A Che Adams double made it a first first win since April for Saints, but most pleasing was the manner of the win both tactically & the spirit in which it was won, this was not a rear guard action it was deserved.

After an opening fortnight of the season which saw some poor defending and also off pitch allegations that Ralph Hasenhuttl had lost the dressing room, this would be a day that would either see another Saints collapse and a long hard season on the horizon, or one in which the team would build on the comeback against Leeds and show that those who predict doom & gloom have to wait a bit longer before claiming they were right.

The team news at 2pm was welcomed by many of the travelling Saints supporters in the pubs around the King Power, it signified a return to a back four and the thought was 4-4-2.

But Ralph Hasenhuttl had other thoughts in mind, it turned out to be 4-2-3-1, a back four with James Ward Prowse & Romeo Lavia in the two holding roles with with a trio of Aribo, Elyounoussi & Adam Armstrong in front of them with Sekou Mara up top.

It was a line up that could get behind the ball when needed, but could burst forward with pace.

Leicester themselves seemed to be the team in turmoil and the good news was that Wesley Fofana was not in the squad, Brendan Rodgers citing the new modern day excuse of the players head not being in the right place due to talk of a move to Chelsea.

Talking of players heads in the right places, on our bench sat Jan Bednarek, a player not unused to misplacing his head and probably one that expected to have gone on to better things that have not happened.

The only real worry for Saints fans was Djenepo at left back, we needn't have worried he put in a solid performance, perhaps his best since his opening few games for the club.

The first half saw little excitement, Saints thought they had gone ahead through Sekou Mara who burst through and finished with aplomb, but it looked offside from the away section and subsequent tv replays showed him a good half a yard off.

Aside from a decent cross in that Gavin Bazunu had to come out smartly to punch away, neither side truly troubled the keeper.

The second half started pretty much the same way of the first, but on 54 minutes the home side took the lead, through a curled free kick from James Maddison, was it an exquisitely bending effort or was the wall not lined up as it should be, probably a little bit of both, but either way Saints were behind.

The home fans perhaps thought this was the start of their first win of the season they were wrong, it seemed to stir Saints on rather than discourage them.

We should perhaps have had a penalty for handball, on replays the Leicester defender clearly had his hand away from his body, the decisions that the ref was making made you feel it would have been nailed on had it been up the other end.

But now came the tactical changes, on the hour mark it was Che Adams on for Sekou Mara and it would soon reap the benefits, a long throws say Bella Kotchap shield the ball and lay it back for Adams and he fired home in the 68th minute to even things up.

Almost immediately Ralph made another change, Stuart on for Adam in the Armstrong department and the tide of the game was now firmly in Saints favour, the home crowd was silenced and you started to have a feeling not felt for some time.

On 84 minutes the build up to the winning goal was a joy to watch, James Ward Prowse won the ball and laid it forward, it was passed out to Kyle Walker Peters overlapping on the right and he surged forward, checked and then laid a short pass to James Ward Prowse who took it on the run and swept in a glorious cross that saw Che Adams scissor kick give the keeper no chance.

The away supporters went mad, the home supporters headed to the exit for the fire drill.

History teaches you that when we are leading away from home its always a tense end to the game, it felt like it might be, but at the final whistle it hadn't worked out like that, Saints wound down the game in confident manner and indeed could have made it three when Che Adams almost had a hat trick, hitting the post with almost the last kick of the game.

The final whistle saw much celebrating in the away corner, our first away win since Spurs over 6 months ago, pleasingly the players were just as happy as the fans perhaps pointing to where the spirit is in the dressing room.

There has been more change in terms of incoming transfers this summer than for many a year and that seems to have put the noses out of joint of some players who can see the writing on the wall.

But this win shows that not all see a new arrival as a rival and not a team mate, this was a win carved out by both new and old, the starting line up saw 5 out of our 6 summer signings starting the game, if you add Salisu & Adam Armstrong, this was a line up signifying the end of the old guard and in with the new.

