There was a strange feeling after the game against Everton as Saints secured their first regular league season victory since beating Preston on 16th April, almost 7 months ago, it took guts and a slice of luck here and there but they got the job done.

There were no surprises in Russell Martin's starting line up, Jack Stephens was of course in there and the only change from last week at Manchester City was that Adam Armstrong came in for Tyler Dibling.

It was a tense nervous game, for much of the first half neither keeper had a save to make, Saints looked the better side, just, but Everton looked more dangerous, although the best chance of the half fell to Cameron Archer whose cross shot went just wide.

At half time Adam Lallana who had looked Saints best player, bringing organisation and leadership to the middle of the team, did not reappear and Joe Aribo came on.

The game followed a similar pattern to the first half, but again it was Everton who had the clear cut chances, Aaron Ramsdale having to be at his best on several occasions and overall was Saints man of the match, keeping the first clean sheet of the season and providing the foundations for the win.

As the game entered the final stages, Everton looked more likely winners, but then the game turned within seconds in the 84th minute, firstly Everton crashed a header against the bar from close range, we didn't panic as the ball rebounded, we controlled it and laid it for Mateus Fernandes who ran the ball up field and eventually it was swept across the field to find the overlapping Yuri Sugawara whose superb run to the byeline and pull back found Adam Armstrong who fired home for what proved to be the winner.

But there was still more to come, barely had the Saints supporters stopped the celebrations when Everton had the ball in the net, it looked offside, but there was no flag, VAR took an age to make the decision, but make it they did and the goal was disallowed.

Surprisingly there was only 4 minutes of injury time given the substitutions made and also injuries, that was of course stretched with the game not restarting after the VAR stoppage until the 3rd minute of injury time.

Saints dug in and saw it through to the amazement of the home fans who didn't quite believe that we could hold out.

This was a game that Russell Martin had to win, defeat would have seen us rooted to the bottom of the table and Everton pulling clear of the relegation dogfight, it would surely have been his last game if we had lost.

But there seemed to have been a change in tactics, although we still played the possession football game, we seemed to have adapted it a little, we didn't seem to play it in tight situations, yes we did get caught out sometimes, but for the most part we didn't try to play the ball in impossible situations.

You would hope that this was down to the manager and not so much the players, that may sound strange as of course it was the players who played the game, but was it the manager or the players who decided that change was needed.

This was a team performance and we looked a lot more confident than they have all season, they looked comfortable in the way they played the game, yes of course we had to ride our luck at times, but that is the case for all teams.

It was a performance that most teams need, one where everyone has put in a solid display with several key players going that extra mile, Aaron Ramsdale as mentioned was the man of the match. he was solid all round and produced two World class saves in the second half, but he could not do it all alone, he needed a defence that stood firm and a midfield that finally started to try and play the ball forward.

Adam Lallana was a big part of this in the first half and Mateus Fernandes improves more with every game, he not only pulled the strings, but showed he can roll up his sleeves and work.

Adam Armstrong up front worked his socks off and his goal was a just reward for someone who played such a big part last season but has been written off by some after our return to the top flight.

These players deserve special mentions, but give credit to both Ryan Manning and Jack Stephens, they also played a part in the victory, perhaps most reading this would not have had either in the side, you can accuse them both of many things, but not a lack of commitment and you don't win games in the Premier League carrying passengers and they were not passengers on Saturday.

Now we have something to build on, most had written us off, but we are still only second from bottom and things have changed, that will have some looking over their shoulder, a win at Wolves won't see us out of the bottom 4 unless Palace lose heavily to Fulham and we slaughter Wolves, but we can take a giant step or two.

I always say that good teams don't become bad ones overnight and vice versa and I have never thought we were a bad team, it has been the way we have played possession football that has cost us dearly, on Saturday for the first time we seemed to have adapted and we got the rewards.

There is still a long way to go, but there is hope, essentially if we had held on to win against Ipswich and Leicester we would be above both and on 9 points level with Everton.

