Southampton:November 2010

November 2010

Jonny

Welcome back to St Mary’s Stadium. When you were last with us we had just had our most successful month so far, moving up to 5^th in the league and extending our unbeaten run to 10 games, 9 of which came in the league. Yet again, off the pitch it was a dull month with the transfer window being closed. So we’ll get straight into the matches.

Southampton Vs Colchester United
Date: 02.11.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 15
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Starting line-up:  Davis, Richardson, Fonte, DeMerit *MOM*, Harding, Dorado, Livermore, Dabo (Schneiderlin 68), Lallana(Puncheon 90), Barnard (Baxter 68), Lambert

We started the month with a home game against underachieving Colchester who despite the promise of their team were only mid table. The match started off in a very open fashion with both teams going close early on. Then on 15 minutes the deadlock was finally broken as our corner technique worked yet again as Lambert found Jay DeMerits head at the near post allowing him to nod past Oscar Jansson. And 15 minutes later it was two as Frazer Richardson’s mishit cross travelled over the keeper and in off the post. We were cruising. Half time came and went. There were chances for both teams but poor finishing seemed to affect both teams. We were on top but they still looked dangerous on the break. We needed another goal to put ourselves out of sight. And we got it with almost a carbon copy of the first goal of the match. Jay DeMerit scoring yet again from a Rickie Lambert corner. We began to relax. Colchester did manage to pull one back on 89 minutes when Simon Hackney got to the ball ahead of Frazer Richardson in the 6 yard box following a cross from the right but it was too little too late.

Final Score: Southampton 3 – 1 Colchester United

Nuneaton Borough Vs Southampton
Date: 06.11.2010
Competition: FA Cup
Round: 1
Location: Liberty Way, Nuneaton

Starting line-up:  Szczesny, Geary, Seaborne, Jaidi (DeMerit 89), Dickson, Baxter *MOM*(Puncheon 73), Eikrem, Basturk, Gobern, Barnard (Lambert 73), Connolly

To start our FA cup campaign we made the journey up north to face Blue Square North side Nuneaton Borough. Despite them being some 3 divisions below us they were riding high in 2^nd place in their league. Even so we sent out a weakened team to rest the legs of some of our regulars. We started off a bit nervy, some of the boys who weren’t playing regularly trying to get some match form. But we soon got the break through. For the second game in a row a misjudged cross from a full back beat the keeper and found the net. This time Ryan Dickson from the left on 16 minutes. Then we started to get a bit too cocky and Nuneaton bit us hard, they took the game by the scruff of the neck and started to bombard our goal. They finally pulled level when on 27 minutes Rahdi Jaidi failed to track Chris Dillon into the area and when Ryan Gazet Du Chetalier’s cross came in he was free in the area to beat the keeper. However just 10 minutes later we had got in front again. Jose Baxter pouncing on a loose ball and sprinting down the right wing before finding Lee Barnard stretching at the back post to poke home. This time we weren’t making the same mistake and we kept on top up to half time. It was much of the same after the break too as we extended our lead on 55 minutes when Oscar Gobern slid in a cross low from the left and Jose Baxter calmly applied the finish at the back post. After that the match just seemed to die, there were no other clear cut chances for either team so that was it. We were through to the second round.

Final Score: Nuneaton Borough 1 – 3 Southampton

Bristol Rovers Vs Southampton
Date: 10.11.2010
Competition: Johnstones Paint Trophy
Round: Southern Quarter Final
Location: The Memorial Stadium, Bristol

Starting line-up:  Davis, Richardson, Fonte, DeMerit (Dorado 75), Harding, Puncheon, Livermore, Dabo, Lallana (Do Prado 75), Baxter, Lambert *MOM*

