If football matches are a battle then this was not Waterloo but Dunkirk, we fought a great rear guard action in what looked like being a defeat almost to the final whistle, but make no bones this was one of those performances that showed we have team spirit.

Anyone shown the match stats and then asked to predict the score would have said only one thing,, Manchester City had 74% possession, they had 26 shots compared to our 8, they had 14 corners compared to our 2, just about the only stat that might have lead anyone to think this was anything other than another rout for Pep Guardiola's side was the fact that with their 6 shots on target that was only 2 more than our 4.

Indeed most I spoke to pre game just hoped that we would not be well beaten after all only days earlier City had pasted Liverpool 4-0.

In my pre match preview I called Ralph Hasenhuttl's line up correctly, including Che Adams selection up front, I like many hoped that he might break his duck and Ralph's faith in him paid off when after a high press won the ball, Che swept the ball in from 40 yards over the keepers head stranded outside his area.

This was no simple chance, it had to be hit hard and well and Adam's shot had both that, but the rest of the game was one way traffic.

Yes we could have and should have perhaps scored again ourselves, but City could have had 7, but that was not because of poor finishing it was because of a team performance where every player fought for every inch of ground and through everything they had in the way.

We had our luck, but then again we made our luck, this was like a 1970's FA Cup tie, only neither team had anything to play for.

Time and time again they kept coming forward and time and time again we refused to give an inch and if we couldn't block then there was Alex McCarthy to save.

There was no man of the match, every man deserved 10/10 just for his battling spirit, at times we gave the ball away or failed to mark as has been the case too often, but this time we refused to be made to pay, there was always someone throwing themselves in to the tackle to redeem the situation.

Oriol Romeu showed that he is the man to replace Pieere Eimile Hojbjerg, why do we need to spend the money we get when that player is already at the club.

Ralph Hasenhuttl has built a spirit in this team from adversity and he deserved this display from his team.

There were many of the old issues still there to see in this performance, but they were overshadowed by a team spirit, with a couple of additions we can truly be a top 10 side again, the players out there showed they are willing to fight for the shirt an that is a good sign.

So we are now officially safe from relegation, the rest of the season is about trying to just get as many points and finish as high as we can as well as give some experience to some of the younger members of the squad.

This was not a great performance in terms of quality, but it was perhaps the best in several years in terms of team spirit, we can now march on with confidence, after two difficult years we can move forward again.

No one expected this result and it is one that closes the gap between us and the top 8, we might just spring a surprise or two yet !

Photo: Action Images

Consigliere added 11:25 - Jul 6 Whenever there is a surprise result like this (we don't win at home, on TV or against City) I like to go to the opposition's local paper and fan comments to see what they make of it and for a bit of perspective. The strong impression I got from that is not that they think their team played badly or that there were a lot of individual errors but rather that Saints put in the most incredible, stout display of defending they've ever seen and were always dangerous on the counter-attack. A lot of respect earned from the City fans yesterday, whilst most of us Saints were left just emotionally drained. What a fantastic evening!

4

mattlegod added 11:45 - Jul 6 Thanks Teamsaint - I of course meant Stephens but I'd love to be seeing a Deano back in our side.
3

KriSaint added 11:48 - Jul 6 One of the best games I´ve seen for a long time against a very good opponent. Our organisation was spot on - we defended that box so well, over-crowding the last third of our half, pressing the City player in possession everytime City came at us. I didn´t see any world class saves from McCarthy, but had Fernandinho´s shot stayed inside the post, McCarthy would have saved it with a worldy, because he was quickly out towards that right post with his right hand. We looked dangerous on the break, and Armstrong should actually have made it 2-0 deep into the second half. Every player deserves credit. Congrat´s to Adams for his great (first) goal of the season. How much have our central defence improved?, and how important a player has Ryan Bertrand suddenly become? Right back? Give KWP the job. :-D I was worried that Ings was not taken off after 60-70 minutes to protect him against a muscle injury, but he looks very fit, and Ralph rightly anticipated that Ingsy had what it took to go all the way without getting injured. Now 4 days of recovery before a very important match against Everton. If we win that and other results go with us.........

1

TeamCortese added 21:05 - Jul 6 TimSaint: I agree, I think the shipped has sailed with Lemina and Boufal. Both players have had ample time to prove their hunger and worth to succeed at the club. However, I still maintain they are our most talented players in the squad without a shadow of a doubt. However, they are both the least driven and hard-working. If they both had the same level of commitment and hunger in bettering themselves and the team subsequently like Ings has the past 18-months imagine where we'd be in the league! Hopefully, we'll replace them with players with a similar level of talent and the right attitude.

0

SanDiegoSaint added 05:28 - Jul 7 One more similarity of Sunday’s game with the October Leicester game was the number of fans in the stadium at the end of the game :)
1

SanMarco added 08:55 - Jul 7 Waterloo - a victory in a battle of fairly evenly matched forces and Dunkirk a great achievement but a defeat nonetheless. This was Agincourt - victory against the odds against far superior forces.
1

Blogs 31 bloggers

Norwich City Polls