It wasnt spectacular, but Saints got the job done against Doncaster Rovers at St Mary's and extended their lead between first and third place to nine points.

In truth the first half against Doncaster was very lacklustre, Rovers had come for a point and seemed content to sit back and let Saints dictate the tempo, the problem was though, that Saints opted to keep the pace slow, seemingly confident that they could pass their way through the visitors defence and that superior skill would win the day, sadly this wasnt the case as Saints struggled to get accurate balls into the front two, when half time came and it was goaless it was clear that something had to change, including the slow pace of the game, Doncaster had several "big" names in the side including Diouf and Chimbonda, my feeling was if the pace was upped they wouldnt be interested in upping their game, in short they would go through the motions.

The first change in the second half though was a blow, Rickie Lambert limped off with a knock and was replaced by Richard Chaplow, however this would change the flow of the game, Chaplow came into the midfield with Steve De Ridder pushed up front and we looked a far better unit in the centre of the park for it.

It didnt take long for the vital goal to come after this change, once again it was an accurate corner from Danny Fox that created the goal as he put the ball just ion the area that a striker begs for and Billy Sharp didnt need asking twice as he thumped home a header to put Saints 1-0 up.

Saints now had the upper hand they now just had to make sure that they didnt let Doncaster back in the game, the second change on 67 minutes was unsurprising, Steve De Ridder has a part to play in Saints season but its becoming very clear that its not in the starting line up, once again he failed to deliver, pace has its place in the game but for Steve Im afraid it should be coming off the bench as an impact player.

Saints now looked a far more solid outfit now in all departments and all it needed was a second goal and again it was Sharp who delivered, shrugging off a challenge when he saw a moments hesitation and putting himself one on one with the keeper, he did what he does well and put Saints two up.

Nigel Adkins seeing that the game was won and wanting to keep it that way, took off Lallana for the more defensive Hammond and Saints saw out the last twenty minutes comfortably.

All in all a good day at the office, several players had questions asked of them as they came back into the side and in the main they all answred positively, Billy Sharp with a buzzing performance capped with two goals, Danny Butterfield with a solid display at right back which suggests that although he doesnt have the attacking flair and pace of Fraser Richardson, he is a better defender, Lee Barnard gave a great little cameo in the last twenty minutes or so suggesting that that with injuries to key men up front he might just be up to contributing a lot more than he has had the chance to do so far if called upon.

All eyes to Peterborough on Tuesday night now, this season is now very much in Saints hands and a couple of more wins will see us virtually over the finishing line.

Photo: Action Images

Scummer added 10:04 - Mar 25 Bang on that 2 points a game average and another clean sheet. Very pleased for Billy Sharp, especially after reading the Guardian interview. He is a class act. Heard the Donny fans were a good bunch and I hope they do enough to stay up this year.
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bstokesaint added 10:48 - Mar 25 Solid over spectacular. Well chuffed for Billy, he played like his life depended on it, giving everything. Shame he missed a good chance to have had a hat-trick. Also nice to be able to bring on Barney. He's so good at chasing loss causes and pressing back defences. 4 more wins to go, to be sure.
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SingaporeSaint added 15:22 - Mar 25 Solid win - excellent for Sharp and pleased for him and good to win without 3 first choice players and losing Lambert early which shows a strong squad. Solid, low risk performances should see us to get promoted now. On this vein I'd like to see a sub keeper named on the bench ongoing, I dont think we need to take the risk of Davis getting a knock in a game and putting an outfield player in goal.

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OldRed added 17:29 - Mar 25 It seemed that it was probably NA's intention to bring De Ridder off in the 2nd half anyway. He had a good 1st half and put a few decent balls over and on a couple of occasions the ball didn't quite fall right in order for Lambert & co to get a shot away otherwise we easily could have been a couple of goals up at half time. Butterfield was solid but probably due to lack of matches seemed a little slow in decision making. Sharp seemed to play with a lot more freedom after Lambert had come off and a shame that he didn't get his hat trick. The goal was always going to come and Donny wouldn't have scored even if we had played into the middle off next week. Utterly ridiculous to hear Dean Saunders say that the ref had cost them the game! I reckon we only need 8 points to make promotion secure - not sure why bstokesaint thinks 4 wins but that would indeed be just the job! We don't need 'spectacular' but I don't think it was 'lacklustre' either, sound, solid performances is all we need.

