi , Geary (Harding 65), Dorado, Eikrem (Schneiderlin 65), Forschelet , Lallana (Puncheon 65), Lambert, Connolly (Barnard 65)

Next we travelled to Wycombe, And Immediately we were on the back foot after 3 minutes we were 1-0 down, the defence weren’t awake and a low cross from the right allowed Scott Rendell to slide in in front of Fernando Ricksen and poke the ball beyond the stranded keeper. We were soon 2 down when, with the ball pinballing around outside our area and neither team being able to get the ball under control, it fell to Kevin Betsy who struck it first time into the top right corner, beyond the floundering Szczesny. We mounted a strong comeback and created plenty of chances, but yet again our poor finishing cost us dear, David Connolly alone having 6 shots, 5 of them missing the target all together and one being blocked. Even when Wycombe centre back Dave Wingfield was sent off for a professional foul on 67 minutes we couldn’t score.

Final Score: Wycombe Wanderers 2 – 0 Southampton

Match 4:
Port Vale Vs Southampton

Starting line-up: Davis, Butterfield, Fonte, Jaidi , Harding, Do Prado (Dorado 77), Puncheon, Schneiderlin, Lallana (Basturk 77), Lambert *MOM* (Sampson 77), Connolly (Plummer 77)

2 days later we travelled to Port Vale hoping to forget our loss to Wycombe. And boy did we do that, there was another flying start when David Connolly poked in a Guly Do Prado cross after 2 minutes. The lead was extended after 8 minutes when Rickie Lambert burst free of the defence to beat the keeper from 20 yards with an absolute peach of a goal. Do Prado then made it 3 after a nicely worked throw in ended in the ball falling to the Brazilian to beat the keeper from 6 yards. It was 4 before half time too when Rickie Lambert slammed the ball past Tomlinson from about 35 yards out with an unstoppable shot. Our final goal came on 62 minutes when our magic little Brazilian got another assist, crossing the ball in for the late arriving Adam Lallana to beat the keeper. Yet again, we were all over the opposition and left Vale Park with a sense of belief that we had the squad to do well this season.

Final Score:
Port Vale 0 — 5 Southampton

Rickie Lambert – Goal 1 – 8 Minutes

Rickie Lambert – Goal 2 – 44 minutes

Match 5
East Fife Vs Southampton

Starting line-up: Davis, Geary, Fonte *MOM*, DeMerit , Domi, Do Prado (Puncheon 70), Schneiderlin (Hammond 70), Dorado (Basturk 70) Lallana (Eikrem 70), Lambert (Barnard 70), Connolly (Plummer 70)
Next up was a long trip up to Scotland to face East Fife. Whoever arranged this fixture was a bit of an idiot. Such a long journey for such a low profile team. Anyway, for yet another match we dominated but our finishing let us down. We had 14 shots on goal, and the only one that beat the impressive Phil Imray came on 17 minutes after a nice move between Rickie Lambert and Guly Do Prado where Lambert slipped the Brazilian in down the right flank and made his way into the box to get in front of the defender at the near post to head home. Even when we were given a penalty in the 66th minute when Rickie Lambert was tripped in the area and Vivar Dorado stepped up and managed to put it wide. So that’s how it ended.

Final Score: East Fife 0 – 1 Southampton

Match 6:
Burton Albion Vs Southampton

Starting line-up: Sylva, Geary, Fonte*MOM*, DeMerit , Domi, Do Prado (Puncheon 45), Schneiderlin (Hammond 72), Dorado (Basturk 72) Lallana (Eikrem 72), Lambert (Barnard 45), Connolly (Plummer 45)

Next up was a trip to Staffordshire. And it was same old story, this time we bombarded the opposition with 18 shots on goal, with only 4 on target, I am starting to think this is a real problem, however, that man Rickie Lambert came up golden once again on 37 minutes, in a quick counter attack Schneiderlin slipped Lambert into space for him to beat an out-rushing keeper from just outside the area. And that’s how it ended.

Final Score: Burton Albion 0 – 1 Southampton

Match 7:
Northampton Town Vs Southampton

Starting line-up: Sylva, Geary, Fonte, DeMerit , Domi (Harding 71), Do Prado (Puncheon 31), Dorado (Schneiderlin 71), Dabo, (Connolly 71) Lallana (Eikrem 70), Lambert, Baxter

Our penultimate game of pre-season did not go the way we wanted, once again our finishing was poor, 15 shots with only 2 on target, Once again we were all over the opposition, only to be left flabbergasted on 23 minutes when a fairly innocuous challenge in the box from Guly Do Prado was penalised for shirt holding. We were completely shocked and could only stand and watch as Ryan Gilligan beat Tony Sylva with a well struck penalty, after that, we couldn’t find a way back into the match. And it ended 1 – 0.

Northampton Town 1 – 0 Southampton

Match 8:
Gillingham Vs Southampton

Starting line-up: Sylva, Geary, Fonte, DeMerit , Domi, Do Prado, Dorado, Dabo, Lallana, Lambert, Baxter

We didn’t have to go far for the last game of our pre-season. And we arrived hoping for a good end to our July. And things looked promising when on 6 minutes Rickie Lambert capitalised on a goalkeeping error to slot home. However we were pegged back just 7 minutes later when we failed to mark properly and Colin Larkin nodded home. Our lead was restored though by young loanee Jose Baxter on 31 minutes when a long clearance found him surrounded by defenders, he nodded the ball over the first before using his superior pace to get to beat the second and slotting past the goalkeeper. And that’s how it was when the half time whistle blew. The second half was us on top yet again and we gave ourselves a 2 goal cushion on 60 minutes when Vivar Dorado hit the ball into the top corner when it broke loose on the edge of the area. And the victory turned into a rout when Ousmane Dabo hit an absolute peach off the post from 35 yards. And that’s how it ended.

Final Score: Gillingham 1 – 4 Southampton

Ousmane Dabo goal – 68 Minutes

So, I head into August with a full transfer budget after a pretty strong pre-season, I can’t wait. To get this season started.

August.

August began well but didn’t end in the same vein of form. During the month we managed to make a couple of signings, Two players I’d had on loan, French left back Didier Aissa Domi and his fellow compatriot, former Inter, Lazio and Manchester City Centre midfielder Ousmane Dabo. As well as selling unwanted Polish goalkeeper Bartosz Bialowski to Bristol City for £40k.