Next up was a trip up to Bristol to face a team who, in the league at least, we’re in a poor run of form. But this was the cup, where anything can happen. We had to play well to progress. Especially away from home. And there was drama from the start when Bristol Rovers claimed they should have had a penalty. It wasn’t given and on 10 minutes we took the lead through Rickie Lambert. A ball from the back set Jason Puncheon going down the right, he then cut the ball back to Jake Livermore whose first time pass found Lambert free in the area. He calmly slotted past the keeper. Both teams kept on pushing, John Akinde going close for them and Jose Fonte for us. But before long it was 2 – 0. A quick move from the back saw a scramble in the area from Rickie Lambert’s cross and Jose Baxter reacted quickest to poke home. This goal seemed to really dent Rovers morale. Their heads seemed to drop and they never looked likely to get back into the game. So after the break we took it down a couple of gears and just cruised to the end of the match. We even managed to score another goal when on 92 minutes Lambert got the ball on the edge of the area, took on touch and beat the keeper. And that was that.

Final Score: Bristol Rovers 0 – 3 Southampton

Walsall Vs Southampton
Date: 13.11.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 16
Location: The Bescot Stadium, Walsall

Starting line-up:  Davis, Richardson, Fonte, DeMerit, Harding (Geary 76), Dabo, Puncheon (Do Prado 76), Lallana, Dorado, Baxter, Lambert (Barnard 65)

Despite being unbeaten in 13 games (10 in the league) we came against the only team who could possibly claim they were in better form than us. They had won 9 games in a row and moved above us to 3^rd in the league. So this was an important game.  The first half was end to end, our shooting was letting us down but Kelvin Davis was keeping is in it with some spectacular saves. Unfortunately he could only keep us in the game for so long, and when the ball fell to Jon Macken 2 yards out and his shot deflected off of Richardson and into the net there was nothing he could do. The match then slowly ebbed to half time. After the break we came out all guns blazing. Lambert and Puncheon went close but poor finishing was once again costing us.  All the pushing forward was putting us in danger, Kelvin Davis saving us when Walsall countered. It was looking like out run was coming to an end. Then on 88 minutes a break away from us saw Baxter and Lallana combine down the left. The ball was whipped in by Lallana and it found the head of Guly Do Prado. We’d got the equaliser and extended our unbeaten run, not to mention bringing Walsall’s streak of wins to an end. It was a great end to a great match.

Walsall 1 – 1 Southampton

Southampton Vs Yeovil Town
Date: 20.11.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 17
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Starting line-up:  Davis, Richardson (Butterfield 72), Fonte, DeMerit, Harding, Do Prado (Puncheon 82), Dabo, Livermore, Lallana (Schneiderlin 82), Baxter, Lambert *MOM*

Next up we welcomed a Yeovil side who were at the wrong end of the table to St. Marys. We were looking to keep up our good form and out push towards the automatic promotion places. After a pretty dull first half where we found Yeovil keeper John Sullivan in good form we started to hit our stride in the second half. And we finally took the lead when Sullivan could only parry a Jose Baxter shot into the path of Rickie Lambert who put the ball into the empty net. One became two on 70 minutes when Dean Bowditch and Lee Sawyer both leapt for the same ball and the ball cannoned off the formers head and into the net. With the match pretty much sewn up Lambert added a third with an utterly supreme goal when he picked up the ball on the halfway line, ran at a defence that were backing away and hit an utterly brilliant shot past the keeper from about 35 yards.

Final Score: Southampton 3 – 0 Yeovil Town

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Ricky Lambert — 90 Minutes

Southampton Vs Bristol Rovers
Date: 23.11.2010
Competition: npower League 1
Match day: 18
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Starting line-up:  Davis, Richardson (Butterfield  4), Fonte, DeMerit, Harding, Dabo, Livermore, Baxter, Dorado(Schneiderlin 83), Lallana (Holmes 71), Lambert  *MOM*

3 days later saw us facing the team we had dispatched in the Johnstones paint trophy just 13 days earlier. This time we were at home. The match didn’t exactly start the way I’d have liked. Frazer Richardson getting injured on 4 minutes. We were dominant, but this time Bristol seemed a lot more dangerous, having a goal ruled out on 8 minutes for offside. They complained but it was offside by a rather large margin. We managed to make our dominance pay on 41 minutes when the ball broke in the area and Vivar Dorado volleyed home. Bristol suddenly looked a lot less dangerous. We scored again shortly after the break when Lambert played in Baxter down the right before continuing his run into the area to apply the finish. After that Rovers just didn’t seem the threat they did in the first half and we ended the game comfortably.

