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Saints At Brighton The Verdict
Saints At Brighton The Verdict
Sunday, 24th Apr 2011 09:12

Saints once again came good at the right moment.

For 84 minutes Saints looked to be doing again, exactly what they have done far too many times on the road this season, that is dominate a game with the lions share of possession and chances yet find themselves behind to a goal from an individual error.

During the first half Saints looked to be well in command and although they hadnt really stretched Brighton too much, as the game headed to first half injury time the visitors were good value for what looked like being a scoreless first half, the Jaidi failed to clear a ball on the edge of his own penalty area, in truth at this stage of a game just before the break he should have put it into row Z (Ok there isnt a row z in the Theatre of tree's but he should have at least put it into row F) but Jaidi tried to be too clever and laid it back to Davis, he left the keeper sold short and barnes nipped in to tuck it away for a lead that the home side didnt deserve.

The second half went pretty much the way of the first as brighton were again happy to defend deep and look for Saints to again shoot themsselves in the foot, as the game entered the last ten minutes it looked like Saints had blown it, they had thrown everything at the Seagull's and in turn Brighton had thrown everything in the way to keep their lead, but then on 84 minutes Connolly swivelled and the ball hit just about the only thing the Saints fans could see clearly from the worst away section in the land and that was the back of the net.

This stunned the home support to our left who had spent much of the game taunting Saints fans and Nigel Adkins in front of them, just as they were cranking it up we equalise.

But it got better, at that stage most Saints fans would have taken a draw but as the clock hit 90 minutes a free kick was floated to the far edge of the six yard box, Fonte appeared to be headingg it across goal, but then time appeared to stop, from where I was stood the Brighton players seemed to be able to do nothing but watch it, my first thought was that the referee had blown up for an infringement and then Lambert seemed to be in the net with the ball and pandemonium broke out in the Saints end.

When it had all died down there were six minutes of injury time to endure, which to be fair seemed to stretch but Brighton didnt really threaten, their supporters who were so desperate for that guard of honour and only ten minutes earlier had been ready to celebrate, suddenly were heading for the exits in droves, the league 1 title forgotten as they suddenly found that they couldnt take defeat in the manner they couldnt take winning, ie with decorum.

The final whistle sparked further scenes of celebration as make no bones about it, the promotion race again swung back to Saints.

Overall it was a strong performance from Saints, Nigel Adkins was bold with his team selection playing a 4-3-3 formation with Gobern slotting into the midfield and working hard alongside the recalled Chaplow and Hammond,

Up front Forte offered pace although to be fair Saints were much improved with the introduction of Lallana at half time, but this was a game when Saints stepped up to the plate, every man was up for it and every man was immense.

This is why we go to football for moments like this and the fact that we also have to live through bad times makes the good all that more sweeter, at 5pm on Saturday evening Huddersfield fans must have been feeling the same way that we were 24hours earlier, they must feel that promotion is slipping aay, this was a big big moment for Saints in the promotion battle both in terms of points and more importantly psycologically.        

Photo: Action Images



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hortonsaint added 09:59 - Apr 24
The last paragraph is spot on, those last 10 minutes make it all worthwhile and were even more sweet given some of our away sufferings this year and you just can't describe the elation you feel at moments like Fonte's winner and the scenes around you. With 10 mins to go I was thinking what you say all the time, in control of the game and yet another individual error costing us, it almost seemed to sum the difference between the sides over the season. But fair play we kept going and thoroughly deserved the win. Poyet's comments just show a lack of class. Added to the constant champions references over the tannoy at every opportunity and the can you catch us on the front of the programme, according to my Dad before the game -and I'm too young to know these songs!-they were playing an old Monkees song catch us.....? and a song with Nigel in the title that were clearlry further digs at us. Makes it all the more sweet
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1962saint added 10:10 - Apr 24
Very well written report accurately describing the actions and emotions. Saints were so superior to Brighton throughout the entire game it really was men against boys - one had to check the banners to believe that Brighton were champions. It would have been the greatest injustice had we lost and a scoreline of 4-0 would not have flattered Saints.
I was unable to get a ticket with the Saints fans but was fortunate to get a ticket amongst the home section. Bad news not to be able to show emotions but the advantage at the Withdean home area is you can see the play without the aid of binoculars!
The home fans around me, after celebrating finishingas champions, and then booing Adkins, soon became completely silenced by Saints dominance. Remarks were made of how big a team we are and, looking at Jaidi, Fonte, Lambert, Guly now with Gobern and Forte, it was men against boys even though a littleun scored the equaliser.
Brighton may have won League 1 but, in my opinion, Saints will be much better equipped to succeed at the next level.
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131153 added 10:23 - Apr 24
No doubt about it a great win and by all accounts thoroughly deserved. Certainly payback for the way they played at SMS.Clearly Brighton have been at the top to long as Poyet is suffering from a severe case of altitude sickness. You do wonder if he or any of his scouts have watched any of our games, we are clealy not a long ball team.

I thought Dagenham & Redbridge were probably one of the weaker teams to visit SMS this year, but in the same way Brighton have moaned about our size and budget etc. their size and budget is proportionally bigger than the Dagenham & Redbridge budget. Poyet not very gracious in defeat and furthermore likweise towards Dagenham & Redbridge.

The irony of his comments is all the greater when if you asked most Saints fans to look back on the season I reckon most would feel on balance we have passed the the ball around more than we should. There have not been many games when we have not had the greater percentage of possession. A nice two or three goal victory on Monday will set us up for the remaing three games.
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131153 added 10:25 - Apr 24
One more word for Adrian Durham. Rotate!
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felly1 added 12:59 - Apr 24
Our boys stepped up to the plate,now we have to refocus on Hartlepool.
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bstokesaint added 15:37 - Apr 24
Pretty disappointing stuff from Brighton really. Unprofessional in the build-up and ungracious in defeat. Good to see Poyet setting an example from his time at the top. Great result for our boys. Bring on the Hartlepool.
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bstokesaint added 15:38 - Apr 24
Pretty disappointing stuff from Brighton really. Unprofessional in the build-up and ungracious in defeat. Good to see Poyet setting an example from his time at the top. Great result for our boys. Bring on the Hartlepool.
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