Voting was locked for this match at midnight on Thursday 2nd November but you may still add your mini match reports. Note that members and non-members alike were able to vote.

Your Southampton v Birmingham City Match Reports

codge added 17:26 - Oct 28 Pleased with the result but it seems every time we start the second half we are always slow to get going and leave ourselves vulnerable.lucky it didn’t cost us in the end.Thought overall a pretty good performance and thought Bree was a big improvement over Manning which was a plus.Good goals we’ll set up and deserved COYR.
3

Avior added 17:27 - Oct 28 For the first 60 and last 15 minutes we were excellent. Obviously had lots of posession but crucially played a few over the top when they were not expecting it. Two really well worked goals. The other 15 minutes were a bit hairy, their goal was not the problem, slightly unlucky, but the abject panic that set in afterwards was ridiculous. We won because for once we had a 2 goal lead and we settled down once the subs came on. defence were all good, THB has to concentrate a bit more and Bree had a good game because he actually played left back rather than continually tucking in. Downes had his best match. Smallbone, Stuey and Alcaraz need to effect the game more and actually face forward. AA is a real dilemma, well taken goal, bad 1 on 1 miss and still has no first touch. Any way onwards and upwards and this was a crucial win since everyone else won as well.

1

WestSussexSaint added 17:31 - Oct 28 Lots to like about today’s performance and result. Still disappointed that we give the opposition a soft goal but after an iffy 15 mins we gradually got the control back. Nice to see THB on the scoresheet and he and Bednarek are looking really good in defence. Although Bednarek got Motm in the stadium I thought Flynn Downes was immense today and really dominated the midfield. Finally a shout out for James Bree who despite only starting his second game of the season and playing on the wrong side for him looked really good and solid in defence. He probably offers less than Manning going forward but when you have Sulimana in front of you just get him the ball and do the defensive work as you know you won’t get any help. Well done Bree.

9

I_would added 17:57 - Oct 28 The message from RM lately has been, I'm choosing the right starting eleven, I'm sticking to my favourite choice of tactics, but he didn't! He picked a starting eleven which was pretty much what the fans would have done (leaving out his buddy Bernard). He had us making fast runs forward off the ball. We pinged quick incisive one-touch passes to the forward runners which proved decisive. This was all new. He changed his tactics! We won. We looked very good for most of the match until we fell asleep for a while in the second half (old bad habits sitting on a lead). As soon as this happened RM should have let them know, in no uncertain terms, from the touch line to get on with it again All good for a change. In future matches just leave well alone RM.

2

silverspringsaint added 18:30 - Oct 28 This does look like our best starting line up, enabling us to get a good start and able to ride out the inevitable soggy patch early second half. It would be nice if Stuey, Sulemana and Alcaraz could last a full game occasionally. Also that Adam A. would (re) develop the killer instinct in front of goal. But we can’t have it all I guess. We are improving in midfield and defence and Bazunu is more reliable than hitherto. We have more than enough to stay in the play off slots. Like others in this site, I am ambivalent about promotion - just loving the play and the results at this level!

4

Bowlercow added 19:16 - Oct 28 Anyone watching championship football would be proud of that first half performance As near to total dominance as you will get I imagine Rooney gave them a right rollicking at half time and it showed They were quicker and stronger for the first 20 minutes of the second half and we're bouyed up by the goal We weathered the storm and regained control and the third goal made it a comfortable finish Overall pleased with the way we appear to be forming partnerships all over the pitch and getting to grips with the possession game which still needs to be operated with a bit more speed

2

Monksway added 19:21 - Oct 28 Same problems when teams are aggressive and press us hard. But a 2-0 lead enables us to get through it and when they ran out of steam we scored a third. Wish Sulimana could cross with his left after beating his man. Wish Adam Armstrong could get his head up instead of shooting when clean through but overall really good effort and an enjoyable watch. THB was a VAR offiside but level with the last man in old money so not offside for me. The purpose behind so many rules have been lost. Handball is to stop a side gaining an advantage by handling the ball, offside similarly. Glad we are in the championship if only to be rid of VAR.

1

Jellybaby added 19:52 - Oct 28 Enjoyable game and fully deserved win. Good team selection - surely our strongest. Impressed with Bazunu who is really gaining in confidence and looks a different animal to the frightened kid of last season. Bree is a big upgrade on Manning. Flynn Downes is very impressive at this level and was MOM in my opinion. Substitutions really worked today including Aribo who beefed up the midfield, where we can be a little lightweight. So glad to be free of VAR, not just because it worked in our favour today with goal 1, it just kills the spirit of the game. Crowd could have done more to lift the team during the "dodgy spell". Always good to see Rooney lose, well done Saints.

3

JimmyMeliaPhD added 19:59 - Oct 28 Good all round team performance, I thought. I liked that there were a few change-ups from the style of the previous game (a few different patterns and triangles, and many more longer passes, for example). KWP was unplayable (until he wasn't for their goal, but he had a great game aside from that). Deefence solid, even Bree. On the downside the two Armstrongs both had pretty weak games, even allowing for AA's goal that killed off the game. Looks to me as if the manager is getting what he wants from the squad, and it's becoming noticeable that the tactics get tweaked a little bit every game now. And credit where credit is due--never been a fan of Aibo, but when he came on today he was very effective and actually looked as if he gave a damn.

2

Bawdrip added 20:32 - Oct 28 A good win. I share the delight of not having VAR interfering with things. Apart from the wobble after Birmingham scored we controlled the game well.
2

JimmyMeliaPhD added 22:01 - Oct 28 Good all round team performance, I thought. I liked that there were a few change-ups from the style of the previous game (a few different patterns and triangles, and many more longer passes, for example). KWP was unplayable (until he wasn't for their goal, but he had a great game aside from that). Deefence solid, even Bree. On the downside the two Armstrongs both had pretty weak games, even allowing for AA's goal that killed off the game. Looks to me as if the manager is getting what he wants from the squad, and it's becoming noticeable that the tactics get tweaked a little bit every game now. And credit where credit is due--never been a fan of Aibo, but when he came on today he was very effective and actually looked as if he gave a damn.

2

sidsaint added 10:35 - Oct 29 Some good premiership quality football when we are ahead and confident. Not so good after they equalised and put us under a bit more pressure. The third goal restored our confidence. The signs are there just wish we weren't 10 points behind Ipswich, but plenty of games left and hopefully no more 4 game losing runs.
0

gpsgm added 13:36 - Oct 30 Stu, Adam & Flynn were MOTM contenders for me Everyone did well except during the dodgy patch after HT
0