Carlisle United Vs Southampton
Date: 07.08.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 1
Location: Brunton Park, Carlisle
Starting line-up: Sylva, Geary, Fonte, DeMerit , Domi, Do Prado, Dorado (Connolly 88), Schneiderlin, Lallana (Dabo 79), Lambert (Baxter 79), Barnard

After a couple of attacks ending in shots wide from Lee Barnard and Morgan Schneiderlin respectively the pressure finally paid off on 43 minutes when a brilliant Rickie Lambert ball over the top set Guly Do Prado away on the right, he made his way into the box and as the keeper came out the meet him, he centred the ball and Lee Barnard passed it into an empty net. After the break we carried on attacking and on 46 minutes Schneiderlin found Lambert all on his own in the area but the normally assured striker fired past the post. The next 25 minutes was played out in midfield with both teams creating half chances but neither team could find any clear cut opportunities. On 83 minutes Ousmane Dabo picked up the ball 25 yards out and struck it sweetly it flew through the air and cannoned off of the underside of the bar but the keeper managed to smother it. However after 86 minutes, an absolute screamer from Jason Price pulled Carlisle back into the match. Southampton were staring a draw in the face and beginning to rue not taking more chances in this game. We threw everything forward and began to bombard the Carlisle goal. And we were nearly caught out when Lubomir Michalik broke clear of the defence and sprinted into our half. However with Jay DeMerit chasing him and Tony Sylva coming out, Michalik cracked under the pressure and blazed high over the bar. With time running out Guly Du Prado whipped in a corner and Jay DeMerit headed home at the near post. A goal on his debut proved to be the winner and we travelled back to the South coast with all 3 points.

Final Score: Carlisle 1 — 2 Southapton

Southend United Vs Southampton
Date: 10.08.2010
Competition: League Cup
Round: 1
Location: Roots Hall, Southend
Starting line-up: Davis, Geary, Jaidi (Fonte 77), DeMerit, Domi, Puncheon, Dabo *MOM*, Hammond, Lallana (Do Prado 77), Baxter, Connolly (Lambert 45)
The league cup draw took us to Essex to play league 2 team Southend United. Despite being a league 2 team, I knew this wouldn’t be an easy game, especially away from home. And my worst fears were proved right just 7 minutes in when poor marking at a corner allowed Barry Corr to rise highest and head past Kelvin Davis with the help of the left upright. We were gifted a golden opportunity on 11 minutes when a bouncing ball eluded the Southend defence and David Connolly was presented with an out-rushing keeper and a gaping net behind him, unfortunately his lob was dreadful and the keeper managed to catch it easily. David Connolly’s shooting still was letting him down, blazing one effort over and one wide as well as missing an open goal and shooting straight at the keeper from about 8 yards. Just as I was preparing the hairdryer for my team talk we levelled it up, Jose Baxter played the most gorgeous back heel into the path of Ousmane Dabo who charged through and slotted the ball calmly past the keeper. That was his first goal for the Saints and he was clearly delighted. The second half was end to end. Then suddenly Southend had the ball in the net, some nice build up ended in Scott Spencer blasting it in off of the cross bar but luckily for us it was disallowed for a very tight offside. Rickie Lambert could have sealed victory when he raced onto a Jose Baxter ball on 75 minutes but his volley went narrowly over. Southend had salt rubbed in the wounds when they saw Bilel Mohsni sent off in injury time for a professional foul. But that’s how it finished, and we progressed to the next round.

Final Score: Southend United 1 – 2 Southampton

Southampton Vs Brighton and Hove Albion
Date: 14.08.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 2
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Starting line-up: Davis, Geary, Fonte, DeMerit, Domi (Harding 71), Do Prado, Dabo, Schneiderlin, Lallana (Puncheon 90), Lambert (Barnard 71), Baxter *MOM*

Next up was a tricky home game against fellow southern team Brighton. We started the game brightly and had the ball in the net after just 31 seconds, Jose Baxter finishing well inside the area, only to see the goal chalked off for a very dubious offside decision. On 13 minutes Brighton hit us on the counter attack and Kazenga Lua Lua’s speculative cross was poorly dealt with by Kelvin Davis and the ball fell at the feet of Glenn Murray who wasted no time blasting into the empty net. Ankegren made a sharp save down to his right from Ousmane Dabo on 22 minutes. And he managed to save Brighton’s lead once again on 32 minutes when he saved from Rickie Lambert at point blank range. However, all our pressure paid off after 38 minutes when a long ball from Derek Geary was misjudged in the air by Adam El Abd and allowed Jose Baxter to slip in behind the defence and slot past the keeper. And before half time we’d managed to turn the game on its head when Jose Baxter beat the keeper again from the edge of the area. The Second half started off slow, Morgan Schneiderlin missed a great chance to extend the lead but he put the ball wide. Same story with Guly Do Prado, when he blazed over the bar on 70 minutes. But that was about it in the second half. We managed to hold on and took all 3 points.

Final Score: Southampton 2 – 1 Brighton

Peterborough United Vs Southampton
Date: 21.08.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 3
Location: London Road, Peterborough
Starting line-up: Sylva, Geary, Fonte, DeMerit *MOM*, Domi, Do Prado, Dabo, Schneiderlin (Hammond 82), Puncheon (Lallana 45), Lambert (Barnard 44), Baxter

We faced a tough trip up to Peterborough next, and they started on the front foot, the strike partnership of McLean and Mackail-Smith combining to offer the former the opportunity to shoot, but luckily for us he put just wide. Our first real attack came on 33 minutes when Rickie Lambert squared the ball just outside the box for Morgan Schneiderlin to run onto but the young German hit his speculative shot over the bar. Then the real talking point of the match, Geary whipped a ball in from the right and Lambert beat the keeper the score, as he wheeled away the linesman’s flag was up for offside. Guly Do Prado appealed and was promptly shown his second booking and dismissed. Then just 3 minutes later we lost Lambert through injury. So we went in at half time a man down and without our best striker, I tried my best to regroup the squad, and adjusted the line-up, playing a 4-1-2-1-1. But it was all to no avail, a ball whipped across the box from the right found the head of Dave Hibbert and the ball flew past Tony Sylva. Lee Barnard single handedly almost gave us an equaliser when he blasted the ball just over after a 50 yard run. For a team with 10 men we were looking threatening and were finally rewarded with a goal when Lee Barnard turned and fired a wonderful strike into the top corner. We pushed hard for a winner but other than a couple of speculative efforts, there were no real chances. And we came away from London Road with a hard earned point, but knowing we maybe could have had more.