When you look at the players who came off the bench Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong & Lyanco, plus those who sat out the game, Jan Bednarek, Oriol Romeu, Ibranhimo Diallo, Yan Valery, Theo Walcott, its shows a squad with depth, two years ago we were filling the bench with kids who to be fair to some of them will not make a living at the highest level of the game, there is more to be optimistic about than two years ago.

But back to this game, the win was a team effort, Che Adams took the plaudits for his two goals, but there wasn't a bad performance on the pitch, they worked as a team to eek out the win.

Gavin Bazunu had little to do, but what he did he did well, the back four were solid, KWP was his usual self, Salisu & Bella-Kotchap looked happier as a pairing and the latter had a decent assist for the opening goal.

Special mention for Moussa Djenepo, he has had a lot of stick, few give him credit for having to play in a position that is alien to him, in this game he was an out and out left back, Ralph Hasenhuttl might have been tempted to have played KWP on the left and brought in Yan Valery on the right, but he went with Djenepo and it worked, as i have said perhaps his best game in three years, he did the job asked of him.

In the centre of the mid JWP ran the show and again another sublime cross for the second goal, Lavia a lax pass aside worked hard.

The trio of Adam Armstrong, Moi Elyounoussi & Joe Aribo worked hard and going forward were creative, Sekou Mara ploughed a lone furrow, but he did so well and he showed a turn of pace for the disallowed goal.

So of course we mustn't get too carried away with this win, but it was one that gives us something to build on, indeed it turned the start of this season from looking a poor one, to a solid if unspectacular one.

Perhaps this verdict is a little too gushing for some, but in terms of being excitable it is no more in victory than some of the rants I have read on social media after the opening day defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

We have the basis of a good squad, we are stronger than at this time last season and if we can bring in a player or two in the next week or so before the transfer window shuts then it could be a good season.

Photo: Action Images

A1079 added 10:12 - Aug 21 I think it is a fair summary Nick. Not that too different to my take on the game. It was good, but keeping the head on the shoulders, it was not perfect. The first 45 minutes were a non event for both sides. I take your comment on the reaction by supporters to the Spurs game but at that point it looked like we had not learnt any lessons from the last third of last season so to a large extent the reaction by fans was reasonable. The last 2 games has seen a change in attitude and maybe the influence of a different coaching team and that plus the performances to come back from being behind makes the fans feel different. It is early days and we have had false dawns on all too many occasions - it really does feel like the old cliche of one game at a time is apt at the moment.

8

Boris1977 added 10:19 - Aug 21 The biggest important change, above and beyond the signing of any player, is Ralph is playing 4 at the back and playing the best players in the best positions - injuries allowing - rather than trying to over complicate or trying to be too clever. You can spend as much money as you like on players but if you play a right back at left back or focus on playing wide players with a striker whose strength is running onto through balls your not going to get success. Look at Marcus rashford at man as an example of talent played out of position. There may have been some that 'wanted to be proved right' but they were in the minority. Those who lost patience with Ralph was his constant head scratching decisions after the best part of 3 seasons. In the last 120 minutes he's doing what I and many others on this forum have been calling for for ages. So to some extent you're correct Nick, we did want to be 'proved right' but for very different reason to the one suggest. By making rational selections and changes at the right time Ralph has shown what he and the team are capable of when playing to the strengths of the squad. Let's hope it continues. COYRs

11

IanRC added 10:22 - Aug 21 Fair to praise a fine performance by the lads. All put in a decent shift but I thought Djenepo, KWP and Bella Kotchup were outstanding. One of the youngest starting line ups in the PL for many years but the youngsters put in a wonderful performance. Thought the refereeing was poor, booking Aribo for diving (who didn’t appeal) but not booking Vardy early on (who did whinge as usual despite clearly kicking the defender). We should have been given another penalty too when the Leicester player (Dewsbury-Hall I think) flattened our player in the penalty area and then pretended to be injured. Perez was his usual cheating self very soft free kick for their goal. No way we should sell Che Adams, some impact sub.