Final Score: Southampton 2 – 0 Bristol Rovers

Southampton Vs Burton Albion
Date: 27.11.2010
Competition: FA Cup
Round: 2
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Starting line-up:  Davis, Richardson, Fonte, DeMerit, Harding, Do Prado, Dabo, Livermore, Baxter, Lallana (Holmes 45), Baxter *MOM*, Lambert (Barnard 69)

The second round of the FA Cup brought us more lower league opposition. Mid-table league 2 team Burton Albion came down to Southampton. We played a full strength squad this time and the outcome was pretty predictable. The match started slowly but we took the lead on 19 minutes. Lambert curling the ball first time beyond the keeper from the edge of the area. We made more chances but a second goal didn’t come until just before half time. Some lovely skill by Lallana down the left to beat his man and the cross found Jose Baxter to apply the finish. The second half started as the first had ended, Lee Holmes, who had just come on for the fatigued Lallana, found Baxter’s head and he duly extended out lead. Knowing the match was all but won, we sat back and started to enjoy our football, there was just time for one more goal. Ousmane Dabo hitting an absolute peach from 30 yards.

Final Score: Southampton 4 – 0 Burton Albion

Ricky Lambert — 19 Minutes

Ousmane Dabo — 78 Minutes

Southampton Vs Charlton Athletic
Date: 30.11.2010
Competition: Johnstones Paint Trophy
Round: Southern Semi Final
Location: St. Mary’s Stadium, Southampton

Starting line-up:  Davis, Richardson, Fonte, DeMerit *MOM*, Harding, Dabo, Livermore, Baxter, Do Prado (Dorado 80), Lallana, Lambert

I’m not even going to try and sex this one up as a good match. We were on top for most of it but our shooting let us down. It went to penalties and luckily we won to take us to the southern final.

Final Score: Southampton 0 – 0 Charlton Athletic (Southampton win 3 – 2 on penalties)

It was a spectacular month and it ended with a couple of pieces of good news.

November review:
League position: 3rd
Month Form: W W W D W W W W
Top Goal scorer: Rickie Lambert (8)
Highest Average: Jay DeMerit (7.40)

League Table:

Because I’ve only just fixed my screenshots problem (thanks to Johnny) I thought I should introduce you to my team a little more. First of all. I use 3 different formations.

4 – 4 – 2

4 – 2 – 3 – 1

4 – 1 – 2 – 1 – 2

Also, I’d like to introduce you to some of the key players of my squad.

He may be only just hitting top form but he’s already attracting attention from Wolves. If I can keep hold of him he’ll definitely be a handful in the Championship and maybe even the Premiership.

A good loan signing from Everton, I’ve known about Jose for a while, and used him on my Millwall file on FM10. Hopefully I’ll get him back next year on loan too.

A free signing at the start of the season and has been man of the match most games we play. He really is a terrific player and being my captain getting him so cheaply was brilliant.

