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Saints At Millwall The Verdict
Saints At Millwall The Verdict
Sunday, 18th Mar 2012 09:35

Saints did what promotion chasing sides have to do, they kept battling and put themselves in a position to win the game when the chance to do so came along.

saints are still top of the league, but it was a close run thing, the pubs around London Bridge was packed were packed with Saints supporters pre match and in a conversation with one reader of this site, I got some interesting feedback about these match reports, to cut a long story short I promised that I would take a more positive angle in today's verdict, as he quite rightly pointed out now is the time for everyone to be behind the team in the final run in, as they say though I sure picked the wrong game to be positive in !

However a promise is a promise and there were several positives to be found in a game where to be frank most of the team were awful, however they kept battling away after handing the hosts two goals and put themselves in the position to win the game when the opportunity came along.

It wasnt pretty but now all that matters is winning games and clocking up the points to take us to promotion, Saints did start well though, after ten minutes Rickie Lambert reminded us of the days when he used to shoot from anywhere when he thundered a shot off the crossbar from well outside the area and when Danny Fox laid a sublime chipped throughball down the right hand side for Morgan Schneiderlin to run on to followed by a perfect cross where lambert couldnt miss, it all looked like it would be a good day at the office.

Then in five minutes of madness Saints lost their composure got caught on the break and found themselves a goal down in a game they had looked about to cruise to victory in, from then on Millwall had their hackles up and scrapped for every ball and Saints struggled to find rythym and consistency, indeed as we approached the final five minutes just about our only decent chance since our goal 70 minutes earlier had been an effort by De Ridder just after the break that was headed away from goal and then came five minutes that come the end of April might just have changed our season.

At this point news that Reading were cantering to victory was filtering through, it was clear that unless something happened quick, they were top of the league, then came the first penalty, in truth it was nailed on, Sharp laid the ball across goal for Lambert who couldnt really miss and he was tripped, an equaliser out of nowhere, but it got better as two minutes later Saints got a second penalty in controversial fashion, Hooiveld leapt to meet a cross and was clearly shoved in the back, he then appeared to handle the ball, the referee blew for another penalty amid protests from the Millwall players, the ref seemed to be indicating that the penalty was for handball, if he gave it for that then he made a grave error, however Hooiveld was pushed of that there was no doubt and for that alone it was a penalty.

The game had changed and despite five minutes of injury time signalled and six played, Saints were not going to lose it now.

The relief and adrenalin was flowing amongst the Saints players as they swarmed towards the jubilant fans punching the air with passion, yes we got away with it and didnt deserve the win, but the only thing that matters is that we got it and took another step forward and gained another couple of points on West Ham.

The positives from this game are three goals, three points and plenty of fight and determination, they say the sign of Champions is playing badly and still winning, well we certainly did that on Saturday at Millwall and perhaps this will help to ease the nerves and storm to the run in, certainly Reading fans who would have been looking anxiously towards South East London would have been buoyant with five minutes to go and their bubble must have been well and truly popped when the final score came through, they must think just what do they have to do to overtake us.

So nine games to go and four wins is still looking like the number that will take us through, win our four home games and we will be there, if we can add a couple away from home then we might cross the finishing line without a nerve wracking final day.

Photo: Action Images



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DJI added 10:23 - Mar 18
Just to clear the 2nd penalty incident up Nick, it was for a hand ball by their player. I was on the right side of the upper tier looking across the goal towards the corner coming in and I saw the Millwall hand touch it and immediately shouted "handball"! From my angle, the gap between him and Jos was a lot bigger than the TV pictures show. As I looked around, most Saints fans hadn't noticed it and were confused by why we had been given it!

I agree with you that after the first 20 minutes, it looked like we were going to boss this game to the finish but some lapse defending and wayward passes gave Millwall the momentum and we seemed to fall apart. But, as you say, the lads dug in, kept trying and got some rewards in the end. I thought Morgan did well in the middle of the park but was not helped by our lack of width again? I like Adam but I sometimes wish he would just hug the touchline which creates us more space and causes the opposition some doubt. Looking up the pitch yesterday from the away end, this was the game it was needed in as Fox had to keep hitting diagonal balls to find a player most of the time!

