This was a worrying evening at Griffin Park.
With due respect to Brentford after Saints recent purchases in the transfer window added to those made earlier in the season, Saints now have the biggest and best squad in the division, that being the case then why did Brentford tear us apart in the second half of this game, with only a string of fine saves by Kelvin Davis keeping us in it, the blunt awful truth is that the home side would not have been flattered if they had won 4-1.
It all started so well with a cracking goal from Lloyd James and Saints looked comfortable with that lead for most of the first half, however as the break loomed several home attacks sent warnings about the second half.
In that half Brentford set about us with a will, were they better players than Saints ? NO they just has a will to win that was lacking in our team, they tore into us and we let them do it, why did we have no one up front who can do the same to the opposition, take Antonio for instance his pace etc is often praised by Alan Pardew, who seems to be the only man in Southampton who doesnt realise that all of Antonio's good work has been done in the second half and when he comes off the bench. Brentfords wide men achieved more in 45 minutes than Antonio has done in four months at Saints and we have to ask the question why.
Sadly its a question of motivation, at the moment the squad seems disjointed and unable to cope with the rotational system that has been necessary with certain players unavailable in certain competitions.
Saints did have their chances in the second half, in truth Lee Barnard turned well and with only the keeper to beat put it wide, if he had scored it would have been a travesty of justice at 2-0 but would surely have made the game take a different pattern.
Just about the only player to come out of this with any real credit was Kelvin Davis, who made a string of excellent saves including a penalty.
Saints have to win on Saturday otherwise the promotion push is all but over, Alan Pardew now has to go out and earn his money as to be blunt, if you have the best squad in the division and its playing like this, then its down to the manager, at Griffin Park perhaps the main problem was substituions, the first enforced saw Lloyd James limp off and this was a big loss as it upset the balance in the centre, but the second on 77 minutes was too late, OK it was still 1-0 at the time but we had let Brentford pummel us for half an hour and done nothing about it, the tone of the game was set, simiarly why was Waigo not used till the 88th minute, too late to do anything and merely to ease pressure and run the clock down.
Both strikers could have been taken off early in the second half, Lambert is only good if the ball is able to be got too him and it wasnt, Pardew needs to start to be pro active and not re active in use of substitutes.
A disapointing night for Saints to say the least.