5

Colburn added 10:30 - Aug 21 Huge boost in confidence for our new squad and although only the second win in 15, it was not lucky or scraped and to win such an important game with a spine so young bodes very well. I agree totally with A1079 in that the game at Spurs showed no change to vital aspects of our game but yesterday we saw much hope and the beginning of a new era with a goalie 20, CB's 20,23, CDM 18 and striker just turned 20.. The old guard were not required and the partnership of the aggressive Salisu and the more rolls Royce BK is the future with Lyanco and Valery in support. I think one of the most important things from yesterday was seeing the players react to the dressing room leaks in the media, they certainly showed a togetherness and fight for their manager. Ralph has not covered himself in glory with many games this year but he deserves credit for his courage with selection yesterday and having enough attacking potency on the pitch to hurt Leicester from the off. Much much better all round and so far the signings look like snips at the prices we paid. Finally, cap doffed to Djenepo who has not had the smoothest of times since arriving, has taken a lot of stick but gives everything every time, delighted for him.

12

StAnt added 10:33 - Aug 21 A fair summary and not much to disagree with. It is early days but we appear to have the makings of a side that, played in the formation that suits them, can make a mark on this tough league. With a few additions and departures we'll have a strong squad. I'd like to see a big centre forward who puts himself about plus a nippy, creative number 10 who buzzes all over the pitch and bosses games like Berkovitch the little Israeli genius we were lucky enough to have. Looking at the photo of Che celebrating a goal he looks to me to as though he has spent time in the gym and bulked up. I've said previously that I believe there is more goals to come from Adams - if he finds the net more regularly he'll be some special player because the rest of his game is right up there.

4

landsdownsaint added 10:47 - Aug 21 RH has scratched his head in the last 3 seasons thinking of away too keep us in the PL .I’m very optimistic for the season ahead , although Mara goal was disallowed his first touch on that goal was superb 2 touches & goal . We got some really good players in ,a board that are in the football business & RH has new coaching staff . I’m m really excited about this squad & we still might be getting another player or 2

6

ElSanto added 11:12 - Aug 21 I never lost faith in Ralph. Too many turncoats on these forums. Far too quick to invite a mutiny. Sure, he's not perfect, but his weaknesses can be strengthened, and his strengths are a lot harder to cultivate. He is our leader. Lavia and Bella-Kotchap looked great. Onwards we march.
7

Monksway added 11:22 - Aug 21 Really pleased to see this formation and rotation of the players up front. Good outcomes from substitutions in both games kept us competing till the end. Time for the old guard to go and those that have been here for a couple of years to really deliver on their potential. Well done Che.
5

dirk_doone added 11:52 - Aug 21 The Fightback Kids are going to be exciting to watch this season.
3

highfield49 added 11:53 - Aug 21 Too early to be counting chickens but, on yesterday's performance, the likes of Vertonghen would have added nothing to the defence and may well have compromised the emerging talents rather than assist their development. I can only presume that the usual media suspects will be touting our young defensive players for sale to bigger clubs this week. It would be very premature to believe that the corner has been fully turned but the shoots of recovery looked to be thriving at Leicester. As has already been posted Djenepo deserves huge credit for his effort and application, I recall one interception in the area yesterday that denied a couple of attackers a goal scoring opportunity and he made a great contribution to the team dynamic. Aside from the on pitch activity it certainly looked as though RH has built a rapport with the new coaches and I'd suggest that he has realised that he can't do it all on his own. That defeat at Spurs might just have been the wake up call that was needed.

6

derbydog added 12:16 - Aug 21 So we spend all pre-season and the first game and a half playing 3 CBs, but only start playing well in the second half against Leeds when we revert to a back four. Does Ralph now accept the players like 4 at the back and our attack works better with the extra midfielder losing a CB allows? Playing 2 CBs, hopefully yesterday’s 2 with Lyanco and Bednarek if he doesn’t leave as back ups, gives us strength, a youthful quality with the possibility of substantial profit to come from resale, JWP and Romeo or Romeu providing some cover in front. And best of all, it might stop Nick banging on about signing a past his sell by date centre half with no resale value to block the development of younger players. The only issue I see at the moment is our policy of buying in young players from other clubs makes our own academy redundant. Only JWP in the team came from that route, and only Valery and Walcott, if he still qualifies as one of ours, on the bench. Tella and others doing it elsewhere instead.

