x

Saints Fans Were Magnificent !

It was a cold Wednesday evening with the temperature hovering above freezing, but Saints fans turned up the heat to cheer their team on against Norwich City.

Those Saints fans who yearn for those years of "real" football in League One a decade ago, would have got a feeling of deja vu in St Mary's for the game against Norwich, the hard core was there and determined to support the team and not sit back and moan.

The Itchen North was the heart of the noise along with the Northam End, but all the crowd responded, perhaps it was the empty seats usually filled by those whose usual method of support is anguished cries of "For F***s sake Saints" that meant we lost a little bit of inhibition, but in the last 25 minutes the crowd rose to the occasion.

Ralph Hasenhuttl had said his team had to give the fans something and then he hoped they would respond and this turned out to be the case, the team got a two goal lead and the Saints supporters were determined their team would not lose it and drove them on.

If you weren't there then I feel sorry for you, a season is 38 games and not just one, over my years of following Saints most games are fairly inconsequential, but you live for nights like last night were it is all about what being a football supporter is about, a game with plenty on it and roaring your side on, it is what we go to football for.

When West Ham arrive in a week or so they will bring a big noisy contingent and we need to match that and more.

Of course there will be people who could not make it last night for genuine reasons, but there were certainly plenty who just could not be bothered and prefer to moan about value for money and entertainment or lack of investment, ask Everton fans this morning how much their Chairman has invested ?

There were 25,000 Saints fans at St Mary's last night who know just what I mean, it is not playing in League One they fondly remember it was the fact that we supported the team at it's lowest ebb in our lifetime and we were all better for the experience, last night it was just like 2010 again.

In the past how good a supporter you were was judged purely on how many games you went to end of story, now that seems to have changed, how many tweets you have to your name seems to have taken over and matter more.

Last night was about enjoying being a Saints supporter again.

There will be those that will slag me off claiming I am no better supporter than them, they are right, everyone there last night was an equal, Southampton Supporters and that's all, none of them will question what I am saying, but you had to be there to understand it.

NB: I know many who weren't there last night due to other commitments, we can't all go to every game.

What to read next:

Farke happy with the result after bore draw at Norwich
Many neutrals have complained on social media that yesterday’s game at Norwich City was a bit on the dull side, but the Leeds team wasn't set up to please them. For us it was the result that mattered, and it should leave us in a better position to get through to the final.
Norwich Awaydaze
For the second time this season we are visiting Norwich City, this time for the play-off game at high noon on Sunday, and the kick-off time is of course thanks to our good friends at Sky Sports. You’ll find Carrow Road is about a mile to the south-east of the city centre.
May the 4th not with us as we finish the regular season with a tepid defeat
If we were ever going to have a final day miracle we needed a much better performance than this final day showing against Southampton, so now we have to endure the agony of the play-offs yet again.
Leeds United 1 - 2 Southampton - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Leeds heading for the play-offs after shocker at QPR
Just when we thought we’d turned the corner with that win at Boro, we slipped back into the desperate form of the post-international break period, losing heavily to Queens Park Rangers in this critical game.
Queens Park Rangers 4 - 0 Leeds United - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
QPR Awaydaze
Our trip to Queens Park Rangers is at 8pm on Friday, thanks once again to our very good friends at Sky Sports. We’re not famous any more!
Crisis, what Crisis?
As Mark Twain might have said, rumours of the death of our promotion hopes have been greatly exaggerated. Last night’s win at Middlesbrough was a hard watch towards the end, but the vital three points has got our campaign back on track.
Middlesbrough 3 - 4 Leeds United - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Middlesbrough Awaydaze
Our visit to Middlesbrough kicks off at 8pm tomorrow night, once again thanks to our very good friends at Sky TV. We’re not famous any more!