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3:10pm Saturday 30th August 2008
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Saints saw their good recent form abruptly ended as they lost 1-0 to Blackpool at St Mary's.
After two wins in a row Saints were in buoyant mood coming into the lunchtime game in which there were plenty of chances for both sides.
But in the end Ben Burgess' penalty just before half time proved to be the difference between the sides and left Saints with just three points to show for their opening four league matches.
It took less than a minute for the first effort at goal but David Fox's half volley from 25 yards out went wide.
Blackpool had a great chance to take the lead on five minutes when Shaun Barker's long throw from the right picked out the run of Ian Evatt. He was unmarked but from six yards out he steered his diving header wide.
Saints were really getting stretched by Blackpool and conceded two more chances in quick succession.
First Steve Kabba charged thorough on goal but was stopped as he was about to pull the trigger by a brilliant sliding tackle by Andrew Surman.
Then Adam Hammill picked up the loose ball and crossed to the far post where Ben Burgess slid in but couldn't make a clean enough connection to turn home from close range.
The game was really fizzing with both sides breaking quickly and getting men up to support their lone strikers.
Saints created a first good opening of their own on 13 minutes when a blocked shot came out to Adam Lallana who hit the target with a sidefooted shot which beat the keeper but not Rob Edwards back on the line.
Incredibly just a minute later there was almost a carbon copy as Lallana, this time at the back post, saw his shot beat everybody but Ian Evatt on the line.
Bizarrely referee Andre Mariner had to speak to Blackpool teammates Mo Camara and Kabba after they had a blazing row with each other.
Saints were still looking shaky at the back and had Kelvin Davis to thank for keeping out Gary Taylor-Fletcher's low near post effort which came as a result of a simple flick-on from a throw.
Simon Gillet tired an effort from distance on 26 minutes and though it looked a comfortable height Paul Rachubka took no chances because of the pace of it and decided to turn it behind.
Surman became the first player in the book two minutes for a late sliding tackle straight through Taylor-Fletcher before Holmes fired just over the bar.
Blackpool weren't happy when Jamie White caught Rachubka as he came out to slide and clear to stop the Saints man getting through but the referee deemed it a fair challenge.
David McGoldrick was looking to get shots off at every opportunity and got one on target on 41 minutes.
Ben Burgess had inadvertently played him through, McGoldrick cut back inside and from 20 yards unleashed an effort that Rachubka had to tip over.
Gillett became the second Saints players in the book for a foul on Edwards.
Just before half time disaster struck as Saints conceded a penalty.
Taylor-Fletcher chased out the far side of the area after a long corner and Gillett allowed him to turn back and as he broke into the area he was tripped by White.
There was no doubt it was a spot kick and Burgess stepped up and sent Davis the wrong way to make it 1-0 at the break.
Saints made a half time change with White coming off for Nathan Dyer.
Davis was called into action just two minutes into the half as Fox fired off a stinging drive from 20 yards that the Saints keeper had to be strong to turn behind.
Saints were then troubled by a header from a corner which Davis turned onto the bar before he and the ball were bundled over the line by Kabba but a free kick was given for what a looked blatant foul on the Saints keeper.
Saints were being cut open time and again and had Hammill's lacklustre finishing to thank on 50 minutes for them not falling further behind.
Lloyd James pushed forward from right back and saw his low drive take a deflection to guide it wide as Saints tried to get back into their stride.
Dyer was at least starting to cause problems and put an effort over the bar on 58 minutes.
Lallana made it a hat-trick of shots off the line a minute later when he controlled and half volleyed but found Edwards again beyond Rachubka to clear.
James was the next man in the book for a foul on Hammill.
Blackpool thought they had doubled their lead on 62 minutes when Kabba bundled home from close range after Shaun Barker's header was cleared off the line and upwards by Dyer but the linesman's flag was already raised and it was ruled out.
Holmes threatened on 65 minutes but his low shot was saved by Rachubka.
Blackpool made their first switch on 68 minutes with David Vaughan replacing Hammill while Saints responded by bringing on Stern John and Paul Wotton for Morgan Schneiderlin and Simon Gillett.
Wotton and Lallana went into the holding midfield roles with McGoldrick in the hole and John up front.
Davis had to save at the near post two minutes later as Burgess drove in a half volley.
Blackpool had another goal ruled out on 71 minutes when Vaughan's shot was turned home by Kabba but he was offside.
John had a great chance when he met Holmes' left wing free kick but put his diving header from six yards out over the bar.
