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Saints see off Birmingham
9:47pm Tuesday 26th August 2008
Comments (113) Have your say »
Lee Holmes and Adam Lallana struck in either half to ease Southampton into the third round of the Carling Cup at the expense of their Coca-Cola Championship rivals.
Former Derby midfielder Holmes found the target in Saints' first-round victory over Exeter, and he struck the first here with a crisp strike from the edge of the area in the 17th minute.
Birmingham, who had emerged victorious at St Mary's earlier this season with a 2-1 victory in the league, were nowhere near their best and struggled to create anything of note throughout.
And the only surprise was that it took until the 85th minute for Southampton to guarantee the win with Lallana emphatically sealing their place in the third round with a clinical finish.
For the Saints the result represents their second victory on the bounce and their first against the Blues in three previous meetings.
Birmingham boss Alex McLeish made five changes to the side which beat Barnsley 2-0 in the Championship on Saturday with Kemy Agustien coming in for his first start for the Blues.
Opposite number Jan Poortvliet also rang the changes with four first-team players rested for the clash. That meant starts for Bartosz Bialkowski, Wayne Thomas, Jack Cork and Paul Wotton.
After a quiet start by both sides it was Blues midfielder Gary McSheffrey who had the first effort in earnest but his long-range shot sailed well wide of the target.
Despite struggling to find a foothold in the match early on it was the hosts who took the lead.
Holmes, who had faced a late fitness test before kick-off, showed no signs of the hamstring injury which forced him off against Derby last time out as he controlled the ball on the edge of the area before firing into the bottom corner.
The visitors responded with a few speculative efforts but it was Southampton who went closest to adding to their lead after they hit the woodwork twice within a matter of seconds.
Lallana it was, who was left with his head in his hands after he first of all struck the bar with a shot and as the rebound fell kindly the midfielder side-footed the ball on to the post.
Clearly unhappy at his team's first-half performance McLeish made two changes at half-time with veteran striker Kevin Phillips and Jordon Mutch coming on for Garry O'Connor and McSheffrey.
The change, however, did not seem to inspire any change in the Blues as their lack of support to the strikers was clearly evident.
As the game wore on the visitors started to show the form which has seen them win their opening four games this season and went close to an equaliser through Quincy Owusu-Abeyie.
The former Arsenal man picked up the ball on the right and sent a fizzing shot towards goal which Bialkowski did brilliantly to hold onto with the deadly Phillips ready to pounce on any spillage.
But it visitors' night went from bad to worse five minutes from time when Lallana completed a comfortable victory for Southampton as he twisted and turned past Liam Ridgewell before firing into the bottom corner.
Your Say YourEcho
happy chappy, happy land says...
9:55pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Denzil wrote:me tooooooo!
I am just.... LOVINIT LOVINIT LOVINIT
GET IN THERE SAINTS!
Bully, Soton says...
9:56pm Tue 26 Aug 08
COYR08, says...
10:00pm Tue 26 Aug 08
COYR
ohwhenthesaints, dorchester says...
10:02pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Tracey, Southampton says...
10:03pm Tue 26 Aug 08
EEEEEDDDDDSSSSSSSSSS
S
mullingar, says...
10:06pm Tue 26 Aug 08
!!!
Arthur, Soton says...
10:08pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Lallana and Holmes are a great frame to the team.
This team can go places, I am praying we can keep it up......
dazza1976, totton says...
10:13pm Tue 26 Aug 08
saintjim, huddersfield says...
10:14pm Tue 26 Aug 08
as very dispondant about the sale of davies however pekhart with be a good aquasition to our squad.please lets hope we dont forget about stern john he has a crucial part to play over the season,not playong forecast suggests to me that davis will be sold and bart to take the no1 shirt(bad news,davis playing very well and bart very average)tacticly jp is as astute as hoddle and these boys want to play for him which is crucial,having been very dispondant since the sale of davies this is the perfect shot in the arm for us all. blackpool will tell us where we really are another result like tonight and i might just ahead of myself.im just hope we are not going to stay a breeding ground for blooding good youngsters and helping their clubs and not ourselves! another game another good night sleep,thoughts please?!! c.o.y.r beat blackpool and i might just post im LOVVIN IT LOVVIN IT LOVVIN IT!!!
Brummy Saint, Birmingham says...
10:14pm Tue 26 Aug 08
#Can you hear Phillips sing?....#
the totton scrutineer, TOTTON says...