This was my first trip to Millwall and despite friends telling me it would be ugly, I found the whole experience to be well organised and safe. Even when entering the ground, the stewards were friendly and polite to me when they asked if they could search me; "thank you and we hope you enjoy the match" was the comment when they had finished. The only black mark on the day was hearing that our Bench was pelted with objects which had injured one of our non-playing Staff, and I hope they are okay?
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Whatsforpud added 10:50 - Mar 18
Nick, re the 2nd penalty, look at picture 4 of 52 on the gallery on the official site. Looks like a handball to me. Quite clear on a still photo, but well done to the eagle-eyed ref. who thankfully didn't blink at the time!

Listening to the Solent, we seem to be putting a lot into it at the final stages, but it didn't seem they were going to pull it off. Pity about West Ham's late equaliser, but at least we gained 2 points with games running out.
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SaintNick added 11:02 - Mar 18
Just seen it and can see your point, it looks nailed on, funny how the eyes can play tricks, all of the people around me didnt see their player handball it
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SaintNick50 added 11:08 - Mar 18
"Southampton FC Championship Champions 2012" It is written.

Seriously though, this kind of result is what makes champions. 5 minutes to go losing and no longer top of the league.

All we need to do is to do it again at Hull on Tuesday night. It reminds me of a similar match on 11/04/78 when a 3-0 win there was a massive step towards promotion that year. Although Hull were relegation fodder that year.

I have asked this question before but how many penalties in a row for Rickie and is it a record? Maybe the Echo will tell us they seem to be good at that sort of thing.

TOGETHER AS ONE!
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SaintNick50 added 11:16 - Mar 18
Just looked at the photos no 4 is deceptive I think the ball is nearer the camera than the hand. No 27 is better.
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saintBob added 11:51 - Mar 18
Two changes for Tuesday night - Aaron Martin for Fonte & Harding for Fox. Fonte is looking too slow and uncertain at the moment whereas despite Fox's excellent record of assists, a lot of the time he's nowhere to be seen in the left back position giving the opposition too much space down our left hand side.
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Sanguin added 12:02 - Mar 18
I normally agree that you're too negative but I was looking forward to seeing what you had to say about this one. For me it didn't really feel like a win, it was embarrassing watching the team consistently fail to string two passes together, keep playing the ball up in the air and seem to not want the win as much as Millwall.

We got two lucky breaks with the penalties since after Millwall’s first goal we always looked second best. We now have 10 points out of a possible 12 but we probably only deserved 4, if we can carry this on to the end of the season I’ll be ecstatic. Reading are flying and we all know what West Ham are capable of, I think it might take more than the 84 for automatic promotion, I’m glad they still have to play each other.

Anyway, onwards and upwards, let’s get 3 points at Hull!
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bstokesaint added 12:08 - Mar 18
It was an undeserved win, but there's no point in making too bigger a deal of it. We were ruthless enough to take our chances when they were presented and they were both penalties, there was no fortune there other than a very good referee being at our game and a Millwall team set on implode. We all know how these things go against you though when you're at the bottom of the table. Tuesday night will be an entirely different situation. It's a very tough away game and I'd be a little surprised if we hung onto top spot after this one. If we could raise our game I'd take a point. It's probably our toughest game left, with the excpetion of Reading maybe.
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felly1 added 12:22 - Mar 18
We certainly looked below par for lots of the game. I thought the introduction of De Ridder gave us more impetus. It wasnt that he did a great deal but his pace and the fact that he stayed out wide opened up the game and pushed Millwall back. Chappers looked poor and his first touch was woeful, the fullbacks both consistently gave the ball away. Hammond was effective in the middle of the park,he has his limitations but goes about his job well.All in all though a great away day packed full of late goal drama and a belly full of beer...these are happy days to be a saints fan and im loving it.
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ThereIn76 added 15:37 - Mar 18
All Saints fans who were there TAKE A BOW! Kenny Jackett reckons you influenced the referee and that's why we got two penalties - to achieve that away at Millwall shows what special people you are. The players may not have been at their best, but you were and you played your part in the victory. WELL DONE, THANKS AND R-E-S-P-E-C-T!!!
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