x

Southampton V Sheffield Wednesday The Verdict

Saints fans were nervous before this game, the opportunity of equalling the club record of 19 games unbeaten in the League was almost a burden on the shoulders of the team whose job first and foremost to win the game and get three points.

This was a big day at St Mary's, there were two tasks in hand and if completed they would perhaps achieve a third, that of getting into the automatic promotion places.

Russell Martin was certainly taking no chances when he made his team selection, arguably this was our best starting line up and it had been the formation that had predominantly seen us through the last 18 games.

But it started shakily, we almost conceded in the first few minutes when we overplayed the possession football at the back and put Gavin Bazunu under pressure and were lucky not to concede.

But this would be the last mistake we would make and the game soon settled into a pattern, we had the ball and they got everyone behind it, Wednesday's tactics were simple, sit back, waste time and hopefully still be in the game in the final stages to have a crack.

This is a testament to how Southampton are seen by other sides, they are running scared.

The games first goal almost came when Ryan Fraser hit a shot into the ground which had to be headed off the line and the visitors were standing firm.

That all changed in the 35th minute when Adam Armstrong pulled the ball back from the byeline, really the defender should have dealt with it, but didn't and Che Adams took a touch past his man and fired home.

So Saints now had the lead, how would Wednesday respond, the answer was to timewaste and the keeper was the biggest culprit, they were worried about conceding a second before the break and every goalkick saw him try to waste more time.

The second half saw Saints in control, but before they could close out the game it needed Gavin Bazunu to make a smart save, this was perhaps our best performance of the season in terms of how we got the ball, passed it around and dominated, it was a true team performance, we played to the system and played it well, last season we were a shambles you didn't know what the team would be or what system we were playing, now we have identity.

Just after the hour came the second goal and this time it was Adam Armstrong who was the scorer, firing home as a defender made a desperate challenge on the line.

Now Saints were in control and Wednesday had to come out and try to rescue something and when they won a free kick in a dangerous position Gavin Bazunu had to be at his best to keep it out.

But in the final 20 minutes it was all Saints, Ryan Fraser ended the game as a contest on 75 minutes with a smart finish after an Adam Armstrong pass.

Now Russell Martin felt he would make changes, on came Alacaraz and Mara a minute after the goal and we now had fresh legs to make it a tough final 10 minutes or so for the Owls.

A strange change on 83 minutes when off went Jan Bednarek and on came Jack Stephens, the 4th change should really have been Tyler Dibling, the game was won and he should have got a little more game time than the 2 minutes of normal time plus injury time that he was given.

The 4th goal saw Sekou Mara slot home an inch perfect cross, it was a well worked goal, Fraser found Adam Armstrong who took the ball wide and then put in perhaps the perfect cross for Mara to score.

As mentioned on came Tyler Dibling who had a couple of decent runs, last year I saw him play for the U21 side and he looked a little weak physically, this season he has beefed up and he could well be a great asset this season, he looks like a cross between Matt Le Tissier, Jack Grealish, but with strength.

So at the final whistle Saints had achieved all three aims for the day, they had won the game, they had equalled the unbeaten run of 19 games in the League unbeaten and they had moved into the top two, sadly this would be only temporary as Ipswich would scrape past Sunderland in the 5.30pm game, but we had made a big point to the Tractor Boys, we are not only right up behind them, but we are the form team.

We can take several things from this game.

Firstly Russell Martin has put together a very good team and more than that a very good squad, Leicester perhaps not so much, but Ipswich are now looking over their shoulders and now we are not looking back over our shoulders and worrying about getting into the play offs, we are firmly in contention for an automatic spot.

With Leicester losing we have actually gained more points than them in the last 19 games, we might not be the team leading the division now, we might well not be by the final table, but since our four game debacle just after the start of the season we have slowly but surely honed our game and at this moment in time we are the best side in the Championship bar none.

Secondly we have shown it is a squad game, the reason we are so strong is that when we make changes it doesn't weaken the side, in cricket you have death bowlers, players who might not take wickets, but can make sure that the run rate stays down, Saints have their own football version of death bowlers, we have players who can come on and help close out games, be that as this one or for that matter help turn draws into wins as we did at Millwall & Hull or at Preston with a late equaliser.