Final score: Peterborough 1 – 1 Southampton

Middlesbrough Vs Southampton
Date: 24.08.2010
Competition: League Cup
Round: 2
Location: The Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough
Starting line-up: Sylva, Geary, Fonte, DeMerit, Domi, Dorado (Puncheon 61), Dabo (Eikrem 61), Schneiderlin (Connolly 86), Lallana, Barnard, Baxter

The league cup gave us a tough away trip up north to championship side Middlesbrough. The board had expected us to get to round 3, but with such a tough draw I hope they were more lenient. Middlesbrough started out on top, Bailey having a long range shot graze the bar on the way over. And on 16 minutes Gary O’Neil drew a tremendous save out of Tony Sylva when he broke free in the area. Middlesbrough were then reduced to 10 men when Nicky Bailey Unceremoniously scythed down Vivar Dorado. We sensed a big chance to cause an upset so we began to press forward. And after the break we had our first real attack when good work from Adam Lallana and Jose Baxter manufactured a shooting chance for Morgan Schneiderlin but the youngster could only fire right at Danny Coyne. Unfortunately Middlesbrough came right back at us and in their next attack a Marvin Emnes shot found the top corner. And they nearly doubled their lead on 68 minutes when a Mikael Taveres header went just over the bar. And 10 minutes later Scott McDonald embarrassing miss when he got free of the defence. And then Magnus Eikrem missed a good chance to pull us level but his effort from just inside the area. And that’s how it ended, a valiant effort, but the defeat shows just how much work I have left to do before we’re a team worthy of the Championship, let alone the premier league and Europe.

Southampton Vs MK Dons
Date: 28.08.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 4
Location: St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Starting line-up: Sylva, Geary, Fonte (Dorado 68), DeMerit ,Domi, Do Prado, Dabo, Schneiderlin, Lallana, Lambert, Baxter (Barnard 68)

To end September we welcomed MK Dons to St Mary’s. We knew that it’d be a tough game as they had a good strong squad. We started off strongly, Rickie Lambert hitting the post in under 2 minutes, but then disaster struck, MK Dons passed the ball around us for ages, making us chase them before Luke Chadwick played a killer ball, and Jermaine Easter latched onto it before slotting home. We kept on attacking, Jose Baxter and Derek Geary going close from half volleys on the edge of the area. Then Rickie Lambert saw his 30 yard piledriver go inches over with the keeper stranded. Then Lambert actually did hit the crossbar with another long range effort. After half time the game seemed to go dead, Do Prado forced the keeper into two smart saves late on but it was all too late. We succumbed to our first league defeat of the season.

August Review:
League position: 10th
Month Form: W W W D L L
Top Goal scorers: Ousmane Dabo, Jose Baxter, Lee Barnard (2)
Highest Average: Ousmane Dabo (7.24)

September

During September I decided to replace my staff, I mutually terminated all of the staff I thought weren’t good enough, including U18’s manager and ex saints legend Jason Dodd and brought in a new Physio and 2 new coaches. I almost managed to sign England football legend Andy Cole as a coach but his wage demands were far too high for our small wage budget. Anyway, onto the football. I also asked the board to find me a parent club, they came up with Aston Villa, West Ham and Tottenham, I told them I would prefer Tottenham and within 24 hours the link was made. They immediately sent me Jake Livermore on loan.

Southampton Vs Sheffield Wednesday
Date: 11.09.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 5
Location: St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Starting line-up: Sylva, Geary (Harding 73), Fonte, DeMerit, Domi, Do Prado, Dabo (Schneiderlin 73), Basturk (Barnard 88), Lallana, Lambert, Baxter

We had a week’s break due to some of our players being on International duty, so we didn’t begin September till deep into the second week. We were hoping to get our season back on track; we were under pressure straight away though, Darren Purse heading narrowly over after 3 minutes, And 4 minutes later Neil Mellor should have scored but somehow put the ball wide. We started to fight back on 18 minutes when Jose Baxter hit the post. And on 23 minutes Baxter drew a great save from Weaver when he met a great cross with his head. Rickie Lambert went close with a couple of occasions. But ultimately our inability to score cost us dear. Especially when in Injury time, Clinton Morrison got free in the area and smashed the ball into the net. It was a hard defeat to take, especially as we’d probably been the better team, we desperately needed to turn our form around.

Southampton 0 — 1 Sheffield Wednesday

Charlton Athletic Vs Southampton
Date: 15.09.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 6
Location: The Valley, London
Starting line-up: Szczesny, Geary, Fonte, DeMerit *MOM*, Domi, Do Prado, Dabo (Livermore 76), Dorado, Puncheon, Lambert, Baxter (Barnard 58)

After our poor run of form the last place I fancied going was The Valley. Charlton were notoriously good at home and after getting 1 point from a possible 9 in our last 3 games I didn’t fancy our chances. The match was a pretty even one in the first half, but Charlton did take the lead on 38 minutes with a move straight from the training ground. From a corner Lee Martin skidded the ball along the floor to the neat post; Simon Francis ran onto the ball, took one touch and fired it in low at the front post. We struck back straight away though, from the kick-off we won a corner, Guly Do Prado picked out Jay DeMerits head perfectly and he put it past the keeper at the near post. After that goal Charltons heads dropped and we took a grip of the match. And our chances became even better right before half time when Christian Dailly was dismissed for his second Yellow card. In the second half we kept attacking and finally took the lead on 86 minutes, almost a carbon Copy of the first, Guly Do Prado, Jay DeMerit’s head and in. We managed to hold on easily and 3 unlikely points were on the board.

Final Score: Charlton 1 – 2 Southampton

Rochdale Vs Southampton
Date: 18.09.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 7
Location: Spotland, Rochdale
Starting line-up: Szczesny, Geary, Fonte, DeMerit, Domi (Harding 73), Do Prado (Puncheon 73), Dabo Livermore, Dorado, Lambert, Barnard
Next up was Rochdale, a reasonably good team that perhaps we could beat to get a run of good results going. The match started pretty evenly, but we managed to take the lead with our first real attack on 15 minutes, when a nice passing move set Rickie Lambert free and he managed to slot past the keeper to finally break his duck for the season. The goal didn’t really change the match and it was still end to end, Chris O’Grady going close for Rochdale and Rickie Lambert for us. Then just before half time we took a 2 goal lead, Lambert centred the ball and Lee Barnard slid in, in front of the defender to poke the ball past the stranded keeper. We went in to half time with a 2 goal lead. After the break Lee Barnard went close twice, but it was Rochdale who scored next. Francis Laurent beat Geary down the left wing and put the ball into the box and O’Grady got the better of Domi in the area and beat Szczesny. All of a sudden though Rochdale were back level, in controversial fashion. After an awkward challenge with Gary Jones Vivar Dorado was injured, Rochdale carried on despite him lying prone on the floor and when the attack reached the final third scorer became provider and vice versa as O’Grady slipped in Francis Laurent to fire home. We were left outraged as we had expected Rochdale to kick the ball out so that Dorado could receive treatment. After that the game fizzled out and we couldn’t create another chance. We went home ruing our poor defending and upset at Rochdale’s lack of sportsmanship.

