The injury which forced Morgan Schneiderlin off would not have been a problem if Jack Cork had not been missing through illness.

Sometimes in football you dont get the rub of the green at vital times and this was one of them for Saints on Sunday afternoon.

Morgan Schneiderlin is a great player, but in central midfield we are blessed with a wealth of talent, however if there was one weekend we did not need someone to get injured from the central midfield it was this one.

The first problem was that although Steven Davis was back and indeed put in a great display, he was clearly lacking a bit of fitness which meant that in the second half he started to run out of steam, but the second problem was perhaps more of an issue, Jack Cork was missing through illness, add long term casualty James Ward Prowse to the equation and it was always going to be tough and Schneiderlin's injury could not have happened at a worse time.

It meant that we had to play Toby Alderweireld in the centre of midfield and bring in Yoshida, Koeman deciding that this was not the game to bring on Harrison Reed but to go for experience.

Reed might be needed for the trip to Arsenal though with Schneiderlin looking doubtful, however if Jack Cork is recovered it wont be a problem at least not with a starting line up, however any other knocks and we will again be exposed.

Photo: Action Images

FrankSaint added 12:06 - Dec 1 Reed should be getting 10 - 20 minutes off the bench in the games where we are two goals up. That is part of the 'breeding success' process. Something our coaches need to look again at.
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TimSaint added 13:01 - Dec 1 Steven Davis put in a great display ? Really ? I can't help but think that he was rushed back too early, perhaps because the shape of the team is better with him, or the fact that Cork was ill and we needed someone in midfield with experience. Nobody really had a good game, let alone a great display. Davis was by no means our worst performer but he did give the ball away for their second goal and should have taken his shot in the first half, first time, but taking the extra touch gave Hart the time to compose himself. I like Davis and really think he helps makes us tick, but after we lose 3-0 at home, I very much doubt that anyone will have put in a great display. Hopefully we can learn from yesterday and put in a great display on Wednesday night - which in case readers didn't already know, is on BT Sport.

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davenbennett added 15:51 - Dec 1 If Reed is not good enough to come on V City, then why have him on the bench? Maybe could have had Long on for Spiderman, and pull Davis back into MF. Problem is that we have always known the squad is too small. Mayuka is not premier league quality. Just a pity that Isgrove, McQueen and Gallagher, along with W-P all been injured and not able to step up. Other option would have been put on Targett for Tadic, and push Bertand into MF. However, easy to be wise after the event. We went for the win, and got caught on the break. They could bring on Lampard, Demechalis and Milner; we had Yoshida (who was not do too bad at all, Long, who I would have brought on earlier, and Mayuka - no comment!

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zonehead added 20:33 - Dec 1 forster does seem a bit slow to get down for a big man, yet to see him make a great save I suppose testimony to our defence?
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Fordy added 22:04 - Dec 1 Yep Davis was poor on Sunday. Not only did he give the ball away, he failed to track back with Lampard who he really should have followed. I don't know if it was just fatigue but he hasn't been that poor for a while.
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SaintMaw added 23:50 - Dec 1 I don't think Davis was poor but he ran out of steam at the end. We really need Cork and JWP back
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