The talk on social media might have been about worrying that we would blow up against Wednesday due to the pressure of that unbeaten run record being equalled, were far off the mark, our players now have a confidence that comes from knowing that they are the best squad in the division, that they play the possession football game better than the rest.

I would not say we will stay unbeaten for the rest of the season, but if we have a setback we will deal with it and move forward as we did after that 4 match run of defeats.

There is the outcry for a forward in the transfer window, obviously if Che Adams leaves then we will need one, but otherwise there are goals from every part of this team.

It was hard to pick a man of the match, the officially announced one of Ryan Fraser had it's merits, he undoubtably had a 9/10 performance, as did Kyle Walker Peters, in a starting line up that didn't have a man who should have got less than 8/10 for a good all round performance that saw them dominate, but deal with it when stretched.

But one man stood out and had perhaps one of the most complete performances that I have seen in a Southampton shirt in a long while.

Adam Armstrong was everywhere, he had 3 assists and scored one himself, he was at the heart of everything, at one point in the second half chasing back and making a tackle when we could have found ourselves outnumbered at the back.

Man of the match is often a difficult decision, more often than not it is the flair players who win it, those that take on players and fly down wings or score goals, but Adam Armstrong isn't quite like that, yes he has pace and takes people on, but he is different, he is clinical, he is the player with the most goals and the most assists this season, he is the man who truly make the difference.

On Saturday this was a man of the match performance from him, but not just that it was a 10/10 rating, that is because he was the one player who truly influenced the game.

It has taken a couple of years for Adam Armstrong to get the credit he deserves, his game is about more than goals, it is about work rate and it is about creating, there are players with more flair than AA, but none who truly influence games as much.

What to read next:

Swansea City : Where are the Swans today on all their player business ?
Bar the Macaulay Langstaff news there has been little of any concrete news in the offing this week. Mind you that alone caused a stir. Between now and the transfer window opening on June 14th, which is the date for the European Championships to start there will be little to speculate on.
Swansea City : Top striker target in the Swans sights, the full lowdown
There’s a lot more to Notts County’s prolific goalscorer than meets the eye. Not least his excellent injury record and the fact at twenty seven he is now in his prime as a professional footballer.
Swansea City : Nathan Wood knows he is available for transfer
Swansea City centre back Nathan Wood is aware that the Swans will listen to offers for his transfer away from the club this summer. His contract was extended recently with the Swans triggering a one year option on the player.
Joe Allen to stay at Swansea as retained list is imminent. Ogbeta to leave ?
It seems Joe Allen’s immediate future will continue to be at Swansea City as an agreement in principle has been reached between the two parties.
Swansea City : The real value will be the players who stay at the club
With the Swans retained list about to be named, generally around the 18th of the month, we take a look at those who stay, and their value to the club. The players who have the determination to turn next season in to more than a passing parade and a dismal home loss record.
Swansea City : The confusing decision making for a whole season
It was a pretty poor end to what can only be described as a disappointing football season for Swansea City. The defeat to Millwall yesterday was a display that has frustrated Swansea City supporters all season. A lack of effort, intensity and desire rewarding the home support with yet another home loss.
Swansea City 0 - 1 Millwall - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Swansea City : Grimes misses a penalty in a return to bad old ways
An error strewn and tepid Swansea display ensured thousands left the stadium before the staff and players did their usual walk around at this end of season game. It wasn’t a good look as two players received red cards and any effort by the home side was lost in a static and frustrating display.
Swansea City : Last game of the season, latest injury news and the full low down on the big game
Today brings the Championship season to a close for the majority of the clubs involved, and the Swans face Millwall at 12.30pm today at the Swansea.com stadium. Just over 1,100 visiting supporters have made the journey in what we hope is a celebration of the end of the season for both clubs.
Swansea City : What needs to happen now ?
The Indy’s lead football writer, Andrew Winfield goes in deep on this weeks issues and the real problems in store for the Swans.