Final Score: Rochdale 2 – 2 Southampton

Southampton Vs Tranmere Rovers
Date: 25.09.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 8
Location: St Mary’s Stadium, Southampton
Starting line-up: Sylva, Butterfield, Fonte, DeMerit, Harding, Do Prado, Dabo Livermore, Basturk (Barnard 81), Lallana, Lambert

We welcomed Tranmere to St Mary’s and were hoping for a win, against a team we really should be beating. My scouts informed me that Tranmere play well against my normal 4-4-2 so I switched to a deep 4-2-3-1. We started brilliantly, Rickie Lambert hitting the bar within 5 minutes. There were also good chances for DeMerit and Jake Livermore before half time. But other than that not much happened, Unfortunately for everyone else the second half was much the same, with chances for Livermore, Lallana and Barnard. But a very dull match ended the way it started, much to my disappointment.

Final Score: Southampton 0 – 0 Tranmere Rovers.

Brentford Vs Southampton
Date: 28.09.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 9
Location: Griffin Park, London
Starting line-up: Sylva, Butterfield, Jaidi (Fonte 75), DeMerit, Harding, Do Prado, Schneiderlin , Basturk (Livermore 75), Lallana, Lambert, Barnard
To end the month we had a reasonably tough trip up to London to face a Brentford team who were in bad form. We hoped to take advantage. Our first real chance was denied by a sprawling save by Richard Lee when he tipped the ball over the bar from an Adam Lallana header. We broke the deadlock when on 21 minutes Lee Barnard broke into the box and his cut back was put into his own net by Karleigh Osbourne. We then took control of the match but found Lee in good form. Suddenly Brentford pulled level, Catalina Aubameyang had a tremendous run down the right byline and his perfect cross was volleyed home by Myles Weston at the back post. Before half time we had one last attack, but yet again, Lee foiled us by saving Lee Barnards header. In the second half the match turned around, it looked like Brentford were going to take the lead, Marcus Bean and Gary Alexander going close. But we eventually did take the lead, Lambert playing in Barnard to lob the keeper on his way out. And that’s how it finished, Rickie Lambert went close and Tony Sylva had to save from Marcus Bean. But we managed to end September with a win.

September review:
League position: 6th
Month Form: L W D D W
Top Goal scorer: Lee Barnard (4)
Highest Average: Jay DeMerit (7.31)

Thank’s for reading, See you at the end of December, Now over to Rob. :)

Season 10/11

League One side Southampton have employed inexperienced manager Rob Gurney at St. Mary’s. This may seem to be a surprise appointment by some with the likes of Russell Slade, Neil Warnock and also very experienced manager Craig Brown, they opted to go for Gurney though as they are under the impression that a youthful enthusiastic manager at just 25 will be able to guide the side to promotion through having links with former playing clubs such as Chelsea, Rangers and also Stoke City. Gurney is reportedly on around £8,000 per week and the board expect him to achieve automatic promotion from League One, to be able to make this a reality they have made £500,000 available for him to spend.

Southampton manager Rob Gurney has landed five loan signings for the club for this season, Jake Livermore, Patrick van Aanholt, Chris Wood, Seamus Coleman and former Southampton centre back Andrew Davies have all joined up until the rest of the season, by the look of how many youngsters he has brought in it looks as though Gurney is very interested in the future of the football club.
To the surprise of many, as well as having 5 loanees already at the club, Gurney made an audacious bid to try and sign Yildiray Basturk, with QPR and Blackpool in the running to sign the utility central midfielder, it was thought that he would accept the offer from Blackpool who are the highest divisional club that put a contract offer on the table, however to everyone’s surprise he accepted the offer from Southampton and Gurney managed to pull off one of the biggest transfers in League One in the summer transfer window.
Southampton have the makings of a very good squad and one that are definitely capable of gaining promotion but can Gurney and his back-room staff get the best out of their players and manage to lift that coveted League One trophy at the end of the season? Only time will tell.

August/September

Peterborough United vs Southampton (League One)
A trip to London Road where they would face Gary Johnson’s Peterborough in the season opener for Southampton was a fairly easy game to start off with, or so you would have thought so. Peterborough dominated the opening proceedings and took the game to Southampton, Aaron McLean and George Boyd gave the Southampton defence a lot of trouble as forced Kelvin Davis in to a number of saves in the opening 20 minutes. The Posh broke the deadlock on 38 minutes thanks to a great run through the middle of the park from Craig Mackail-Smith who then played a lovely one two passing move with George Boyd carving open a massive gap in the Southampton defence for him to slot the ball in to the top corner with a drilled shot leaving Kelvin Davis helpless in the Saints goal.
Peterborough went in at half time 1-0 up and Rob Gurney’s men needed to sort out their shape and gain some sort of control on the match otherwise they could be on the end of a cricket score. Peterborough set up in a 4-4-2 formation while Southampton took off Chris Wood who hadn’t had the best of first halves and brought on influential front man Rickie Lambert, Southampton started off well and make some good runs from both flanks down to help from Seamus Coleman and Patrick van Aanholt who worked well together with their wingers, however, they couldn’t turn possession in to goals and on 65 minutes it was that man again, Craig Mackail-Smith who popped up from out of nowhere and managed to get Peterborough out of sight with a meandering run down the left side of the Southampton half, running past Adam Lallana and Patrick van Aanholt as if they weren’t even there, he then cut inside and placed the ball over Kelvin Davis with a lovely weighted chip. Craig Mackail-Smith picked up the man of the match award for his excellent performance and also for bagging two goals, this gave Peterborough all three points and meant that Southampton made the long trip back to the south coast lying in 22nd place in League One.

Gillingham vs Southampton (League cup round 1)
A break from the league was welcomed by Gurney’s Southampton side as they travelled to the Priestfield Stadium to face Andy Hessenthaler’s Gillingham side for their League Cup first round clash. Southampton looked to have learned from not coming out of the blocks quick enough against Peterborough, they took control of the game and Chris Wood linked up very well with central midfielder Jake Livermore and it was Wood who tested the goalkeeper with a long range shot from 20 yards out, as the first half went on Gillingham asserted pressure on to the Southampton defence but failed to test Kelvin Davis between the sticks throughout the whole first half which will have disappointed the Gills back-room staff. In the second half Southampton threw everything at Gillingham and this was mainly down to bringing on Rickie Lambert to partner Chris Wood with Guly do Prado in an attacking midfield role they were playing some lovely football and if this is the way that Rob Gurney is getting them to play week in week out then the Saints supporters will be in for a treat for the rest of the season. Southampton hit the post in the 49th minute from a lovely curling shot which was down to a nice piece of improvisation from Rickie Lambert, it deserved a goal but it seemed as though it was evading them for the second game in succession.

