This was not a bad performance, but it was characterised by a lapse of concentration that cost us very dearly.

There could be a tendency to review this performance on just the result alone instead of take it in context, it was not a bad display, indeed over the past few years we saw many displays like this under both Pochettino and Koeman, where we kept things tight, took our chance when it came and took all three points.

But what could have been a decent display was ruined by another lapse of concentration that allowed a free header in front of goal, not the first this season by a long chalk.

I am accused of having agenda's against certain players so all I am going to say here is that a cross was put into the penalty area and that Depoitre was completely unmarked at close range, a man should have been marking him, he wasn't and it was a simple task to head home completely unchallenged.

That wasn't the first time this has happened as those who saw Burnley win and Arsenal grab a late equaliser will testify, the difference between Saints now and two years ago is the ability to keep it tight at the back for the full 90 minutes, just these three unmarked headers have cost Saints five points, with them we would be comfortably in the top 10 and looking to move up the league, but without them we are now looking over our shoulders.

That turned the game although in fairness it should have been closed out with Saints creating several good chances, not least the one by Nathan Redmond where he took on the defence and laid the ball into the path of Charlie Austin who fired narrowly wide.

Saints are not a bad team, but they are in disarray, the players seem to be low on confidence and there is something badly wrong in the dressing room, perhaps Van Dijk is at least partly to blame for that, but the reality is that we need to sort out a replacement for him literally on the opening day of the transfer window, or things will get worse.

Whether Mauricio Pellegrino is the man for the Saints job is still very much open for debate, certainly things are working against him over which he has no control, not least Van Dijk and injuries.

Photo: Action Images

bstokesaint added 20:58 - Dec 24 We are in serious trouble. It’s getting harder to see where the next win will come from. We need to bring in a replacement for the injured Austin and ship out VVD and anyone else who literally can’t be bothered, e.g. Tadic. That’s all easier said than done though in January though. When we had the obvious issues in the summer we fire the one man who has worked with the team and probably knows which areas were best to strengthen and sell out to pretty much a nobody from China. It’s farcical. I think Swansea are destined for the drop, but if you asked me to think of two other teams worse than us to join them I’d struggle. I’ve seen worst PL teams for sure, but we’ve turned into an absolute nothing team. We’re not taking hidings (yet), but if you can’t score and continuously have at least one defensive lapse then you’re doomed. 0-0 would feel like a great day at the office. Personally I’d bury my pride and approach Koeman. Get a manager in who has experience and knows Southampton. He’s hurting right now I’m sure so let’s make up, bring in a manager we know the players respect, oust the dross and bring in some quality. Otherwise we might as well go for a Big Sam, a Pardew or a Hodgson and admit we’ve completely lost it and we have no ambition (or hope), and then the Chinese can watch their “investment” wallow in the Championship.

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BoondockSaint added 21:34 - Dec 24 Can't wait for those 3 ghosts to scare the cr@p out of Les Reed tonight!
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Consigliere added 22:05 - Dec 24 The Premier League, like much of life, is divided into wolves and sheep. Teams like City, Utd, Arsenal and Spurs are wolves, Palace, Swansea, W Ham and ourselves are sheep. If you are a sheep you have to be realistic. You can't fight a wolf, you can't run faster than a wolf and you certainly can't reason with a wolf, but that doesn't matter. All you have to do is to be a bit smarter than the other sheep, then predation takes care of the problem. That is how we have traditionally survived in the league over the years. Unfortunately, we have ceased to be smarter than the other sheep. Leicester and Huddersfield are sheep like us. They don't have much better players, they aren't much more skilful nor do they have a much better manager. They are just smarter sheep. Or to put it another way, they were more determined to win the game, were fitter, more aggressive and worked harder than our players did. Yesterday wasn't a rubbish performance and no-one was exceptionally poor. It was just that we were looser in the passing, slower in the attack, less co-ordinated in defence and more than anything else, less happy to be on the pitch than the other lot. For Huddersfield players and supporters alike just being in in the league represents a thrill and an honour. For the current Saints team it represents an angst-ridden 90 minutes they would prefer to spend elsewhere. So, its backs against the wall and its back to basics. VVD is clearly on the way out so we need to invest the proceeds in a no-nonsense midfielder to support Romeu (a younger Robert Huth type figure), a striker who isn't afraid to shoot and another goalkeeper to take the pressure off FF. The alternative is to see a return to the Championship.

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schatfield added 22:26 - Dec 24 If Yoshidas header in the 92nd minute been several inches to the left, would you lot still be moaning. Same Q if Austin hadnt missed the sitter. Fine margins and not one you can blame the manager for. That is the game we love. Look at how well Puel is doing now after we hounded him out yet lessons are not learned....you dont krep sacking managers.
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redandwhitedee added 23:50 - Dec 24 What you actually mean is compared to under puel, not 2 years ago. Under the dull mr Koeman we conceded 6 at home to Liverpool. This was a truly dreadful result. Huddersfield were simply awful and yet we still could not beat them at home (nor away earlier this season). This manager gamble has gone on too long. He is out of his depth and the football is not watchable. Give me puel’s team any day.

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redandwhitedee added 23:53 - Dec 24 DorsetIan. By the way, the last time we bought the latest wonder kid from the Latvian prem he turned out pretty special.
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