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SaintNick added 17:41 - Mar 25 I think we were lacklustre in the first half, we couldt seem to step up a gear against a doncaster side who you quite rightly point out wherent going to score no matter how long they played. Im sorry but De Ridder just didnt deliver again
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Whatsforpud added 17:45 - Mar 25 Nick, further to the previous Fox/Harding debate, Fox certainly delivered the perfect corner to underline your point. However there were too many high, looping crosses from various players, giving the keeper catching practice. Sharp looked sharp and deserved his goals. He probably should have scored another header after his first. Interesting that he has scored all the goals in both the Doncaster fixtures.

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SaintNick added 18:29 - Mar 25 Unfortunately I think the way we play which is hitting long balls and crosses etc means that some will go astray, Fox/s delivery from both dead balls and open play is key to the way we play and its no coincidence that he has so many assists including Saturday and the first goal at hull Harding just doesnt offer this, sadly nor does De Ridder his accuracy is appalling I felt sorry for sharp with that missed header, the defender should have headed it he missed it and sharp was surprised by it I thought that too there cant be that many players who have scored all the goals for both sides in a fixture in a season when an own goal hasnt been involved

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felly1 added 19:07 - Mar 25 I think you are too harsh on De Ridder. Its fairly obvious to see that he is not going to worry too many Premier League full backs but to call his accuracy "appalling" is way over the top.I do agree with you that he is most effective as a sub coming on and running at a tired defence, and for me on many occasions this season he has played in some dangerous crosses,opened up games with his direct running and scored a few important goals. It is a bit like your earlier criticisms of Kelvin where you like many others picked up on the fact that he is not the best at dealing with crosses. If these players had no flaws they wouldn't be playing for us at Championship level. Its the same with the ongoing debate about who are best fullbacks are. I agree that Fox has more quality than Harding and Richardson likewise over Butterfield, for me the differences between them all is not a great deal which emphasises why we have a good strong squad of better than average Championship players .

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tiptop added 19:17 - Mar 25 Interesting that Sharp said he needed to improve his fitness in-line with the rest of the saints squad. This goes some way to explain, with out guessing, why he hasn't featured as much as some expected. Took his goes well. There are some interesting options for pairings up front now. Overall Saints responding to the pressure well. Reading are keeping it up and its seems the saints squad are thriving on it. Not always playing with the same style or panache as earlier in the season by the sounds but we know we have that in the locker. I think SdR although lacking sometimes offers more than Puncheon at the moment. Bring on next week at Blackpool .....plus West Ham v Reading!! It doesn't get much better than this! COYRs!!

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OldRed added 19:47 - Mar 25 All opinions accepted but you have to give players credit when credit is due. It seems to me Nick that like everyone you have your favourites and sometimes you tend to ignore their fallibilities. We have a terrific squad and every player has played his part this season. I think De Ridder puts defences on alert and does get them on the back foot but as you point out, and I agree, his accuracy is not always good but to say it's appalling is unfair. Fox is has a superb assist record but he does get caught out of position, quite often getting drawn into the middle of defence, twice in the first 15mins he got nowhere near there winger to block out crosses - but also he has been crucial this season. Lacklustre or not, they were patient against Donny and did what they needed to do. What a great finale the last games are going to provide with, I think the deciding games being ours and West Ham's games against Reading. Superb!

