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Saints at Millwall The Verdict
Saints at Millwall The Verdict
Sunday, 17th Jan 2010 09:29

Some strange decisions from Alan Pardew at Millwall

Four players started games for the first time this season for Saints, in the case of three of them it was due to them only signing for the club in the previous few days, but most Saints fans at the New Den were surprised to hear Lee Holmes name in the line up.

Not that Saints supporters dislike the winger, but due to the fact that, despite being fit for most of it, he had only managed two other appearances this season, 14 minutes at Carlisle & 3 Minutes against Gillingham, hardly an indication that Pardew rates him, so all the more strange that he should suddenly start a game, especially one as important as this.

The truth of this game is that after a good start Saints lost their way, the loss of Dean Hammond could be part of that, but Saints had found Millwall tough going long before that.

The Lions seemed to want to run at Saints and win the game, whilst we seemed to be content to sit back and soak up pressure, true we looked very comfortable, but every once in a  while the home side would create a decent chance, it needed a great double save from Kelvin Davis to keep the cores level.

The second half was similar to the first,Saints looking comfortable, but finding it difficult to get the ball to the front men, it was clear that this was a game that was scrappy and fire had to be met with fire, however we were trying to win it with guile.

The strange thing was that we did little to change that, Antonio on for James showed that brute force might just change things, a couple  of promising runs from the Reading loanee showed that, but the vital third substitution that might swing things didnt happen, the introduction of Waigo seemed to be nothing more than running the clock down, so late did it come in the game.

Lambert's goal came out of the blue and was another long range free kick, coming in the last minute of injury time it was surely  the winner, all Saints  had to do was win the ball, they couldnt do that as the home side scored directly from the kkick off to give themselves a point that all in all  was probably a fair result.

Last gasp goals change seasons, and I fear that this one has changed ours. we now sit 12 points behind the last two play off spots, both those teams have games in hand on us, is it now too big a mountain to climb ?

Our problem has been that in the past month we have gone off the boil, our  rivals for promotion have been winning games and been winning well, as Norwich did at Colchester and we have picked  up only four points in the last four games, the required eight points would leave us within touching distance, but the gap is widening not closing. 

      

Photo: Action Images



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