Saints carry on their winning run (From Daily Echo)

Saints carry on their winning run

5:11pm Saturday 24th October 2009

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SAINTS made it five wins in a row as they defeated high flying MK Dons 3-1 at St Mary’s.

Despite dominating the first half, Saints fell behind to MK Dons’ only effort on target as Jason Puncheon curled home a free kick just before the break.

But when Alan Pardew changed the formation to 4-4-2 and introduced David Connolly and Michail Antonio in the second period things changed and goals from Dean Hammond, Rickie Lambert and Connolly secured a fourth legaue victory on the bounce for Saints and five successive wins in all competitions.

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It was a pretty quiet start to the match as both sides got a feel for each other and the game.

MK Dons were playing a system with Jermaine Easter as the lone frontman but supported by Jason Puncheon who was floating in the hole between attack and midfield while Saints stuck with their now familiar 4-5-1.

Adam Lallana was the first create a real problem when he forced Willy Gueret into a save on ten minutes.

He decided to take an early shot on the half volley and tried to lob Gueret. It was a good effort but the MK Dons keeper just scrambled back in time to claw it away.

Moments later Papa Waigo got away down the right and squared to the far post and Lallana again. He seemed certain to sidefoot the ball home but was blocked by a brilliant sliding tackle from Mathias Doumbe.

Waigo himself was on target on 15 minutes as Lambert headed a free kick back across goal but his effort was straight at Gueret.

Saints were starting to enjoy some good pressure and MK Dons were making it worse by getting caught out trying to play some intricate football.

The St Mary’s crowd were doing a great job for Saints, making the atmosphere intimidating and really putting the pressure on Gueret.

Tempers momentarily flared in the technical areas as one of the MK Dons coaching staff didn’t give the ball to Saints for a throw in, prompting Pardew to fly into a rage and an argument to ensure.

Saints thought they had taken the lead on 23 minutes when Waigo headed against the underside of the bar and in from a right wing cross but the linesman’s flag was up for offside and it didn’t count.

It took until the half hour mark for MK Dons to even remotely threaten Saints, Jemal Johnson getting down the right and whipping in a dangerous cross which evaded everybody.

MK Dons were proving stubborn in their resistance but there was only one side making any kind of an attacking effort and that was Saints.

However, they were struggling to turn that into clear cut chances to get their noses in front and then draw the Dons out.

MK Dons had half hearted penalty appeals turned down when Easter tried to turn Radhi Jaidi in the box and went down.

Jaidi did foul Easter just outside the area to left of centre just before half time and was booked for it.

Jason Puncheon himself stepped up to take it and left footed curled it round the outside of the wall and beat Kelvin Davis diving to his right to give the MK Dons the lead.

It was their first effort on target of the whole half having barley made it into Saints territory and suddenly Pardew’s men had paid the price for not finding a cutting edge to their dominance and went into half time trailing.

MK Dons made a change at the break with Aaron Doran replacing Johnson.

Saints didn’t exactly come out of the traps flying and it seemed a matter of time before David Connolly was introduced and they went 4-4-2.

MK Dons were looking pretty comfortable with a lead to protect and were quite happy to defend.

Pardew made the change he had to make on 54 minutes with Connolly coming on for Wotton and added to that with Michail Antonio coming on for Waigo.

Saints went 4-4-2 with Antonio on the right of midfield and Connolly up front with Rickie Lambert.

Antonio immediately caused mayhem with his pace and skills but his cross come shot was wide of the far post.

Saints pulled themselves back level on 56 minutes with a terrific move.

Morgan Schneiderlin pinged the ball out to the right and Antonio, he knocked it back to Lloyd James who crossed first time to the far post. Dean Hammond had tracked in unmarked at the far post and sidefooted home a low volley under Gueret for 1-1.

Saints suddenly looked a different team, fresh and dangerous and to counter that MK Dons made a second switch with Aaron Wilbraham replacing Lewis Gobern.

Connolly had half a chance when confusion between Darren Powell and Gueret allowed the ball to bounce in the area but facing the wrong way 12 yards out he couldn’t lob his header over the keeper.

There was a melee in the area that almost broke Saints’ way as Jaidi’s header from a corner was blocked on its way to goal and the rebound was somehow scrambled away.

But there was no escape on 74 minutes when Saints worked a neat free kick routine to take the lead.

It was over on the right by-line just outside the area, Lallana dummied it and Lloyd James cut the ball back to the back peddling Lambert who swept the ball home first time sidefooted from ten yards out for 2-1.

MK Dons responded by making their final change with Sam Baldock replacing Easter.

Saints almost conceded a shocker when David McCracken got a free header from a corner at the near post but he directed his effort wide.

Saints made a final change as they looked to hold on to their lead with three minutes remaining with Joseph Mills on for Lallana.

Connolly could have it made it a comfortable end to the game but put a volley on the turn over the bar while Antonio did something similar moments later.

Davis had to parry an effort wide as Saints dug deep in four minutes of injury time but it was Saints who were to finish happy.

Deep into stoppage time a cross from the right was met by Connolly who turned home from close range to make it two goals for him from two sub appearances for the club to seal a 3-1 win and three more precious points.

All the latest on Saints in this weekend's Pink and Monday's Daily Echo.

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