Of course that didn't happen so it is all if's and but's, but it shows how close we are to being mid table rather than the bottom, many of the goals conceded have been down to individual error, cut that out and we can move up the table.

For the first time this season there is light at the end of the tunnel, let us hope that Russell Martin has finally seen what was going wrong and is now putting it right, some tough games ahead but having won this one, we can hopefully win a few more.

All Photos Via Reuters

TripleNiemi added 10:28 - Nov 3 Not been much to celebrate this season, but 3 points is 3 points so a few bevvies were had last night. On to Wolves….
3

IanRC added 10:35 - Nov 3 Great result but unfortunately despite rather than because of our managers choices. The omission of Sulemana (who was our most Incisive player on Tuesday) from the squad, and Sugarwara from the starting lineup could have been disastrous. Some of his substitutions too were bizarre, did he not see how many times the Chelsea loanee gave the ball away on Tuesday but despite that he decides to bring him on. I was fully expecting to see then Breton Diaz brought on as well. Ramsdale and Howard-Bellis were superb. As for Dyche, what he forgets to mention is that Tarkowski should have been sent off for a disgraceful tackle on Archer in the first half. Certainly if one of our players had committed it they would have been sent off. So overall a mixed bag but one thing is certain, Martin must do much better with his team selections and substitutions against Wolves next week

4

IanRC added 10:40 - Nov 3 Oh and I disagree with you Nick about Lallana, thought he had a very poor game giving the ball away and misplacing passes, perhaps partly due to his injury.
-2

JoeEgg added 10:53 - Nov 3 I can just repeat TripleNiemi's remark 3 points is 3 points! I thought we might just edge this game as Everton offer very little these days; lets hope we get some more luck against Wolves before a run of very difficult fixtures. Perhaps we can take heart from the performance of Bournemouth on Saturday who played full of energy and positivity against the Champions! . The better sides can be beaten if you cut out the mistakes - especially those around your own box - and confidence can breed more confidence and success. Such a shame Lallana may not be available for the Wolves game, but Fernandes and Sugawara are certainly stepping up to the plate. So in many ways the next match is now crucial and will be a better indicator as to whether we really have turned a corner.

4

bryanK added 10:56 - Nov 3 Funny how we see games differently. I thought Lallana started very well but as the first half progressed he was caught in possession on 3 separate occasions and caused as some real difficulty. We rode our luck but a win is a win. We won regardless of Martin’s team selection. Manning, Stephens, really??? Pleased for Adam Armstrong but he again showed prior to his goal the premiership is a step too far. Also Aribo lost the ball on a number of occasions. Ramsdale, both centre backs, Walker Peters and Fernandez all plus

3

SanMarco added 11:01 - Nov 3 Ah - that's the (second) best thing about wins, verdicts on Sunday morning!! We were due a bit of luck. A neutral reviewing our first ten games would not begrudge us four points or even one or two more. I thought the Sugarwara pull back for the goal was brilliant. Of course it is just one result but I am going to be positive for a few days - who knows - we may not get many more chances to smile!! Oh and well done to Ramsdale - after a dodgy start to his time here that was a match winning performance.

6

saint22 added 11:24 - Nov 3 Looked like it was Harwood Bellis who sent Suga away to me not Fernandez
2

DoctorSleep added 11:40 - Nov 3 I said before that the way we play just needed a few tweaks but got marked down. Perhaps it was Martins seat in the stands at the last home game that enabled him to see the game in a different way. There's more tweaks to be done, a lack of players in the midfield is one I've noticed - Downes is on his own - wingers hugging the touchline another. Still what do I know I pay to watch the game whereas Martin is paid to produce results Onwards and upwards!!

3

Block8 added 11:51 - Nov 3 This was a game where the result was far more important than the performance & that's how it ended. two pretty poor teams jousting for the points and not particularly concerned how they were going to get them. Disagree with you Nick on Lallana as I thought he was below par from the start. And the collective sigh from the crowd every time we slowed down a promising move must affect the players, regardless of the fact that more often than not it's justified. It is also a massive lift for the crowd when Dibbling runs at defenders and the audible surge in excitement must also carry over to the players. So lets have a little bit more of the latter please Russell?