Well, see you in December. Hopefully for more of the same. Now over to Rob. :)

November

Southampton vs Colchester United:
This game wasn’t at all the best display of total footbal by either side, you would have thought Southampton would run out comfortable winners on the scoreboard with Colchester coming to St. Mary’s looking to be at a huge disadvantage from reading the two teams on paper. The first half was very poor and neither side even had a shot on target, Colchester didn’t even create a chance and the chances created by Southampoton were half chances at best, the second half wasn’t much better but Seamus Coleman was proving to be a very good loan signing, he was linking up very well with pacey frontman Jason Puncheon and Southampton got their reward in the 88th minute, Jake Livermore played the ball at the feet of Rickie Lambert who then turned on Paul Reid and opted to pass it to Guly do Prado, he took one touch and no sooner had the Colchester defence reacted, he let off his shot in to the bottom right hand corner and Southampton stole all 3 points in what was a very terrible footballing match for the neutral.
Final Score: Southampton 1-0 Colchester United.

Southampton vs Kidderminster Harriers (FA Cup 1st Round):
This cup match was one that everyone expected Southampton to win, they got off to a perfect start as well, Andrew Davies played a long ball over the Harriers defence and Schneiderlin was the fiorst to react, Rickie Lambert made a run around the back of the defence, Schneiderlin picked him out and Lambert slotted it home to make it 1-0 to the home side. Early on in the second half though, Kidderminster pulled level and it came from the magical footwork of Tom Shaw who stepped past one Southampton defender and managed to get in the cross, Jake Reid managed to rise the highest and he powered a header down in to the turf and ultimately in the back of the net. Southampton needed to find goals and quickly if they were to save themselves from a cup upset, it came in the 78th minute, Adam Lallana cut inside off his left wing and played a cross field ball to Seamus Coleman, the Irishman put in a wonderful drilled cross and Rickie Lambert was at the front post to guide the ball home. They weren’t finished there and this was the highlight of the match, Lambert picked the ball up frmom Jose Fonte on half way, ran through Lee Blair, Tom Shaw and Mike Williams, he now only had the goalkeeper to beat and Danny Lewis rushed out to try and block any form of a shot, he was about 10 yards from goal and Lambert poked it over the top of him and in to the empty net.
Final Score: Southampton 3-1 Kidderminster Harriers.

Walsall vs Southampton:
Southampton made the trip to the Bescot Stadium in high spirits, however these were soon shot down when Darren Byfield opened the scoring for the home side, Matt richards and Jon Macken played a wonderful passing move to split the Southampton defence and Byfield managed to slot home in the opening minutes of the match, they weren’t finsihed there though and it was Reuben Reid’s wonderful run down the left flank and cross that made the opening for Richard Taundry to fire home with a wonderful volley in the right hand side of the net. Southampton were sinking quicker than the HMS Titanic and had to act fast to aviod embarassment, they did just that and three minutes later Patrick van Aanholt ran down the right side, fed the ball to Jason Puncheon who was on the edge of the 18 yard box, he then looked up and saw goalkeeper Jonny Brain off his line, he went for the impossible and chipped him from 18 yards out, astonishingly it found the back of the net and Southampton had pulled a goal back. In the latter stages of the second half it was all Southampton, they had played the better football and created more opportunities, their moment came on 41 minutes, they played the ball through the middle of the park cutting the Walsall defence open like a knife through butter, it fell to Jake Livermore who loooked up and just lashed the ball home, there was no doubting where it was destined for, it found the back of the net and Southampton had pulled level, this first half was magical just pure magical. Walsall finally stole all three points when Darren Byfield turned provider for Jon Macken, Byfield held the ball up well, spotted the run of Macken and it was the perfect through ball that found him and Macken placed the ball under the diving Kelvin Davis in the Saints goal. This put a run to Southampton’s14 match unbeaten streak and they found themselves 3 points off table topping Peterborough.
Final Score: Walsall 3-2 Southampton.

