Post by northwesthoop on Dec 23, 2023 15:48:08 GMT
We don't deserve to be behind, it's been very even and arguably we've had the better play, Dozzell had a goal bound shot deflected over just before they scored.
It's a shame but the defending at the back post was horrific. Simple flick on and tap home.
Last Edit: Dec 23, 2023 15:48:44 GMT by northwesthoop
A typical first 45 minutes, some good stuff played without any end product and hen concede to poor marking at a set piece.
Yes the difference was the finishing. I thought the Rs did very well in the first half to stifle the Saints play, whilst making decent attacks. My worry is that in the second half we will have the more tired legs, and our replacements on the bench will be nowhere as good as Southampton's.
Last Edit: Dec 23, 2023 15:53:50 GMT by kingfisher
A typical first 45 minutes, some good stuff played without any end product and hen concede to poor marking at a set piece.
Yes the difference was the finishing. I thought the Rs did very well in the first half to stifle the Saints play, whilst making decent attacks. My worry is that in the second half we will have the more tired legs, and our replacements on the bench will be nowhere as good as Southampton's.
We rely so heavily on a super goal from Willock or Chair that teams know it's highly unlikely we will threaten their keeper inside the box. The marking at the back post for their goal was something that a school team would be disappointed to concede. We will see whether Marti is worth his salt in the 2nd half because we need to see a reaction similar to the one Wednesday did against us last week. Unfortunately we don't have a midfield general who can dictate the play.
A game where we succumbed to more poor defending from our defenders, a midfield that offers very little and a blunt attack. Marti now understands just what a poor set of players we have.
Southampton had the majority of possession and we had just 2 shots on target.
This is a game screaming out for the pace and physicality of Armstrong he remains on the bench.
Good save front Begovic to keep us in the game.
Sadly (and I do keep hoping he will improve) Armstrong added nothing to the game. He cannot get past a defender with the ball; he cannot head the ball; and he cannot defend as Dykes does. Sorry lads but I feel he is a busted flush. In the second half it was a case of better substitutions being available for the Saints. On the plus side, we kept an ex-PL side to a single goal difference, and Chair was still probably MotM!
Good effort against the form side in the Championship. Judged on the first 75 minutes we were worth a point. The last 15 though was a bit of a car crash - Southampton could have scored another one (or two); and our subs weakened our chances. Not Cifuentes' fault - squad depth is what it is.
Last Edit: Dec 23, 2023 17:14:08 GMT by Rosco Bosco
