Saints V Vitesse The Verdict Friday, 31st Jul 2015 08:49 There wasn't a Europa League sceptic in sight as Saints returned to European action in front of a rocking St Mary's. It was a special night at St Mary's stadium as Saints hosted Vitesse in their first European match in 12 years, the 1,600 Dutch supporters added to the occasion and Saints fans responded to make it one of those games that lives long in the memory. But if Saints thought they would have an easy game they were soon brought down to earth, they found a Vitesse side who although on the back foot for much of the game were determined to keep it tight at the back. But Ronald Koeman is an experienced European campaigner and he didn't allow his side to throw caution to the wind and leave themselves open at the back, but play a controlled game that meant that Vitesse were clearly second best. But it was the visitors that had the firs real chance of the game when they broke quickly and flashed a shot across goal, a warning to Saints that they had to keep concentration at the back. At the other end Saints were dominating, however they were struggling to find a way through the visitor's defence, Sadio Mane looked menacing and dangerous and it was him who created the first goal for Pelle who finished crisply on 36 minutes. But if Vitesse thought they would get into the break only a goal down they were to be mistaken and it was Mane again who was brought down and Dusan Tadic stepped up to convert the penalty with the last kick of the half. In the second half it was mainly Saints although late on the Dutch team pushed and almost caught Saints again with a lack of concentration, this time hey got the shot on target but Maarten Stekelenburg made a decent save to do his bit. It looked like the second half would be goalless till Shane Long popped up getting one on one with the keeper who made a good block, the ball fell to Juanmi who could have tried to shoot himself, instead he kept his composure and chipped it sweetly across the goal to Long who had an easy header to make it three and give Saints a good lead to take to Hollnd. Overall it was a good performance with perhaps the most pleasing part being that it was a true team display and all 14 players who got on the field did their job. Special mentions to Matt Targett who looks the part, he is a different player to Ryan Bertrand in the fact that he isn't a marauding full back down the line, but he uses the ball well and laid some great passes forward that with the pace that we have up front will catch teams out this season. In the centre Clasie and Wanyama formed a great partnership with the latter being immense and in my opinion being the man of the match. The strength in depth was good and even more pleasing in that three players who will be starters were not in the squad for various reasons, when Jay Rodriguez, Ryan Bertrand & Steven Caulker are added to the squad it will give us even more in our locker. Only real downside on the night was the two lapses of concentration that presented them with their two real chances, we need to sort that out and it perhaps showed that we still have room for improvement. But it was a great night, a great team display and if Saints can put this sort of performance in on a regular basis in the coming season then it could well be one of the most exciting in the club's history Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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