Blackpool came so close again on 74 minutes, this time Burgess shot across goal but Davis made a brilliant save to deflect onto the far post.
Blackpool made another change with nine minutes remaining with Zeshan Rehman placing Fox before Svensson went in the book.
Blackpool made a final change with four minutes left with Danny Coid on for Taylor-Fletcher.
In stoppage time McGoldrick had a sight of goal and fired past Rachubka but against the angle of post and bar. It proved to be the last chance and Saints were destined to go into the international break on the back of a disappointing defeat.
Summary Saint, says...
3:30pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Steve, poole says...
3:40pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Summary Saint wrote:i totaly agree with evrythin u sed why not put cork into right back and i hope pekhart is a goal machine as we didnt look likely to score at all today. Lalana and dyer were the two best players on the pitch but even lalana should have had at least two goals
1. Svensson and Perry were like statues today and didn't even win much in the air. Whenever Blackpool ran at them, it was far too easy to get between them. 2. Blackpool could and should have had 4 or 5 goals. 3. We have no plan B 4. The players need to run at the opposition defence, not run across the front of them. 5. Gillet, Schnerdelin and White had very poor games. 6. Lloyd James is not a right back, never will be. We need to get in a dedicated right back with some muscle 7. Drew Surman is going backwards as a player. He looks totally unconnected with the rest of the team and I think he hates playing at left back. 8. Every CCC team in the country now knows we are soft in the air and at set pieces. 9. We can play some pretty football and it's nice to see, but it needs to be quicker and there needs to be an end product. 10. Not surprised by the low crowd today all things considered, but if all those super loyal positive fans were all there today, then why was the atmosphere so bad and negative as soon as the team went behind????????
DevonSaint, says...
3:46pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Simon, says...
3:48pm Sat 30 Aug 08
JMARTIN, saudi says...
3:48pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Keep The Spirit Alive, Southampton says...
3:51pm Sat 30 Aug 08
SFC NOT PLC, says...
3:55pm Sat 30 Aug 08
sailor sam, portsmouth says...
3:56pm Sat 30 Aug 08
the totton scrutineer, TOTTON says...
3:59pm Sat 30 Aug 08
No1 saints fan, says...
4:06pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Ian, Southampton says...
4:09pm Sat 30 Aug 08
redhat, Southampton says...
4:14pm Sat 30 Aug 08
No1 saints fan wrote:In fairness,Sailor is always non biast and gives his honest opinion..to which i myself always find interesting to read...
blimmy cheers for the postive comment, sam the skate sailor, u feeling ok
Lowe OUT, says...
4:16pm Sat 30 Aug 08
steve, pole says...
4:19pm Sat 30 Aug 08
southseachris, southsea says...
4:21pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Ian, Southampton says...
4:21pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Summary Saint, says...
4:28pm Sat 30 Aug 08
the totton scrutineer wrote:Don't agree at all. Most of the team are youngsters and should be champing at the bit to play twice a week in the first team. It wasn't fitness we were lacking today, it was ideas and application and getting rid of silly mistakes.
A game too many for this team.At times they were good but not often enough and going a goal behind maent they were pushing too hard for the equaliser.Missed passes and panic play exposed them as what are a team of young inexperienced players.Jan should have had played the same team as Tueday with Stern John starting.But then hindsight is a wonderful thing,They will learn from this and I hope Jan will too.With 46 games a season he must rest his players and use the squad more
MikeC, Southampton says...
4:31pm Sat 30 Aug 08
anne agram, says...
4:31pm Sat 30 Aug 08
steve wrote:i am in ****
looks very much like we are going to sign romain gasmi. On the strasbourg website they have labled him as loaned to the saints. From the perfomance today i think we desperately need some players with a more attacking threat.
anne agram, says...
4:32pm Sat 30 Aug 08
HAPPY CHAPPY, ON MY WAY TO PORTUGAL says...
4:38pm Sat 30 Aug 08
tobie, London says...
4:42pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Matt Probert, Harefield says...
4:53pm Sat 30 Aug 08
tobie, London says...
4:55pm Sat 30 Aug 08
me again, soton says...
4:57pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Ken Jeans, Highcliffe,Dorset says...
4:58pm Sat 30 Aug 08
on my soapbox!!!, says...
5:01pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Saintly, says...
5:07pm Sat 30 Aug 08
about time, soton says...
5:39pm Sat 30 Aug 08
redhat wrote:is it any suprise when an adult and two kids cost as much as most peoples weekly shopping?to watch that SH** if i wanted to watch kids ill pop the park and watch some tyro games,till mr lowe and co realise they are pricing people out of the game this attendance wont get any better.