10:20pm Tue 26 Aug 08
saintjim wrote:Me too at least we are serving up entertaining exciting football not like teh dross of last season.Davies should have stayed and joined the revolution because this team will go places IF we can keep them together!Well done JAN AND THE BOYS!
simply a fantastic result,reluctant too get giddy(cardinal sin for a saints fan!)however absolutey chimmin about the result,morale and financialy,crucial,w as very dispondant about the sale of davies however pekhart with be a good aquasition to our squad.please lets hope we dont forget about stern john he has a crucial part to play over the season,not playong forecast suggests to me that davis will be sold and bart to take the no1 shirt(bad news,davis playing very well and bart very average)tacticly jp is as astute as hoddle and these boys want to play for him which is crucial,having been very dispondant since the sale of davies this is the perfect shot in the arm for us all. blackpool will tell us where we really are another result like tonight and i might just ahead of myself.im just hope we are not going to stay a breeding ground for blooding good youngsters and helping their clubs and not ourselves! another game another good night sleep,thoughts please?!! c.o.y.r beat blackpool and i might just post im LOVVIN IT LOVVIN IT LOVVIN IT!!!
Super Davs Legend 74, woolston says...
10:30pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Knibbo, Cloud Nine says...
10:32pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Rich, Norway says...
10:35pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Chicken George, Milton Road says...
10:38pm Tue 26 Aug 08
As its Saints we have to be prepared for some set backs, or maybe the old mentality has gone along with players who just picked up wages and impressed only when they were linked with a move.
More of the same please, already looking forward to Saturday, its been a few years since I have said that.
COY(Young)R
Ray, Eastleigh says...
10:42pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Cant wait for saturdays game - one thing i'll say to all the doubters is at least watch it on the telly and you'll see how good this team and system is, then swallow your pride and fill the ground these boys dont know what it is to give up and stop running
MikeC, Southampton says...
10:49pm Tue 26 Aug 08
I suspect that the attendance was as much to do with having to prioritise which match to spend cash on as anything else. But if it is true that some some aren't going because they don't like the board, or the manager, or the Chairman, or the pitch is too green or some other twaddle they need to get off their **** and get to SMS on Saturday.
These players are playing their hearts out. Maybe they are playing for a future pay-packet. But at the moment they are playing like that for the Saints and it shows. They absolutely deserve - DESERVE - the support of every Saints fan who can beg or or borrow the cash to buy a ticket on Saturday. Get down to St Marys and support the team. You may even enjoy it.
Saint Ben, Basingstoke says...
10:56pm Tue 26 Aug 08
j, southampton says...
11:01pm Tue 26 Aug 08
unknown, says...
11:05pm Tue 26 Aug 08
That is poor
Saint Ben, Basingstoke says...
11:06pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Does anyone else see a resemblance in our attacking-total-foot
ball to that of a certain Arsenal!?!? :-)
sailor sam, portsmouth says...
11:07pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Good to read a lot of positive posts. Pity there had to be one who made an anti-Lowe comment to spoil the party.
butty, hamble says...
11:20pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Fans need to unite now and get behind this team and Jan. C.O.Y.R.
Condor Man, Southampton says...
11:36pm Tue 26 Aug 08
This team can only get better, Poortvliet was constantly encouraging the players and they all seemed to know what to do What a contrast to last season.
Saints No 1 Fan, says...
11:56pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Jan is the man and the kids are alright. Come down to SMS and you might see us get three wins on the bounce for god knows how long!
Keep it up guys COYR!
Glenn, Brisbane says...
11:57pm Tue 26 Aug 08
I live in Australia, and I am so happy we are playing a refreshing brand of football after years of dross that I had been looking forward to this game all day yesterday and ended up waking up at 4am (7pm UK time!) and then stayed up to read the reports on the internet of how the game was progressing!
Great result and it's great to see so many positive comments for a change. Roll on Saturday when the Blackpool game is shown live her at 9.45 Saturday night!
worried of east sussex, up a gum tree says...
12:02am Wed 27 Aug 08
Redhat, Southampton says...
12:04am Wed 27 Aug 08
Fluent,attacking football along the ground...short,swift movement on and off the ball.. we did it all right tonight!!!
Even off the ball,we went looking and won it more often than not,we won most of the second balls to and Jack Cork had Phillips in his pocket all night...
A credit Saints,keep it up in the league-thats where it matters more imo..
Cummon all you "stay aways" get to SMS on Saturday and help fill it!!!
COYR
ed, PNG says...
12:08am Wed 27 Aug 08
Captain Swing, Southampton says...
12:46am Wed 27 Aug 08
As for us few, us happy few, we band of brothers - and sisters - we who turned up and cheered, all eleven-thousand-plus of us: we got what we deserved. A classy win with some seriously sexy football.
Well done everyone - especially the team.
saint steve, southampton says...
1:21am Wed 27 Aug 08
COYR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GET IN!!!!!
