Southampton: March

Welcome back to the sunny south coast. And my third update today. Really whizzing through them now. Don’t expect this pace as a regular thing :P. Onto the matches:

Southampton Vs Rochdale
Date: 02.03.2011
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 34
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Line Up: Davis, Butterfield, DeMerit, Fonte, Dickson, Dabo, Livermore (Seuntjens 79), Puncheon, Dorado (Dossevi 79), Lallana*MOM* (Baxter 79), Barnard

This was an incredibly dull match. We took the lead on 7 minutes through Adam Lallana’s smart finish at the back post and never looked like giving up, but despite our constant pressure we couldn’t get a second.

Full Time: Southampton 1 – 0 Rochdale

Plymouth Argyle Vs Southampton
Date: 05.03.2011
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 35
Location: Home Park, Plymouth

Line Up: Davis, Richardson, DeMerit, Fonte, Harding, Dossevi (Dorado 70), Baxter, Livermore (Dabo 70), Puncheon, Seuntjens, Lambert *MOM*

Next we faced a tough away trip to a Plymouth side still in the hunt for promotion. They bossed the first half and deservedly took the lead through Bradley Wright-Phillips. My players came in at half time and got a rocket up their backsides. I told them what I thought of their current performance and to get their act in gear. And it worked. We were level within 8 minutes of the restart when Seuntjens broke down the right and found Lambert in space to finish. And 3 minutes later we took the lead when a flowing move gave Thomas Dossevi a simple finish. And it was three on 69 minutes, Ralf Seuntjens getting clear and finishing well to finally break his scoring duck for us. And that’s how it finished.

Final Score: Plymouth Argyle 1 – 3 Southampton

Southampton Vs Huddersfield United
Date: 08.03.2011
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 36
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Line Up: Davis, Richardson, DeMerit, Fonte, Harding, Schneiderlin (Dorado 70), Dabo, Dossevi, Seuntjens (Barnard 70), Lallana, Lambert.

Another disappointing result, dropping 2 points at home to anyone is bad news. This game isn’t worth mentioning. Dull Dull Dull.

Final Score: Southampton 0 – 0 Huddersfield United

Colchester United Vs Southampton
Date: 12.03.2011
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 37
Location: The Weston Homes Community Stadium, Colchester

Line Up: Davis, Richardson (Geary 62), DeMerit, Jaidi, Harding, Schneiderlin (Dabo 84), Livermore, Baxter, Seuntjens, Puncheon, Lambert (Barnard 62)

Next we faced a Colchester side with play-off aspirations. And it was them that bossed this game. They took the lead early in the first half and doubled it early in the second. We began to push to get back into the game and pulled one back through Seuntjens but it wasn’t enough. In all honesty the better team won. And out 31 game unbeaten league streak ended.

Final Score: Colchester United 2 – 1 Southampton

Southampton Vs Brentford
Date: 16.03.2011
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 38
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Line Up: Davis, Richardson, DeMerit *MOM*, Fonte, Harding (Geary 86), Dabo, Dossevi, Lallana, Seuntjens (Dorado 86), Baxter, Lambert (Barnard 77)

In a match where we were on top for 90 minutes Brentford picked up all 3 points without having a shot on goal. A late corner was fumbled into his own hands by the normally assured Kelvin Davis on 94 minutes. It was controversial as the referee only signalled 3 minutes added time.

Final Score: Southampton 0 – 1 Brentford

Southampton Vs Walsall
Date: 19.03.2011
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 39
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Line Up: Davis, Richardson, DeMerit, Fonte, Dickson, Dossevi (Baxter 70), Livermore (Dabo 87), Dorado, Puncheon, Lambert (Seuntjens 70), Barnard *MOM

After a dull first half where we were on top we kicked into life in the second half. A swift counter found Puncheon in space to finish on 49 minutes. And a minute later Lee Barnard made it two from a Rickie Lambert cross. And he got his second in similar fashion from a Frazer Richardson cross. And that’s how it finished.

Final Score: Southampton 3 – 0 Walsall

And that result was extra special as we secured at minimum a play off position.

Southampton Vs Oldham Athletic
Date: 30.03.2011
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 40
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Line Up: Davis, Richardson, DeMerit, Fonte, Dickson, Dabo (Dorado 75), Livermore, Dossevi (Puncheon 61), Baxter, Lallana, Barnard (Lambert 75)

In another match we dominated we took the lead on 3 minutes thanks to Jake Livermore hitting his first goal for us (after many many shots). It was 2 on 29 minutes through Jose Baxter and a third came through Thomas Dossevi. And that’s how it ended. An important 3 points against Paul Dickov’s men.

Final Score: Southampton 3 – 0 Oldham Athletic

Also, the end of the month brought some good news yet again.

March review:
League position: 1st
Month Form: W W D L L W W
Top Goal scorer: Lee Barnard (21)
Highest Average: Jay DeMerit (7.51)