Was Ings' mind somewhere else?
Our passing was dreadful all game. One good pass from Redmond for a superbly taken goal and another late on were the only significant to remember.
Salisu looks special. Needs to get used to the defensive line as he played Chelsea onside a couple of times. It'll come.
I called the penalty correctly: McCarthy dives right ball put in opposite side.
Good job Saints' players didn't make those studs first takles. We'd have been down to 9 players again.
VAR 2 Southampton 0. It's becoming a gabit

8

Even a Habit!!

0

I think most of us would have taken this before kick-off - and certainly after 25 mins when it looked as if we wouldn't complete a pass all day. When we did it was worth the wait and for all their possession did Chelski really have many good chances? Shame about the Ings tackle and also some more VAR issues with those two tackles. The Bertie one that started the Leicester debacle was less a red than those two.

I am pleased with the way we dug in, defended well in the second half and got off 29 points!! Some will say we were lucky, if we were then it was about time as far as I am concerned...

15

Battled well and got a much needed draw and a quality move and goal from Minemino

12

Good work from Redmond and Minamino. You just know that Adams would just have smacked that chance full power at the earliest opportunity.

MOTM performances from Salisu and Djenepo. Salisu was just solid and in the right place. Djenepo started slow but although constantly in the wars tackled ferociously and showed Chris Wilder how to do a Cruyff turn.

Based on previous stats Chelsea were always going to have a lot of possession. Romeu and Ings looked out of sorts. Although Kante was ferocious in midfield just seemed to take the ball at will. Given Djenepo and Bertrand got sent off last season for clumsy studs up tackles without intent, bit surprised that nothing was given to Kante or Werner.

Ralph played the right formation and used subs to use up the clock. Good work.

Before this match I would also have taken a draw. Pleased we played it out, although it was nail biting at times. Hopefully a step on the way to recovery. Roll on Leeds.

COYR

7

Why didn't Ralph employ those tactics for the last 6 games?

1

Good to see a change in tactics. Ralph must feel he has the players now to alter the approach to ensure things were kept tight and behind the ball. This is what we need to do for the next few games before getting too adventurous. Once the confidence is back the 70 minute flat out press can be covered by a a very mean defence for the final 20 mins.

I really hope Ralph is given the support to build and sustain a strong squad for the next few years.

Coyr.

15

Well deserved point in our best performance since beating Arsenal 1-0. Chelsea never looked like hurting us, and so they didn’t. Djenepo was immense and credit where credit’s due because I am far from his biggest fan but Redmond was good today, probably his best showing this season.

And let’s not beat around the bush about this, if those 2 tackles in the 1st half had been committed by Saints players we would’ve been down to 9. Apparently they were accidental-the 1st 1 probably was but Kante’s wasn’t-so that makes it alright....

6

1-1 victory against another billionaire's XI. Game of 2 halves for me: first their attack against our defence; second, pretty even with Saints looking comfortable - Vesters even hit the bar with a reflex header against the bar. Pity we gave away a penalty - not Ingsy's day at all, 'out of sorts'. Nevertheless how Chelsea didn't have have at least one player sent off ... I thought that's what VAR's for. If they can't use it to make concise correct decisions then their is really no point in having it except for goal line and corner decisions IMHO. Djenepo was all over the park: tackling here, clearing there and mostly being hacked over - looks as if he's better in a defensive right side midfield role than any other. As far as I'm concerned he can carry on playing that role, I'll think he'll grow into it and become more of an attacking threat with less pressure to impress as soon as he touches the ball in a wide position. All the defence played well, I was impressed with Beders at right back and Salisu was sound (except for a dodgy first few minutes ball across our defence) and his positional play was surprisingly decent. Midfield didn't play especially well except in the defensive capacity. We really miss the creative aspect when Armstrong isn't playing. Minamino scored a well taken goal but did little else but then again that's what everyone seems to expect from the guy. Must admit I had wanted Adams to start. Roll on Leeds, hopefully with Armstrong back to create more of a threat.

8

A great battling performance to restrict Chelsea to just a handful of decent chances.
Brilliant move for or goal and really enjoyed the fact that Mini put both keeper and defender on their arses, before calmly slotting home.
Shame we gifted them the opportunity to equalise from the spot. It's time we were due a penalty ourselves !!
Vest could have won it with the header that hit the bar, but happy with a point, the for has been stopped and we go to Leeds on Tuesday with a bit more confidence - and hopefully another return of two from injury !!

3