IF this was John
Gorman and Jason
Dodd's final game in
caretaker charge of
Saints, they can leave
with plenty of pride in
what they have done.
It seems increasingly likely that a
successor to George Burley will be
named this week.
That will mean Dodd going back to
his normal coaching role and
Gorman resuming the day job as
chief scout.
But when Saints called on them in
an hour of need, they have stepped
up and done admirably.
They have been nothing but professional
in tough circumstances
and you can tell how popular they
are by the way the squad have performed
for them.
When a manager leaves and before
a new appointment is made, there
can be a bit of drifting - but that
hasn't happened.
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Dodd and Gorman may only be
caretaker bosses but the players collectively
decided they didn't want to
let them down and put in a good
effort.
That can't go on forever, though,
and the time has to come - sooner
rather than later - for a permanent
manager to be named.
But at least they have left a bit of
momentum for the new man,whoever
that is.
Their three games in charge couldn't
really have run the gambit of
football performances any more
completely.
The first match against Bury in
the FA Cup fourth round was a 2-0
win that wasn't deserved.
Saints should have lost but a large
slice of fortune was dealt their way
and the new manager has a last 16
tie at Bristol Rovers to look forward
to. Just a couple of days later, they
were taking charge of a
Championship game against
Norwich at St Mary's.
They deserved to win after a very
good performance, but instead
ended up incredibly on the losing
side.
At Crystal Palace they completed
the set by getting a draw and a fair
result with a battling display.
My goodness, it wasn't pretty.
But on Palace's recent form, there
is no denying that it is a decent
point.
Dodd and Gorman may have fond
memories of the occasion but like
everyone else at Selhurst Park that
won't apply to the game.
For the first 73 minutes, it was
absolutely turgid. In fact, turgid is
probably talking it up too much. It
really was that bad.
Palace make no apologies for the
way they are playing, and successfully
so, under Neil Warnock.
Fair result and a decent one for Saints away to high-flying Palace. Dodd and Gorman have had the players playing for them and deserve credit for their work. Things are ready for a new man now but the pair have done the club proud.
Adam Leitch
It is scrappy and dogged, pumping
the ball up to James Scowcroft with
Clinton Morrison and Sean
Scannell buzzing around trying to
join in from the hold up play or pick
up the flick-ons and second balls.
Really in terms of tactics, that
appeared to be about it. But when
your team is so big and strong, and
on a bobbly pitch, it is hard to combat.
Saints went through spells of trying
to get the ball down and play but
understandably got dragged into
playing a similar game to Palace.
It made for an absolute bore of a
match before the first goal sparked
things into life.
Up until that point, Saints had created
just two decent chances.
The first came early on when
Wayne Thomas picked out the forward
run of Jason Euell. With the
keeper advancing, he just had to
head the ball beyond him but couldn't
make a clean contact and flicked
it wide.
Later in the first half Stern John slid the ball back to Bradley
Wright-Phillips but he guided his
side footed effort wide.
Palace struggled to even get that
close before taking the lead in predictable
fashion on 73 minutes.
Scowcroft used all his physical
strength to hold off Darren Powell,
Saints felt unfairly, and when Neil
Danns headed the second ball back
in the Palace striker - who scored a
hat-trick at St Mary's earlier in the
season - fired into the bottom corner.
Saints were lucky not to fall further
behind as first Ben Watson's
inswinging left wing free-kick
evaded everybody and hit the post.
Then moments later Watson cut
in from the right and fired a shot
that clipped the top of the bar.
Dodd and Gorman threw on their
subs and Saints really went for it.
The determination to get a point
was clear and they did with a piece
of genuine quality six minutes
from time.
Marek Saganowski set Andrew
Surman away down the left and he
produced a superb low cross into
the six-yard box which John slid
home from close range.
The point was thoroughly
deserved and just reward for Dodd
and Gorman, who can bow out
happy with their three games in
charge.
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