No1 saints fan wrote:In fairness,Sailor is always non biast and gives his honest opinion..to which i myself always find interesting to read...
blimmy cheers for the postive comment, sam the skate sailor, u feeling ok
Todays match - i feel the boys didnt give Blackpool enough respect before the game... we thought that this was in the bag before k.o.... which couldnt be further from the truth..at times we did play good football,but too many players had off days,in particular the whole back 4.. and we lack the firepower needed to really punish teams and take our chances more clinically... we now have a 2 week break,to get up and go again when we return away to Q.P.R ..then its 2 home games in 4 days... so lets see.
Todays attendance was a discgrace ... 15,000- yet Derby get 30,000 at home-having not won in over 36 games!!!!
thats loyalty!!! say what you will.
Shazza, says...
5:40pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Saints Foreverrrr!, Southampton says...
5:55pm Sat 30 Aug 08
StMark, says...
6:06pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Simon wrote:I think expectations are sometimes too high. We were never going to go from nearly-relegated to promoted in 5 minutes!
So utterly predictable. 9 points dropped out of 12 is not promotion form.
steveyot, harefield says...
6:10pm Sat 30 Aug 08
StMark, says...
6:12pm Sat 30 Aug 08
about time wrote:Actually, Derby's tickets are more expensive than ours!
redhat wrote:is it any suprise when an adult and two kids cost as much as most peoples weekly shopping?to watch that SH** if i wanted to watch kids ill pop the park and watch some tyro games,till mr lowe and co realise they are pricing people out of the game this attendance wont get any better.
No1 saints fan wrote:In fairness,Sailor is always non biast and gives his honest opinion..to which i myself always find interesting to read...
blimmy cheers for the postive comment, sam the skate sailor, u feeling ok
Todays match - i feel the boys didnt give Blackpool enough respect before the game... we thought that this was in the bag before k.o.... which couldnt be further from the truth..at times we did play good football,but too many players had off days,in particular the whole back 4.. and we lack the firepower needed to really punish teams and take our chances more clinically... we now have a 2 week break,to get up and go again when we return away to Q.P.R ..then its 2 home games in 4 days... so lets see.
Todays attendance was a discgrace ... 15,000- yet Derby get 30,000 at home-having not won in over 36 games!!!!
thats loyalty!!! say what you will.
david, says...
6:20pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Lowe OUT wrote:another bed-wetting fake saints thats obviously pleased we have lost push off and support pompey you loser
So then Mr Lowe your embarrasing PR offensive this week has now somewhat backfired.
Just why do you do it eh ??? LOL
HAPPY CHAPPY, ON MY WAY TO PORTUGAL says...
6:25pm Sat 30 Aug 08
on my soapbox!!! wrote:See you got home quick from St FAIRIES !
HE HE HE HE HA HA HA HA HE HE HE HE HA HA HA HA IM SO HAPPY IM HAPPY CHAPPY HE HE HE HE HA HA HA HA HE HE HE HE HA HA HA BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE I DONT THINK SO DO YOU EVERTON, WHO R YER WHO R YER WHO R YER LOVINIT LOVINIT LOVINIT nice to see such a dedicated pompey fan turn up 3 weeks into our season. im intrigued to know where you were after your first two games? crying perhaps? and what could your club d without such a dedicated supporter? not at the game today? why does that not shock me? you are so predictable its laughable.
Fran, says...
6:37pm Sat 30 Aug 08
HAPPY CHAPPY wrote:Oi portscummer. What happened to the skate that lost his leg when he got thrown off the train in the 70s. Or the t0ssers that tried to take the wagon but got so smashed up, they couldn't rebuild their faces properly??
on my soapbox!!! wrote: HE HE HE HE HA HA HA HA HE HE HE HE HA HA HA HA IM SO HAPPY IM HAPPY CHAPPY HE HE HE HE HA HA HA HA HE HE HE HE HA HA HA BOTTOM OF THE LEAGUE I DONT THINK SO DO YOU EVERTON, WHO R YER WHO R YER WHO R YER LOVINIT LOVINIT LOVINIT nice to see such a dedicated pompey fan turn up 3 weeks into our season. im intrigued to know where you were after your first two games? crying perhaps? and what could your club d without such a dedicated supporter? not at the game today? why does that not shock me? you are so predictable its laughable.See you got home quick from St FAIRIES ! LOVINIT LOVINIT LOVINIT
Condor Man, Southampton says...