3 POINTS AGAINST BLACKPOOL PLEASE!!!!!
j martin, SAUDI ARABIA says...
4:34am Wed 27 Aug 08
bigrich1980, Cyprus says...
5:42am Wed 27 Aug 08
Cant wait till sat - finally get to see this team in action on the box
david warner, gosport says...
7:20am Wed 27 Aug 08
i really enjoyed the game last night and if saints can keep that up then we'll have no problems in the championship this season, and even though the attendance of around 12000 is a really poor one for us (especially since it was reduced ticket prices) there was a good atmosphere inside the stadium.(although i didnt really like the songs about kevin phillips, even though he left us, i still think the guy is a class striker and deserved better but i suppose thats how football is these days!). all in all, a good game, good result and i like the way saints are trying play!
Mental Mickey, Tatchbury says...
7:40am Wed 27 Aug 08
Yorkie, Pocklington says...
7:41am Wed 27 Aug 08
I'm an anti-Lowe man, but the team does it's talking on the pitch. Great to have a feeling of confidence about each game - but take each one in turn. It's a marathon not a sprint. Even young legs run out of steam eventually.
It's obvious to me the fact we have youth in the side that know no fear, as against old. over paid, lazy, couldn't careless players (we all know who they are)things would change. Redknapp tried it away at Mansfield a couple of seasons ago - and we lost! He told us youth was not the answer - and herein lay the problem.
Still bouycotting SMS - as I will not contribute to Lowe's salary. Afterall he was the problem, and I have not forgiven him. It goes against the grain of being a fan - but I am not supporting the current board by spending my hard earned dosh at SMS after they have wasted so much on mediocre has beens to fill gaps in the past.
A nice away draw at Leeds would do me (or Hull) in the next round, to see what this team is really made of!
Well done lads - a team to be proud of at last. But it's only what most fans have been asking for - a bit of passion. Fortunately this lot have passion and a high level of skill too. Bodes well for the future.
g.glitter, beside the seaside says...
7:44am Wed 27 Aug 08
saints have back to back wins and the fans appear to be happy.
next thing you know pundits will be saying that p*mpey have a higher average attendance than saints.
stripey, on me hols says...
7:45am Wed 27 Aug 08
Chris, says...
7:45am Wed 27 Aug 08
Not only are Saints playing well, they are playing well with different people in the side. That bodes well for the future when injuries mean the regulars might not be playing. Consistancy will be key to a successful season.
Denzil, Chilworth says...
8:03am Wed 27 Aug 08
sailor sam wrote:You better hope you miss us in the cup, we would wipe the floor with your team of washed up old men.
Good result. Well done. Good to read a lot of positive posts. Pity there had to be one who made an anti-Lowe comment to spoil the party.
Lil Chris, St Marys says...
8:17am Wed 27 Aug 08
The New Pretender, Southampton says...
8:20am Wed 27 Aug 08
It was good to see the youngsters playing with confidence. The only down side was that we were reluctant to put the ball into the box, however we didn't just waste it by hoofing it goalwards (Mr Thomas excluded).
Also the new lad on loan from Chelsea - Cork - was absolute quality. Stood out a mile - very similar to John Terry.
Bring On Blackpool!
saints fan, southampton says...
8:30am Wed 27 Aug 08
Glenn, soton says...
8:33am Wed 27 Aug 08
mark, says...
8:34am Wed 27 Aug 08
Jack, Southampton says...
8:42am Wed 27 Aug 08
Perhaps I should stay away, not for the same reason as the Lowe stay aways but because Im beginning to think Im am unlucky omen.
I missed 2 home games last season, WBA and Bristol City.
Im going on Saturday so if we lose we know its me.
ossiesaint, at the bar says...
8:53am Wed 27 Aug 08
Chris, EASTLEIGH says...
9:02am Wed 27 Aug 08
If surman wants to go then don't think he'll be too missed .. might do him the world of good too and make him a future england prospect.. as long as we sort out a good sell on clause..
whats time is the draw..
Graham, Herts says...
9:06am Wed 27 Aug 08
Glenn wrote:Why don't you listen as it is being played??
Thanks for giving me another cr4ppy nights sleep Saints! I live in Australia, and I am so happy we are playing a refreshing brand of football after years of dross that I had been looking forward to this game all day yesterday and ended up waking up at 4am (7pm UK time!) and then stayed up to read the reports on the internet of how the game was progressing! Great result and it's great to see so many positive comments for a change. Roll on Saturday when the Blackpool game is shown live her at 9.45 Saturday night!
Graham, Herts says...
9:08am Wed 27 Aug 08
Mental Mickey wrote:Come on. It doesn't work that way
Why isn't Lowe being blamed for the win? This time last week he was being blamed for the defeats........