Southampton vs Bristol Rovers:
Southampton needed to bounce back to winning ways with a win against promotion pushing Bristol Rovers, they were looking very good side year and defying all expectations. Southampton made the best start and it was one they made count, they played a lovely passing move in the midfield and it ended up at the feet of Adam Lallana who calmly played it to Morgan Schneiderlin who drilled the ball home in the left hand corner of the net, Southampton lead and looked good value for their lead. It took them a while to get their second but it came, Jake livermore beat Carl Regan on the edge of the box and shaped up to shoot, instead he passed to Rickie Lambert who slotted home past Mikkel Andersen.  The second half was even more one sided with Southampton baying for blood and sending a message to the chasing pack that they really do mean business this year, they found  a third goal and it came from a corner which was whipped in by Jason Puncheon at the far post, Guly do Prado was unmarked and sent the ball back across goal, it ended up right in the back stick and it the net, Southampton were in the driving seat at 3-0 and the game was virtually dead. They scored yet another goal, this time it was rickie Lambert again, Adam lallana was brought down on the edge of the box and lambert stepped up from 18 yards out, managed to bend it around the wall and in to the postage stamp, he struck his shot with real venom and gave the Bristol Rovers goalkeeper no chance at all.
Southampton knew they had to bounce back and get a win, they did just that and mat well have dented the morale of a Bristol Rovers side who were pushing for the play-offs.
Final Score: Southampton 4-0 Bristol Rovers.

Oldham Athletic vs Southampton:
Southampton travelled to Boundary Park hoping to close the gap on Peterborough who were playing on the following Monday, they got off to a fairly disasterous start as Andrew Davies pulled up with a leg injury and could no longer play any further part in the match, Rob Gurney swutched it around and brought on Alex Chamberlain in his place, they were now playing a 3-5-1-1 and most would call this suicide away from home but Gurney at all times has faith in the ability of his side to be able to attack and defend at all costs. They got off to a very good start and were playing balls through the middle instead of from either flank, it worked though as on 15 miinutes, Alex Chamberlain passed to Jake Livermore who fed the ball to Morgan Schneiderlin, he took it past Jean Yves M’voto and Greg Fleming was stunned to see the ball cannon off Kieran Lee and in to the back of the net. Not long after that they made it 2-0, the Southampton wingers were cutting inside making it impossible for Oldham to make any tackles due to the amount of Southampton midfielders in the congested area in the Oldham third, Jason Puncheon, Jake Livermore and Adam Lallana were just spraying the ball around the park at free will and finally they made their move with Alex Chamberlain getting on the end of a through ball and crossing for Guly do Prado to header home at the far post past greg Fleming. With the way Southampton set up not many would have predicted this onslaught.
The second half was different though as Warren Feeney managed to evade the challenge of Seamus Coleman, he played it to Lweis Allesandra who looked up to find Gokhan Tore in acres of space on the edge of the box, he ran with the ball a little, then a little more, before smashing the ball across goal and in to the far corner. Southampton wrapped up all three points in the 90th minute and it came from a long throw by Coleman, it reached the edge of the 6 yard box, Morgan Schneiderlin fli cked the ball on with his foot and Rickie Lambert instinctively stuck out a boot and prodded the ball home.
Final Score: Oldham Athletic 1-3 Southampton

Stockport County vs Southampton (FA Cup 2nd Round):
Southampton travelled to League Two side Stockport in searrch of progressing through to the 3rd round of the FA Cup, there really only looked like one winner from the word go and it was Southampton who openend the scoring, Kelvin Davis’ long ball downfield was nodded on by Guly do Prado and Rickie Lambert was the first to react, he got ahead of his marker and only had the goalkeeper to beat, a betting man would have put his house on his beating Matt Glennon, luckily he curled it around the goalkeeper and in to the back of the net to give Southampton a 1-0 lead. Not normally does Rob Gurney tell his men to sit back on a narrow lead but with stockport creating no chances what so ever, this is exactly what he told his side to do in the 2nd half, the match itself slowly washed away and Southampton’s defence cleared any goal-threat that the Stockport attack tried to muster up, it was a pretty awful game for the neutral but the Southampton support didn’t care, they booked their place in the third round.

League Table

November Review:
Won: 5
Lost: 1
Drawn: 0
Player of the Month: Seamus Coleman