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simmo400 added 21:00 - Mar 25 Think your all missing the best sub that came on. CHAPLOW. His drive and effort changed our lack lustre midfield. He is our only midfield player who can chase down and put pressure on there midfield. He is a must start in our midfield fOr the remaining games as without him we are very light weight. Butterfield left his crossing boots at home that's for sure. His floated crOsses were useless at best. Overall I thought Saints were poor most of the game but the 3 points were welcome so it we continue to play poor and gain the points I'll be happy.

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iwtwms added 07:28 - Mar 26 Poor & lacklustre? Probably the opinion of those with high expectations and some of our performances when everyone was firing on all 4 cylinders at the start of the season. But give me poor & lacklustre till the end of the season given that we secured another 3 points on the back of two consecutive tough away wins in the space of a week, another change in the starting lineup with Guly, Tadanari, and Richardson all missing. Just don't tell WHU and all the others that are getting further away in the chasing pack that we have been poor & lacklustre - they will all thing we're taking the pi$$ !! I think after we got the first goal on Saturday it was quite plain to see the pressure ease off the whole team and we looked a much more confident side from thereon. To be honest, we always looked solid and the midfield won many tackles but it was just lacking the final ball a lot of the time. I don't think it will go to the wire at this point, hopefully we will have secured an automatic place with a few games to go and it will just be a case of whether or not we can be Champions! COYR.

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Saintpaul120 added 10:32 - Mar 26 Agree with oldred and flll1 - Steve de Ridder offers a lot more than you give him credit for. As someone else said, you have your favourite players and that to a degree is the same as me. I like the way SDR puts defences on the back foot. I like the way he skins defenders and makes them foul him. It's all part of the 'entertaining' game of football I like. Not lost in 12 so that tells it's own story for me. The whole squad will take us up - then we'll see what the score is! Some good players in that Donny squad and 2 goals was about right in the end. Keep it up guys and get 3 points against Blackpool and I think that may well see us home and dry. Reading & P*rtsmouth will be sell outs and important games. COYRS!!!

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stmichael added 10:35 - Mar 26 Ruthlessly efficient - simple as that. 8 wins and 2 draws from the last 10 games is simply awesome and I dont think we have played great in any of the games. We get the job done.
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SaintNick added 11:04 - Mar 26 saintpaul and old red, I takeyour points but and your right everyone has their favourites, De Ridder looks good going forward pacy wingers always do, but the thing that matters is end product and the truth is their isnt that much of it this season, in most games i have seen him he usually has a good first 15-20 mins and then fades out of the game as the full bakcs work him out, but to be blunt he doesnt get in enough accurate crosses, too many times he gets in a good position and then puts the ball to no one or to one of their men, if he improves on that then he could be good

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OldRed added 11:21 - Mar 26 A fair analysis. Start him and see what you get, which sometimes looks promising, but we normally expect him to be one of the first substitutions or chuck him on for the final 20 mins which more often than not produces something. A shame really, as he came to SMS with high hopes, but he's played a part all the same. But I do think fans in general ar a little bit over critical of their own teams and when you read comments about the Saints on other fan's sites, you read nothing but praise and how good we are, "the best team we've played" etc..

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bstokesaint added 12:46 - Mar 26 OldRed I think 4 wins would win us the title. I know 87 points has widely been regarding as the benchmark this season for promotion so yeah 3 wins would get us that. That said if we were to win away at Blackpool next weekend I will feel miles more confident that the title is heading to St Mary's. Reading might still believe they can catch us if they beat West Ham, but we should be okay. On the subject of SdR I think he did okay on Saturday. I don't like shooting down our players unless they have a real stinker, especially as for players like SdR and Butterfield they're not used to being in the starting line-up. I won't deny that SdR has a lot to work on, but he will get better and I'd still prefer him to Puncheon, who in all his time since he's been back has featured little. For all those who thought it was a poor display the situation was a little like last season when we were forced to break down teams who came for a draw. That hasn't happened very often this season because a lot of clubs have thought they could beat us at our own game and come for the win. Every Saints fan I spoke to at halftime thought it was just a matter of time before we went on to win. We didn't have a whole lot of shots, but then nothing was dropping in the penalty area.

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