IN A WEEK when the
commitment of certain
Saints players has been
questioned, Nigel
Pearson couldn't have
asked for much more
effort from the side he
put out last night.
It has certainly been a tough few
days for Pearson to have to deal
with.
His job was undoubtedly hard
enough without being let down so
badly by two of his young stars.
When you want a team concentrating
on football and focussing on a
vital match to try and stay up, the
last thing you want to see is national
newspaper headlines for all the
wrong reasons.
Although it was just two individuals
involved, when the team are
doing poorly it inevitably leads fans
to question how many of the side
lack commitment to the cause.
However, the Saints players sent
out by Pearson to face Leicester provided
answers - and positively.
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Occasionally the effort was misdirected,
and often the quality on
show was below the levels you would
hope.
But there could be no doubt as to
the heart of the men on the field in
red and white.
In fairness to Leicester, they were
much the same.
Both teams worked hard and wanted
it and one look at the teamsheet
told you that both squads had good
enough players not to be in the positions
they are.
But the game rather summed up
why both sides find themselves in
trouble around the bottom.
For all the work and effort, there
was a distinct lack of quality.
It was at times clearly a case of
nerves and the situation getting the
better of them.
Passes were hurried and misdirected,
a foot was put through the
ball too early, there was a lack of
confidence and creativity in the
final third.
But this is the stage of the season
where results are more important
than performances - and this game
was as big as they come.
For Saints, a defeat would have left
them in desperate trouble and really
struggling to stay up.
A draw would have been better but
only very marginally because it kept
Leicester in it.
But a win would give Saints some
breathing space again, and just as
importantly a bit of confidence and
a springboard to finish the season
well.
Pearson has recognised that the
best way to get results at this stage is
to make sure his team is well organised
and well drilled.
The one thing they lacked is that
killer touch in the final third, but
that can - and will - come if results
improve.
There were very few chances for
either side last night, and as the
match wore on you always got the
impression that one goal would be
enough to win it - and so it proved.
Leicester started brightly enough
and Steve Howard, the man who
haunted Saints for Derby last season,
had two great opportunities to
give his side the lead.
The first came after just seven
minutes.
DJ Campbell managed to get to the
by-line on the right wing and cut the
ball back to Howard who was arriving
at the near post.
It seemed his momentum as his
slid towards goal would take the ball
in but he somehow managed to
direct it wide of Michael Poke's post
when it seemed easier to score.
He was equally baffled on 13 minutes
when a great cross arrived from
the left which was begging to be
headed in from ten yards.
However, Howard appeared to totally misjudge it and the ball
skimmed off his forehead and
never got close to threatening.
It took Saints until just before the
break to get a shot on target.
It was Andrew Surman who
pulled the trigger from the edge of
the box, but it was weak and comfortable
for Paul Henderson in the
Leicester goal down to his left.
The rest of the first half, much
like the second, was a real scrap.
But Saints' slight extra quality on
the ball did start to tell.
Matt Oakley's weak backheader
saw Henderson have to scramble
off his line to stop David
McGoldrick getting in four minutes
after the break.
But, after Matt Fryatt's header
had been caught by Poke, Saints
struck the decisive blow.
On 76 minutes Stern John
responded quickly to a high ball
over Leicester's backline, broke the
offside trap and turned it home as
it dropped out of the air.
Saints did have a couple of late
scares, Fryatt missing the target
from a great position and the same
man curling just wide in stoppage
time.
But when the final whistle went,
it was relief for Saints whose effort
and heart paid dividends to produce
what could be a crucial win.
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