On the 51st minute, Jake Livermore unleashed a furious strike from 32 yards out and it flew past Alan Julian who was powerless to stop it and Southampton took the lead and as a result they had their first of the campaign and Livermore had his first of the season and what a goal it was. Gillingham knew that if they didn’t try anf get a foot-hold in to the match then they would be in serious trouble, Adebayo Akinfenwa and captain Mark Bentley decided to take matters in to their own hands and played a lovely passing move through the middle of the park causing panic in the Southampton defence, unfortunately for them, Kelvin Davis was on top form and got down low to save from Akinfenwa’s low drive which was creeping inside the left hand post. That was the final action of the second half and unfortunate for them Gillingham couldn’t force the goal that they were looking for even though they put in a sterling effort in the last 35 minutes of the match, as a result Southampton are the team that progress in to the second round of the League Cup due to Jake Livermore’s wonderful strike and a very good performance from Kelvin Davis who kept the Gillingham threat at bay. In the next round of the League Cup, Southampton could be put to the sword in a local derby against arch rivals Portsmouth, it’s squeaky bum time at St. Mary’s as everyone waits in anticipation for the draw.

Carlisle United vs Southampton (League One)
Southampton made a very long trip to Brunton Park to face a Carlisle side who were slightly about the Saints in the league table, Southampton were in need of points due to their terrible start away at Peterborough and Carlisle didn’t have the best of starts losing 3-0 to a Brentford side at home. Both teams started off very well and it was a face paced encounter which was very open and both sides created numerous chances but failed to test either goalkeeper. Carlisle were the first to make real head-way in to the match and thanks to a wonderful through ball from Ben Marshall, Richard Offiong was able to get a curling right footed shot away from the right hand side of the 18 yard box, Kelvin Davis who had been in good form having kept a clean sheet in the last match, was equal to the shot and parried it out for a corner, from the resulting corner, Andrew Davies leapt above everyone and was able to clear. As Southampton were creating chances and building pressure upon Carlisle, it seemed as though the Cumbrians were buckling and it would only be a short space of time before the Saints were going to take the lead, Guly do Prado on loan from Cesena was leading the line for Southampton very well and was spraying the ball around like a magician. Jason Puncheon was another player who was impressing with his sheer pace and work ethic, in the 65th minute he put in a peach of a cross for Chris Wood to get his head on to, Wood beat his marker and managed to get a header in from the front post, it went right across goal and his the left hand post, this way by far the best move of the half by some distance.
As Brian Clough once said “it only takes a second to score a goal”, I have to say he was quite correct when Southampton took the lead on 78 minutes, Adam Lallana cut inside from his position on the left wing, beat two Carlisle defenders and put the ball through for Guly do Prado who was able to thunder the ball across the floor and in to the back of the net, I can see it as being a contender for Goal of the Month and I think everyone in attendance at Brunton Park would quite happily agree with me, it was a well worked goal and the finish matched the excellent work put in by Adam Lallana. That was how it finished, a single goal separated the two teams in what was a terrific advery for attacking, free flowing football, the man of the match was Southampton’s playmaker and French U21 international Morgan Schneiderlin.

Southampton vs Brighton and Hove Albion (League One)

There was a crowd of 28,956 at St. Mary’s for Southampton’s first home game of the season to see them take on a Brighton side flying high in League One, they had won their previous two league games so travelled to the south coast in high spirits. Southampton made the better of the opening minutes and made it count when Jason Puncheon made a blistering run down the right flank and then crossed for Morgan Schneiderlin who was on the edge of the box, he then played a lovely ball through to Chris Wood who neatly lofted the ball over Peter Brezovan in the Brighton goal to put Southampton ahead early on. The Saints kept on piling on the pressure and it looked as though another goal for them would come soon enough, Adam El Abd and Gordon Greer did all they could to prevent this by making last ditch tackles in the Brighton third and made numerous blocks on the line to keep it to a one goal advantage for Southampton. That wouldn’t last for too long though, a long ball put forward from Jose Fonte was brought down excellently by Guly do Prado , he then put Chris Wood through and slotted the ball in to the far corner of the goal and Southampton were 2-0 up and looked good value for their lead. Brighton did all they could to mount a fightback with Kanzega Lua Lua and Glenn Murray at the spine of all the Brighton and Hove Albion attacking moves, if it wasn’t for excellent defending from Andrew Davies then they would have easily pegged a goal back, Murray ran through Fonte with a couple of lovely step-overs and just as he was about to pull the trigger on what seemed would have been a very difficult shot for Kelvin Davis to stop, Southampton central defender Andrew Davies, on loan from Stoke City, put in a wonderful block and Seamus Coleman managed to clear to prevent any other danger in the Southampton 18 yard box.
Gus Poyet’s men started off the second half much like they ended it, pressing on to the Southampton goal trying to find that goal they needed that had been evading them all afternoon, typically though they couldn’t find it despite a wonderful header from experienced centre half Mauricio Taricco, Lua Lua whipped in a corner to the front post, Taricco was un-marked at the near post and his glancing header came off the top of the cross-bar and went out for a goal kick. Captain Jose Fonte managed to rally his troops and put together some wonderful attacking moves, Jake Livermore managed to link up well with Rickie Lambert who had came on at the break for Guly do Prado, Lambert them gave the ball back to Livermore who hit a thunderous shot which seemed as though it was destined for the top corner until Brezovan leaped like a salmon through the air and managed to punch the ball to safety,
Adam Lallana was having a very good afternoon, running at the Brighton defence and causing them all kinds of trouble, it looked as though he was having the better of them, this was until Glenn Murray, helping out his defence thought that he could beat Lallana to a ball that the Southampton winger had mis-controlled, unfortunately for Murray, he slid in with two feet and caught Lallana, everyone in the ground knew what the decision would be, Glenn Murray got his marching orders from what was a disgusting tackle that could have kept Adam Lallana out for some time. Gurney then brought on Lee Holmes for the injured Adam Lallana and he made an instant impact, cutting in from his left wing and causing the Brighton midfield all sorts of problems.
Southampton finally made the game safe in the 83rd minute thanks to what was a lovely flowing move through the middle of the park with Chris Wood and Morgan Schneiderlin passing their way through the Brighton midfield, only for there to a huge open space for Chris Wood to lay a pass to Jake Livermore who in true fashion made it 3-0 with a rocket of a drive from 25 yards out, Livermore is turning out to be a great loan signing for Rob Gurney and Southampton, he really is turning it on down on the south coast You would have thought that would have been it then, with Southampton being 3-0 up and Brighton down to ten men they could afford to relax? Maybe so but Gurney was still wanting more goals and they nearly had a 4th in stoppage time, Rickie Lambert all on his own, latched on to a ball from Patrick van Aanholt, cut inside from the right sid eof the 18 yard box and curled a shot in to the top corner, it seemed as though it was destined for the back of the net, unfortunately it came off the stanchion and went out for a goal kick, from the resulting goal kick, Brezovan launched the ball forward and Mark Halsey blew the end to what was a very action packed football match. Southampton are now on a run of 2 consecutive wins in League One, Gurney’s men deserved all 3 points, they battled when they had to, dominated possession as well as playing some lovely free flowing football and also managed to hit the back of the net on 3 occasions.