0

Bowlercow added 13:38 - Nov 3 I thought when watching live that we were lucky that their strikers were as bad as ours Having watched 3 different lots of highlights I now have a different perspective The save that Rambo made by pushing it over the bar would have been ruled out by VAR because CalvertLewin was in his eye line You actually see him duck to avoid the ball The save he made at the foot of the post would likewise have been ruled out because a player in the centre of goal was O/s when the free kick came in That's why the game was restarted with a free kick We know about the one that was netted and the four plus minutes we had to wait were worth every second Why can't we see what Stocley Park are looking at on our screens In televised matches armchair fans see more than we do One criticism If he wanted to play Stephens as a LB with another defender ahead of him as a wing back/winger then why not a better player than Manning KWP for example with Yuki starting as a RBH

3

landsdownsaint added 13:44 - Nov 3 I couldn’t go yesterday so watched it on a stream . I thought Everton were poor & we was worse , Lallana started well & he’s the only one who plays forward trying to find a different pass . The coomentator said it how it was as in saints can only play in their own half & from where o was watching Jack Stephens was not good & Flynn Downes gives the ball way far to many times , as you said Fernandez gets better each game but if it wasn’t fir Ramsdale , Bednarek , THB , KWP we would’ve lost comfortably, I’d hate Archers job in that system . All yesterday done was keep RM in his job a little longer with certain relegation!… & I really hope I eat my words next week but I can’t see it .

3

halftimeorange added 13:47 - Nov 3 I thought Jack Stephens was truly awful. He showed no leadership qualities and gave me several heart in the mouth moments with ill-weighted passes. I was relieved when he was subbed and far too late in my opinion. I agree that there were several decent performances but, despite all the possession, our team doesn't play joined up football. All too often there was a large gap between the midfield sitting back or spread too wide and Cameron Archer, who received very little to run onto despite his obvious pace. We were often caught out by Everton's speed of attack, again this is partially down to Stephens and Manning having lead boots. Fernandes had a really good game but, must learn that throwing himself on the floor and writhing agony after having the ball brushing his nose is more suited to Shakespeare's tragedies at the Globe Theatre rather than the St Mary's stage. A win was a huge boost for all connected with Southampton and that includes us fans who supported our team throughout. The suspense generated by the red card and offside goal analyses were worthy of a Hitchcock thriller. Perhaps VAR reviews should carry a health warning for the more frail of us to leave the stadium!

2

DoctorSleep added 15:19 - Nov 3 If there's one thing I hate about the premiership and that is the theatrics - the rolling around on the floor, the overacting you all know what I'm on about. So Halftimeorange I have to disagree - not totally - but disagree I will. Young didn't take the throw in correctly and just pushed the ball in Fernandes's face, totally unneeded and unjustified. The overreaction wasn't totally justified. The Ref got it wrong Young should have been booked. Perhaps a more fair way would have been to book both of them.

2

SalisburySaint added 15:58 - Nov 3 Seems I’m in the minority agreeing with your view regards Manning and Stephens, Both played their part yesterday. Seems other players are immune from critics M, the centre backs gave the ball away more than Stephens but nobody calls them out, Also thought RM got subs right yesterday, the formation getting more attacking as game progressed. But we really need to win next week to start catching those above if we are to have any chance of staying up.

0

Saintaxidriver added 17:26 - Nov 3 Paper and cracks come to mind. We are a poor side with only a few players good enough at this level. We were lucky to win this game and are still nailed on for relegation unless we get a new manager with a new approach that makes the most of the good players we do have. It is nice tho to have a few days without the cloud of defeat hanging above. I would love to be proved wrong but suspect this will be the only win between now and Xmas.