6:42pm Sat 30 Aug 08
about time, soton says...
7:11pm Sat 30 Aug 08
StMark wrote:wtf has derbys ticket prices got to do with anything???????????
about time wrote:Actually, Derby's tickets are more expensive than ours!
redhat wrote:is it any suprise when an adult and two kids cost as much as most peoples weekly shopping?to watch that SH** if i wanted to watch kids ill pop the park and watch some tyro games,till mr lowe and co realise they are pricing people out of the game this attendance wont get any better.
No1 saints fan wrote:In fairness,Sailor is always non biast and gives his honest opinion..to which i myself always find interesting to read...
blimmy cheers for the postive comment, sam the skate sailor, u feeling ok
Todays match - i feel the boys didnt give Blackpool enough respect before the game... we thought that this was in the bag before k.o.... which couldnt be further from the truth..at times we did play good football,but too many players had off days,in particular the whole back 4.. and we lack the firepower needed to really punish teams and take our chances more clinically... we now have a 2 week break,to get up and go again when we return away to Q.P.R ..then its 2 home games in 4 days... so lets see.
Todays attendance was a discgrace ... 15,000- yet Derby get 30,000 at home-having not won in over 36 games!!!!
thats loyalty!!! say what you will.
Doctor Saint, Hedge End says...
7:11pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Condor Man wrote:This is out fourth year in this league and it is obvious that it's full of big defenders, midfielders and forwards. Svensson was outjumped a lot today, but Perry isn't big enough when we have so little other height on the pitch. Without Svensson, the kids would be rudderless. Get Cork next to him at the back and keep the faith. White isn't up to it yet, so give Dyer a bit more of a chance.
it's not doom and gloom but I was worried that Svensson was very poor today. I'd like to see Jack Cork alongside Perry at the back. Dyer looked totally out of touch with the movement of the side, the second half was a throw back to last season.
In a nutshell, says...
7:12pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Artful Dodger, Millbrook says...
7:23pm Sat 30 Aug 08
SFC NOT PLC wrote:I guess that the 'handful of people' that you are talking about, are the ones that turned up today.
Cash starve Lowe/Wilde out of St Marys as let REAL Saints fans takeover. This club will never fold as there are a handful of people that would never allow it. Lowe and judas mike are living in cuckoo land with what they are trying to do. Its all PR spin on a daily basis with no substance and certainly not any of their own money ! AGAIN We have just wasted £300,000 on wages on tony Pulis in what is a very bizarre signing. We are skint are we not ? Judas Mike Wilde OUT
SAINT STEVE, SOUTHAMPTON says...
7:40pm Sat 30 Aug 08
saint steve, SOUTHAMPTON says...
7:41pm Sat 30 Aug 08
JP's Red and White army, The Chapel stand says...
7:55pm Sat 30 Aug 08
DJI, disappointed but hopeful says...
8:18pm Sat 30 Aug 08
HAPPY CHAPPY, ON MY WAY TO PORTUGAL says...
8:24pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Fran, says...
8:41pm Sat 30 Aug 08
HAPPY CHAPPY wrote:Oi portscummer. What happened to the skate that lost his leg when he got thrown off the train in the 70s. Or the t0ssers that tried to take the wagon but got so smashed up, they couldn't rebuild their faces properly??
15629 Now let me see 1629 Blackpool supporters 6000 kids for a quid 3000 women get in free Leaves you with a core support of 5000 Something dont add up here when 20000 is needed to break even. It only means one thing YOUR GOING DOWN THE PLUGHOLE LOVINIT LOVINIT LOVINIT
juan, Hants says...
9:04pm Sat 30 Aug 08
HAPPY CHAPPY, ON MY WAY TO PORTUGAL says...
9:08pm Sat 30 Aug 08
Fran, no answer from the skate Ha Ha says...
9:12pm Sat 30 Aug 08
HAPPY CHAPPY wrote:Oi portscummer. What happened to the skate that lost his leg when he got thrown off the train in the 70s. Or the t0ssers that tried to take the wagon but got so smashed up, they couldn't rebuild their faces properly??
15629 Now let me see 1629 Blackpool supporters 6000 kids for a quid 3000 women get in free Leaves you with a core support of 5000 Something dont add up here when 20000 is needed to break even. It only means one thing YOUR GOING DOWN THE PLUGHOLE LOVINIT LOVINIT LOVINIT
Ed, Taunton says...
3:23pm Sat 30 Aug 08