Southampton vs QPR (league cup round 2)
After defeating Gillingham in the 1st round, Southampton were handed a home tie against a QPR side who were lying in 2nd position in the Championship. The Saints knew they had a tough task at hand and had to be on top of their game if they were going to get anything out of this game. It was the visitors who made a better fist of the opening 25 minutes, Heidar Helguson was on top form and was linking up well with Jamie Mackie and Adel Tarrabt, 28 minutes in to the game, QPR got the goal that they deserved and it was a good run from Tarrabt down the Southampton left flank, he played the ball inside to Shaun Derry who then put a lovely ball through to Heidar Helguson, he shrugged off Andrew Davies and managed to slot the ball in to the far corner of the goal, Neil Warnock’s side were playing some lovely possession football and looked like they would come away with a win and book their [place in the 3rd round, this was until that man popped up again, Jake Livermore took the ball inside Shaun Derry and managed to have the beating of Fitz Hall before unleashing yet another screamer from 22 yards out, Paddy Kenny was helpless and just watch the ball fly in to the top corner of his goal. This was just what Southampton needed and both teams went in at half time all square, who would take the advantage as they went in to the second half?
Rob Gurney rung the changes at half time with Rickie Lambert coming on for Guly do Prado and also Jason Puncheon making way for Lee Holmes with Adam Lallana and Holmes switching flanks. It was Southampton who started off the better of the two teams and took the lead in the 53rd minute, Lee Holmes made a blistering run down the left hand side of the field and just as Chris Wood and Rickie Lambert ran in to the box, Holmes crossed in a beautiful ball on the edge of the 6 yard box, with no QPR defender anticipating the ball, Lambert got his head on to it and with a downward header put it to the right hand side of the goal. QPR knew that Southampton were a team who were very strong at the back and tried several times to break down their back four but they just could not get through, no matter what they tried, link up play, single solo runs, balls in to the box, they just could not find the goal that they needed. In the 75th minute, they had a chance, Adel Tarrabt decided to try and get a goal back on his own, he skipped past Seamus Coleman and from a very tight angle hit a shot off his right foot, all the way across goal and it whistled past Kelvin Davis’ left hand post, Southampton then went looking for a third goal to put the game beyond any doubt, Adam Lallana made a run down the right hand side and squared the ball to Jake Livermore who saw Morgan Schneiderlin in acres of space and put a lovely through ball for him to get on the end of, he was through on goal and was about to pull the trigger when Hogan Ephraim brought him down just outisde the 18 yard box, Ephraim recieved a straight red card and his marching orders. Rickie Lambert stepped up to take the free kick, he curled it around the wall and looked as though it was destined for the bottom corner, this was until Paddy Kenny got down well and managed to force it out for a corner to Southampton, from the resulting corner taken by Lee Holmes, Fitz Hall managed to clear away the danger and hoofed the ball back in to the Southampton half, Andrew Davies put the ball back in the mixer from a long hopeful ball up-field and Michael Oliver blew for full time. Some would have said that with home advantage then it wasn’t a surprise but QPR are flying high in the Championship and took the lead early on but Southampton battled away and managed to book their place in the 3rd round where they could be in the running to play a whole host of Premier League sides.

Southampton vs Milton Keynes Dons (League One)
Southampton had the pleasure of welcoming MK Dons to St. Mary’s, Gurney kept faith with the same side that beat QPR in the League Cup and he was quite right to as they started off the better side in what was going to be a tightly contested match. On 15 minutes, Jake Livermore put a ball through to Chris Wood who forced Willy Gueret in to a fantastic save to the left hand side of the post, 10 minutes later Southampton’s luck changed, Wood went in to a tackle with Jermaine Easter and Easter caught his standing leg, Chris Wood has to be stretchered off the field of play and Easter recieved a yellow card for his poor tackle. From then on in, MK had the better of the first half and forced Kelvin Davis in to some very good saves, Jermaine Easter managed to get the better of Jose Fonte through sheer brilliance and from the left hand side of the 18 yard box, let off a furious drive that Kelvin Davis just managed to parry away for a throw in to MK Dons, from the resulting throw in which was taken by Aaron Wilbraham, Angelo Balanta curled a shot toward goal which looked as though it was destined for the top corner if it wasn’t for yet another magnificent save from Kelvin Davis. They went in to the break all square thanks to some outrageous goakeeping from Southampton goalkeeper Davis.
Both of the sides loooked quite even as the second half began but it was the home side that managed to break the dealock on 58 minutes, Jason Puncheon broke free down the right hand side of the pitch and managed to get the ball back across the 18 yard box and Rickie Lambert was in the right place at the right time who drilled the ball through a crowd of bodies in to the back of the net to put Southampton up 1-0 and they looked good value for thier lead. It looked as though Southampton had the game won, this was until Keiron Cadogan started to run the show for MK Dons and ran down the Southampton right hand side, beat Seamus Coleman, managed to cut inside and evade the sliding tackle of Andrew Davies and curled a lovely shot in to the top corner of the net, it was such a beautiful strike that even Kelvin Davis who normally prides himself on long range stops, wasn’t able to keep it out. Both teams took home a share of the spoils in what was a fairly even contested football match, both managers would have been happy with how their side applied themselves and both sets of defences can take pride in how determined they were to try and keep a clean sheet.

Southampton vs Oxford United (Football League Trophy)
Southampton were handed a fairly easy tie against League Two side Oxford United, Rob Gurney changed his side around from the one that drew against MK Dons, Basturk same in for Guly do Prado and Lee Holmes was shifted on to the left wing instead of Adam Lallana who deserved a rest after his terrific performances this season. Southampton started off the brighter and kept hold of possession very well in the opening 25 minutes, after half an hour the first chance fell to the Saints, Jake Livermore played a lovely ball on the right wing to Jason Puncheon, who then played a lovely cross toward the back post and Rickie Lambert met the header who attempted to loft it over to the far corner, unfortunately he didn’t time it correctly and the ball cannoned off the top of the crossbar and went out for a goal kick. Oxford failed to create any chances throughout the first half and the last chance of the half fell to Southampton, it was Morgan Schneiderlin who managed to create the opportunity by playing a lofted ball over to Yildiray Basturk, he then managed to shoot on the turn and only just missed the target with a curling shot in the far corner.
It looked like being a night of dominance for Southampton, Oxford have up to this point been limited to chance due to the Saints keeping hold of possession very well and they made another breakaway in the 56th minute, the ball was played out from the back by Patrick van Aanholt who played in Jason Puncheon down the right hand side, he cut in from his wing and beat two Oxford United defenders, cut inside a third player and fired a shot in the bottom corner, the goalkeeper was powerless to save the shot and Southampton took the lead and a deserved one at that.