Bazza, Kent says...
9:09am Wed 27 Aug 08
Great Football
Even a good crowd by Carling Cup Standards -
4th highest attendance of 18 fixtures last night behind Coventry v Newcastle, Ipswich (local derby) and Middlesborough. We had thousands more than at Bolton, Burnley, Cardiff, Leeds, Preston, Watford, Wigan etc etc.
Now pack out the ground and cheer on our young lion hearts on Saturday.
The futures bright, the futuures a young Red a & White.
COME ON YOU REDS.
mr happy, work sadly says...
9:11am Wed 27 Aug 08
J MARTIN, SAUDI says...
9:12am Wed 27 Aug 08
bigrich1980 wrote:YES ,AND HALF OF SAUDI ,RED AND WHITE MUSH .
COYR - All the ex-pats are behind you. Cant wait till sat - finally get to see this team in action on the box
SteveYOT, Harefield says...
9:13am Wed 27 Aug 08
alan, dorchester says...
9:17am Wed 27 Aug 08
Simply Red, Woolston says...
9:22am Wed 27 Aug 08
Denzil wrote:Being the first to post on this subject at 9.51pm I bet that you were not at the match last night. You are all talk and no do.
sailor sam wrote: Good result. Well done. Good to read a lot of positive posts. Pity there had to be one who made an anti-Lowe comment to spoil the party.You better hope you miss us in the cup, we would wipe the floor with your team of washed up old men.
Mmmmm, here, there, everwhere says...
9:26am Wed 27 Aug 08
Jack Cork looks an outstanding player and on last nights showing a better one than Davies.
Even Wayne Thomas came in and played a blinder.
If we can just work on our crossing then we will be a force to be reckoned with... and now we have a new exciting young striker as well...
Well done, Jan, Well done the players (Gillett was as outstanding as I always thought he would be, given the chance) and well done the fans who turned up (oh and perhaps a 'well done for now' to Rupes as well).
Long may it continue!!
Kate, Andover says...
9:33am Wed 27 Aug 08
It's great to see players playing with passion and flair and, I must say, quite a lot of skill for such a young team. And it's also great to see a lot of British players instead a team full of foreigners.
This kind of result (and more importantly the performance) gives the players and fans a lot of confidence going forward and whilst I'm not going to predict a play-off push so early in the season, I do think the sky's the limit.
I hope we can stay as injury free as possible but at least we know that we have necessary cover in most positions now to cope.
It was great to see Thomas doing so well - keep it up Wayne and the rest of the team. 3 points on Saturday please!!! (Hey, we could finish Saturday in 5th place......!!!) LOL!!!!
Come on you Saints!!!!
Saint 'N' Greavsie, Near here.... says...
9:40am Wed 27 Aug 08
Good to see a blend of youth with some experience. The positive thing is the players have a good understanding of each others games and fight for each other and the team. You only had to see the way Mc Goldrick filtered back when Stern came on and helped to give Lloyd James some protection.
Great to see some fighting spirit, lets hope it is a springboard for a good season.
milton road, alicante says...
9:43am Wed 27 Aug 08
Kate, Andover says...
9:47am Wed 27 Aug 08
Chris wrote:I agree that no player should publicly diss the club they've left as you never know what's around the corner, so I also have no sympathty for him.
Philips got stick because he bad-mouthed us when he left. I\'ve no sympathy for him. Not only are Saints playing well, they are playing well with different people in the side. That bodes well for the future when injuries mean the regulars might not be playing. Consistancy will be key to a successful season.
But I have to say I was pretty annoyed when our so-called fans were more preoccupied with taunting him than getting behind the team.
Saturday - the fans blasted Phillips and how did he respond??
The team learnt their lesson from that day about not conceding and not letting Birmingham have any possession. It's a shame the fans didn't learn that lesson too. I know he didn't score but we all know the calibre of Kevin Phillips and you show me any fan who knew in his heart of hearts that Phillips WOULDN'T score and I'll show you a liar. The only way to respond to jibes like that (justified or not) is to score. I'm just glad he didn't!!
Chris, you're right about consistency. It's all gonna be about what happens if/when we go 2-0 down to someone on a rainy dark Tuesday night. That's when the experience of the older lads will have to come out and bring the younger lads up to their level.
Overall I'm very happy, I've had no ribbings this morning from work colleagues so life is good..........
Bring on the Seasiders!!!!! Maybe Jermaine Wright might be feeling charitable and give us an own goal or two!!
Stuart, At Work says...
9:58am Wed 27 Aug 08
COYR!!!!!!!!!!!!
Denzil, Chilworth says...
9:51pm Tue 26 Aug 08
LOVINIT LOVINIT LOVINIT