Great game for the dale every player was outstanding rafferty played a blinder in the centre of the park Donal McDermott just gets better and better Jamie Allen was imense again and big Calvin and Hendon were all over the tired Barnsley defense

0

Saints dominated Norwich from the off and the fans supported from the off. Norwich lost a man but would almost certainly have lost the match even with eleven. Saints were set up in a system which suited them and against weak opponents it told. Norwich were under siege midway through the second half. There were several very good performances - Mane (apart from a number of wayward passes), Cedric (and his linking with Mane was really encouraging), Tadic (who showed just how good he can be) and Romeu (for me, man of the match, dominating midfield in both tackling and passing accuracy). What a shame this wasn't the way Saints played in Denmark. It was very positive, though.

1

AT THE RISK of saying "Told you so........."

Several lessons were learned today, though a few remain outstanding.

Lessons learned:

1. Don't pass backwards unless you really have to - press the opposition higher up the pitch, as JWP did to good effect leading to the first goal with his slick pass through to Mane and allowing Pelle to turn the ball in on goal
2. Don't give up on any apparently lost ball (see above)
3. Use the full width of the pitch - Mane on the right and Tadic on the left were a potent combination
4. Get the ball to the byline before crossing (see above)
5. Most games are won and lost in the midfield - make sure you pass accurately between yourself
6. Don't lump the ball up to Pelle and hope for the best - play on the ground

Lessons still to be learned:

1. Don't panic in defence, take you time and be measured about it. An unnecessary corner was sacrificed this way
2. Don't encourage the ref to show the card to your opponents and don't celebrate when he does, Yes you Tadic, its not seemly
3. Enjoy your success but don't get carried away with it (see above

And finally a lesson to be learned by all the players - you are highly paid employees but that is all you are. In the end you do as you are told. So Mr Wanyama if you aren't "mentally in the right place" to place for Saint first team then you can damn well play for the reserves until you are. Clear?

4

What a difference from Thursday. Quality all over the pitch. Some great stuff at times. Now lets get a centre half in and see the window close. With Bertrand and others to return and Jay Rod getting a great run out today the future looks a lot better. Well done RK for getting them fired up.

2

On a day when the result mattered the most we got a good performance and result, but it was at home against a 10 man promoted side so I'm not gonna get too carried away. Oriol was my motm and looks a decent buy already.

0

The best performance yet from James Ward Prowse his 44th minute tackle back which set up the through pass to Mane for Pelle to convert was probably his best moment yet in the PL. Overall we looked up for this match but not in a ragged hit and hope gung-ho sort of way. The first time this season that we actually seemed to have purpose and movement and no little skill in keeping and passing the ball.

I was surprised how naive and slow were Norwich, they had looked so much better on TV highlights this season and likely to provide a stern tents our fragile morale. Yesterday the gulf between Pl and Championship was quite evident and Norwich for sure will need to 'up' their game to survive at this level.

Still, you can only beat what's in front of you and the defeats of Chelsea and Liverpool just goes to show how easy it is to get into the mindset of everyone else going forwards whilst we are going backwards. Clearly, we will all being feeling slightly more optimistic today that the top six is still within our reach even if we will need the certainty of VVD joining us, a settled Wanyama and a retuning duo of Clasie and Bertrand showing the world class qualities that they have become renowned for.

0

All my mates who support the saints, say why o why didn't we play this team on Thursday. They were moving the ball around playing it up field not hoofing iit up to Pelle. Tadic Mane Romeu and Soares were excellent so too was Pelle and JWP. Tagert redeemed himself though can't get the cross in like Betrand and great to see Roddy get a half he cracked a couple Willing to shoot from outside the box shows the variety is back.

We are frustrated not to have the odd European excursion look were we might have enjoyed going too and pitting up against Napoli Brugge and somewhere in Poland Waaaahhhh.. but maybe not as much as the players will be, lest they didn't fancy Thursday/ Sunday.

Still forth is realistic if everybody is fit so is a good cup run with the depth we have now keep clean sheet's because we will score goals...

0

well I thought NF were the better side in a poor game lacking quality we missed Ali Faurlin creativity..started second half well Charlie took his goal well. NF never really made many chances. Rob Green has saved us many times but the one mistake cost us 3 points today...not sure why he did not just put it out for a corner.....Smithies made one good save...could have done better with a poor penalty and should have saved the winner. In truth we looked clueless when we went down to 10 men could not retain possession and put ourselves under a lot of pressure..

0

It's a real shame that the international break came when it did as it has taken away the momentum that we had after the Man Utd game. What we need to do though is bounce back - we have not become a bad team overnight and Monk will have the team up for it next Saturday without a doubt

0

AWFUL DISPLAY SECOND BEST FOR THE 97MINS ,WAS THE MANAGER HAVING A LAUGH WHEN HE SAID ON THE PAPERS THAT" THE PLAYERS WERE EAGER TO GET BACK TO PLAYING AGAIN"

0