Oxford United never looked like testing Kelvin Davis all night, never mind actually scoring. Southampton’s defence was as solid a rock and that was how the match finished, Southampton advanced to the next round and Oxford United had to save goodbye to what would have been an unexpected win against high flying Southampton.

Charlton Athletic vs Southampton (League One)
Rob Gurney’s Southampton travelled to a Charlton side who were struggling to scrape a few points together lingering at the foot of the League One table. This however was still a big test for Southampton and one that many expected them to win. In the opening Charlton played the better football but failed to take what many would have percieved to be a glorious chance, Christian Dailly played the ball out of defence and played the ball to Kyel Reid, he then ran past Dean Hammond and put in a through ball to Therry Racon, he only had the goalkeeper to beat but unfortunately for him didn’t get over the top of the ball and skied it in to the top of the South Stand. The Saints pressed forward and knowing that if they got the first goal it would silence the Addicks crowd, Adam Lallana intercepted the ball thanks to a poor pass from Scott Wagstaff, he sprinted down the line with the ball and over-cooked his cross, luckily Jason Puncheon was on the far right hand side of the box and ran with it 5 yards, let off an amazing shot that was only heading for one place, right in the postage stamp, GOAAAAAAAAAAL! Southampton went 1-0 up and it was a terrific goal.
>Southampton kept on pressing at the Charlton Athletic goal and they just knew that soon enough another goal-scoring chance would come their way, Seamus Coleman played the ball up field from his right back position, Morgan Schneiderlin out jumped Kelly Youga and Alan McCormack and the header landed just in front of Rickie Lambert, he knew what he wanted to do straight from the off, he let the ball bounce twice and hit it on the half volley, it flew off his laces and bounced off the post……in to the back of the net it went, Rob Elliott hadn’t a clue what to do and the Charlton defence just looked at each other in amazement. I really couldn’t see a way back in to the game for the Addicks and Phil Parkinson’s men, they were down 2-0 on their home ground to one of the tightest defences in the league, if ever they needed a miracle or a piece of genius, then now was the time for one of their players to create something special. Christian Dailly got his troops ralllied and Kyel Reid ran straight at the Southampton defence, he squared the ball to centre half Jonathan Fortune who managed to hit the target and test goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, the Southampton stopper managed to hold on to the ball and played it out from the back, unfortunately for them nothing came of the quick counter attack as Jason Puncheon wasted a good opportunity by playing his pass too long and out for a throw in and that brought the first half to a close.
The second half was the complete opposite from the first and there was hardly any other chances to report on, Charlton looked the more likely to concede though, Southampton were keeping possession very well and didn’t really test Rob Elliott in the Charlton goal, their only effort on target throughout the second half was a tame shot from Guly do Prado from which Elliott amaged to gather with ease, and that was it, Southampton walked away from the match with all 3 points which in reality was a very easy un-contested affair.

Southampton vs Sheffield Wednesday (League One)
For the second week in succession, Southampton faced a side that at the start of the season were one of the favourites to be promoted, Alan Irvine’s men knew that this Southampton side liked to pass the ball around, feel comfortable on the ball and take control of the match, this wasn’t the case though as Wednesday took the match by the horns and have the first real goal-scoring opportunity, Darren Purse played a long ball forward to Marcus Tudgay who linked up with lightning quick Clinton Morrison and curled the ball around Andrew Davies who was closing the shot down and just narrowly missed the target forcing Kelvin Davis in to a save and the goalkeeper spilled the ball, Jose Fonte was in the right place at the right time and managed to clear away the danger. This game appeared to be much more evenly matched than Southampton’s encounter with Charlton and it was the Saints who had the second real chance of the game within the first 10 minutes, Dean Hammond was allowed the freedom of the St. Mary’s pitch and just galloped his way throught he middle of the park, he put through Lee Barnard who played a lovely inside ball to Rickie Lambert who managed to slot home under the body of goakeeper Nicky Weaver to make it 1-0.
Southampton then pushed for a second in the 45th minute, Schneiderlin broke with the ball on the half way line and played a lovely pass to Jason Puncheon, he played a square ball tot he feet of Rickie Lambert who tried to chip Nicky Weaver from 18 yards out, as the ball was lofted in the air, it took a huge deflection from Darren Purse and Nicky Weaver had to scramble to the other side of the goal, it cannoned off the post and Weaver picked up the loose ball.
There wasn’t really any more action as both defences kept either attacking side quiet and this lead to the game being a midfield battle in which Southampton tore Sheffield Wednesday to shreads and started to play the ball around their two banks for four, this was impressive possession football and the longer it went on, the more frustrated with Sheffield Wednesday players became, they tried all they could to break down their passes but nothing was coming off, Rob Gurney certainly was able to bring the best out of his bunch of players and they were playing with lots of confidence. As the final whistle blew, the match finished in a 1-0 win to Southampton and they won yet another game, they were looking like a very good prospect to get automatic promotion at this rate.

Southampton vs Tranmere Rovers (League One)
Les Parry and his Tranmere side made a long journey on to the south coast to face an in form Southampton side, I think everyone would have banked on the Saints getting all 3 points today, this was everyone apart from Tranmere boss Les Parry, he set up his side in a 4-1-3-2 formation and they were very solid all over the pitch for the opening 10 minutes. Southampton started to get in to the match and had a very good chance, the ball was whipped in from the byline by Adam Lallana and it landed at the feet of Guly do Prado who played a ball inside to Rickie Lambert who slotted home, but the linesman on the far side ruled that he was offside, was he really offside, it looked dubious to me?
Southampton kept on pressing and soon enough got another goal-scoring opportunity to take the lead in the match, this time it was Puncheon who played in Adam Lallana and he timed his run to perfection and slotted in Morgan Schneiderlin who seemed to be onside and played the ball in the the back of the net…….the linesman on the far side had his flag up and the Southampton players were furious at the decision, they clearly thought that the goal should have stood.
In the 25th minute they did make the breakthrough, it came from some lovely mocement on the left hand side of the pitch, Patrick van Aanholt and Adam Lallana played a lovely passing move and it finished with Lallana crossing for Rickie Lambert who found the net and put in a lovely diving header to put Southampton 1-0 up with a fair chunk of the first half left to play. That wasn’t the first half action over with though, Tranmere made a break down the left and Ian Thomas-Moore decided to go alone and Guly do Prado was tracking his every move, Thomas-Moore was in to the 18 yard box and in true fashion from a striker, Guly do Prado stuck out a left leg and brought him down, PENALTY! Up stepped Thomas-Moore who put it to the left hand side of the goal, it just crept under Kelvin Davis and it was 1-1, the deadlock was broken at either end and it looked like turning in to a decent game.
Neither side looked like scoring in the second half of the match though, there wasn’t any huge goalscoring opportunities and both sides cancelled each other out with a combination of poor passing and some very woeful finishing, it really wasn’t the spectacle that the first half had been, either goalkeeper could have made a brew at half time and gone home, neither of them had anything to do and it was a battle in the middle of the park, this was how it finished and both took home a share of the spoils in what should have been a victory for Southampton if they had managed to time their runs better but it wasn’t to be and both teams will probably be satisfied with a point each.