3

underweststand added 18:02 - Nov 3 highlights on the club site make it look like an exciting game, but the rest was terribly boring 65% possession again, but almost no shots in first half. Overall I was shocked to see that Tarkowski's tackle on Archer only got a yellow, but VAR took an age to clear Bednarek of a relatively simple foul and there was no real threat on goal. We must be grateful for 3 points, but we have played better in some games and still lost.

4

Jesus_02 added 19:36 - Nov 3 I thought the players did really well against a predictably well organised Dyche team. I'm not saying Lallana was world class but I will defend him. He lost the ball a few times, mainly because he was trying to make something progressive happen. Like his ball to Archer early on. Dibbling loses the ball too trying to beat a player or two, again those are the players that should have licence to lose the ball. As fans we cant complain about possession football and the team not being progressive enough and also complain when we try to be positive and it doesn't work out 100% of the time. Where players shouldn't have licence to miss passes is in defence. The player I wont ever agree with is Jack Stephens . He isn't good enough as a centre half and doesn't have the passing range, speed or technical ability to play at full back. Manning delivered some decent crosses from which we might have scored if any preset in the box. A word on Archer, for the first time I can remember we had two attackers going to different posts, if it wasn't for his run Armstrong would not have had the space to run into to score. I still felt that we were predictable, when will Paul get a start, I'm in no way advocating long balls smashed up from defence but from the few cameos he has had recently he can hold the ball up well and bring others into the game. He isn't Haaland but he is the closest we have and if we insist in playing like Man City we should be giving him a go. Sean Dyche may be mad to think that Bednareck should have been off while Tarkowski should't but he is an experienced Premiership manager and it was clear that he had a week to coach his team to play against our very predicable tactics. It could have gone either way, thank Ramsdale and the bar that it didnt. 3 Points - Up the League we go!

3

Colburn added 20:54 - Nov 3 This was actually one of Stephens better games, so poor timing from the captain haters. There shouldn’t be too much to moan about, this looked like and played out like a team desperate for their first win and playing a scrappy physical team would be delighted with a scrappy one nil win. First win and a clean sheet. We’ve had plenty of bad luck this season so were due the rub of the green yesterday. Lovely goal and we looked more of a threat when Dibling came on. People can be negative about Everton and their chances but forget that we hit the woodwork twice at the Emirates and were stitched in that game with an offside goal and against Leicester when Onuachu had his shirt stolen.. We played well at City and deserved the points yesterday, on to Wolves next week. Martin has a stay of execution.

0

ItchenNorth added 22:53 - Nov 3 We rode our luck at times and some of the football from both teams was pretty poor at times, however. Moving to back 4 changed the game in the second half, as did our substitutions . When Dibling came on he gave us that drive and creativity we miss when he's not in the side. He draws players and creates space for others. Fernandes was quality on the ball again throughout. His willingness to drive forward and work rate is going to be key moving forward in our midfield. Ramsdale is just top draw and won us the points in this one really. The run of Archer mustn't be overlooked in the winning goal either. He took two players with him (across, in front of Pickfords view of the attack) opening up the space for Armstrong in the box to fire it home. Next week at Wolves we'll really see how this season is going to go!

5

davidargyll added 07:53 - Nov 4 Well… I had a good laugh with the people I sit next to. If you had just landed from Mars and you had to guess what the positions of the two teams in the PL were from the play, you’d be hard pressed to say anything other than bottom and second bottom. Dross was the politest word to describe it!!! Absolutely dreadful dross was probably more accurate!! The only positive for Saints was that we’ve played better and lost whereas we played appallingly yesterday, had a huge slice of luck with VAR and won. Still can’t see us surviving with our dreadful manager. One thing I really noticed was what Everton players did when they got the ball versus what we did. When they got it, they typically turned inside and looked for an immediate forward move. Whereas what we invariably did was turn inside and pass backwards. God i wish we’d gone for Dyche when we had the chance. ..,

3

Blogs 31 bloggers

Cardiff City Polls