Wigan Athletic vs Southampton (League Cup 3rd round)
Premier League side Wigan played host to Southampton, who were two divisions below the high fliers from Lancashire. Southampton managed to keep Wigan contained in the first half although they had a couple of breaks from Hugo Rodallega and Ben Watson they failed to make their opportunities count, Southampton had the first real opportunity, it was a fine passing move through the midfield started off by Morgan Schneiderlin who then put in Lee Holmes, he then crossed for Rickie Lambert who rounded Emerson Boyce and toe-punted the ball past Chris Kirkland and on to the post, luckily for wigan, Ronnie Stam was able to clear and prevent any danger.
I have no idea what Roberto Martinez said to his team at half time but it didn’t half work and straight from the off they pressed the Southampton defence, Charles N’Zogbia started off a lovely move which led to Ben Watson crossing for Hugo Rodallega to put in a glancing header in to the back of the net, Wigan went 1-0 through their sheer class in the middle of the park and Southampton looked around to fina solution. Southampton managed to keep the scoreline at 1-0 for most of the second half, this was until the 74th minute when Ronnie Stam took the ball from his own 18 yard box and laid it off to Victor Moses who with his right foot, curled a wonderful shot in to the bottom left hand corner of the goal, by now the game was out of sight and any chance of a contest was gone out of the window, Wigan lead 2-0 but the Southampton support in the away end hadn’t stop singing all game and that was a credit to the way that they players had performed in this years League Cup.
With just two minutes left, James Forrest on loan from Celtic went on a meandering run down the wing passed Patrick van Aanholt, cut inside and played the ball to Mohammed Diame, he then played it back to Forrest who shot from the edge of the box with the outside of his right foot, he struck it lovely and it flew in to the bottom corner, bouncing in front of Kelvin Davis as the ball skipped off the greasy surface and then in to back of the net, Southampton can be proud of their efforts in this years League Cup and valiantly went out to a much better Wigan side.

Dagenham and Redbridge vs Southampton (League One)
Southampton put in a very solid performance against an average Dagenham and Redbridge team who never looked like getting in to the game. Southampton had the first of their many chances in the 10th minute, Yildiray Basturk held up play right on the edge of the Dagenham 18 yard box and managed to get Lee Barnard in to play, he ran down the left side and drilled the ball in to the box, Rickie Lambert stuck out a leg instinctively and manage to poke the ball home in the bottom right hand corner of the goal. Southampton lead through their first attack of the game and it looked as though the home side could have been on the end of a beating. The Saints then broke again in the 36th minute and this time it came from the right hand side of the pitch, Jason Puncheon who was play playing in central midfield, due to Gurney giving a Football League debut to Alex Chamberlain, ran through the Dagenham defence and laid the ball off to Lee Barnard who hit a magnificent shot in to the corner but unfortunately the wind took control of the flight of the ball and it ended up coming off the crossbar and the Dagenham and Redbridge defence were able to clear their lines. In the second half, Southampton took the game to Dagenham and were very unlucky not to be 2 or even 3-0 up by around the 60 minute mark, Romain Vincelot was left for dead as Adam Lallana got the better of him down the left hand side, Lallana then crossed for Lee Barnard who took the ball down off his chest, turned and managed to get the shot away, Tony Roberts was equal to it though and parried away for a corner, Southampton were piling on the pressure and it only looked like a matter of time before they have more goals to their name. In the 85th minute Dagenham and Redbridge decided to get as many men forward in a well worked move, it started off at the back with Gareth Gwillim who squared the ball to Phil Ifil, he managed to evade the challenges of Morgan Schneiderlin and Alex Chamberlain, he put a lovely through ball for Bas Savage to latch on to and it really didn’t match the uild up play, he snatched at his shot and it went high and wide, out of the stadium. Southampton won what really was in truth a very poor game for the neutral, they would have been happy coming away from this game with all three points though.

Rochdale vs Southampton (League One)
Southampton played a Rochdale side who were lingering at the foot of League One in 20th place, despite this they put out a very strong side and Southampton’s fixture list was becoming to be very congested so anything could have happened in this battle at Spotland. Rochdale were able to hold their own in the first 15 minute despite numerous chances from Southampton, they tried and tried and tried but just couldn’t break down the defence and ‘Dale goalkeeper Josh Lillis was on top form. 4The deadlock was finally broken on 42 minutes, Jason Kennedy and Nicky Adams ma naged to break down a tough Southampton defence and from some nice flowing passes, Kennedy placed the ball right in the path of Catilina Aubemeyang and he struck a thunderous drive in the roof of the net, Kelvin Davis was rooted to the spot and Rochdale took an unexpected lead against promotion hopefuls Southampton. So that was that then, Rochdale went in to the break with a lead and Southampton really needed to start hitting the target or the could be regretting earlier chances that they failed to make count. In the second half, Southampton got at Rochdale right away and on 55 minutes, Adam Lallana took an inswinging corner and it was heading for the back post whcih was un-guarded, Andrew Davies was un-marked and headed it back across goal and over the top of Josh Lillis in to the back of the net, Southampton had their equaliser and it was a deserved one at that, could they press for a second or would Rochdale the storm and create some attacking moves themselves? Straight away right from the kick off Rochdale managed to find that second goal, the Southampton defence were leaking goals as a running tap leaks water and it was not a pretty sight to behold for anyone associated with Southampton FC, Anthony Edling managed to evade the tackle of Jose Fonte and put the ball through to Jean Louis Akpa-Akpro who prodded the ball home past Kelvin Davis’ outstretched arm who barely got finger-tips to the ball.
Southampton really needed a goal and time was running out, they made some good chances but their finishing was really letting them down and they were staring defeat in the face, this was until they got a corner from some lacklustre defending by Scott Wiseman, Jason Puncheon whipped the ball in and it was headed out by Anthony Elding, it landed at the feet of Seamus Coleman who took one look at it and thoroughly smashed it, it looked as though it was going wide but the ball moved in the air, the Rochdale goalkeeper misjudged it and it went to the left of Josh Lillis and in th back of the net…..GOAAAAALLLLL! Seamus Coleman rescued Southampton from the brink of defeat and managed to salvage a point for the Saints, what a moment to behold.

See you all soon. :)