3

SaintPaulVW added 12:18 - Aug 21 Fair summary. Good to see Ralph in full discussion with his coaches at several points. Don't know what has happened to Djenepo. Putting a shift in and unleashing all his skills to beat players and create passed. This is the player we all hoped he might turn into. Hopefully not a Vestergaard 3 month world-beater interlude. KWP must be on England's radar. He is just immense at the moment. Goal last week, big part in the goal this week. Plenty of attacking intent and solid in defence. ABK looks a cracking buy, bossed his area and any player that came into it. Given how long it can take to adapt to the EPL, this is a great start to his career with us. Leicester were poor but you can only play the team in front of you. No point in getting carried away but mid table is pretty good for us in August. Good to see Romeu congratulating everyone on the sidelines. Didn't play and may be on his way but still showing the team spirit that we had supposedly lost. COYR

8

Monksway added 12:27 - Aug 21 Interesting to see who starts or rather doesn't start from the squad players at Cambridge in the cup. Will give an indication of who is definitely on their way out.
2

DellBoyWally added 12:31 - Aug 21 People who critisise RH forget that for the time he has been here he has had a high-Championship level squad.. No back-up on the bench so he's been forced to hit and hope. But has kept us in the PL Those that say our new boys should have played at Spuds and v Leeks hadn't been at training sessions, team meetings or tactics meetings. My guess is RH held them back due to lack of PL fitness and awareness - thus the team at Spuds and started v Leeks. Half a game v Leeks and we saw what they were capable of. Full game at (a poor) LC proved the point. To a degree! The only shot on target for LC was down to poor goalkeepier decision. Did he leave the gap thinking he could cover that side? Did he not see the gap? I bet he won't make that mistake again in the near future! Otherwise I solid performance from Bazu. Defence? Kwp - had an excellent game at both ends. BellaK and Salisu looked formidable. Happy to see Sally looking confident again. BellaK, who bullied Vardy throughout, is going to bring us in a huge fee down the line (A very long line I hope!!) Moose looked like a natural left back, hustled, channelled players, tackled. The interception in the penalty area, glide past 2 LC statues and a sublime attacking pass to the left wing - a thing of beauty. Will have given his confidence a massive boost. JWP looked revitalised; his best game for a long while. Lavia looks class (except for a loose cross-field ball which nearly cost us) Armstrong also deserves plaudits for his game. Whizzed around up front, turning defenders, pulling them out of position and gave great support to Moose. Aribo and Mara both look to have great potential. Adams was sublime when he came on. Once his groin is fully settled he'll be starting. But for whom?? If we do get a big CF in I can see the makings of 2 teams, especially up front: the big guys (I include CheA in that) to bully light, mobile defences; Aribo, Mara, AdamA to run around large, slow defences. RH now has the makings of a team capable of pushing higher and I expect we'll see him show his managerial nous. He can pick a team and formation to suit the opponents, bring good players on at the right times, something he hasn't been abale to do in his time here. I predict by the season's end the naysayers will be firmly put in their places. Definite penalty for handball.

4

Block8 added 13:45 - Aug 21 Firstly Adams has to stay, his strength hold up play and ability to involve others will be difficult to replace. Yes he needs goals but now we have others around him that can score, his other abilities become more valuable. Second how was that not a penalty (handball) if you have seen the one given against Villa, you know what I mean. Djenepo looked a bit more comfortable today but would be concerned if he is still there against better opposition. He can however take a bit of confidence from his performance. We do look a better squad this season and seemingly have better coaches , the conversations on the touchline look promising. COYR

6

Peterx added 13:48 - Aug 21 I'm trying not to get too excited here but our youthful skills and energy could surprise a few top teams and make for an entertaining watch this year. KWP, ABK, Che, Moussa all had stand out performances but that also came on top of loads of harrying and running from AA, so special shoutout to him, The defenders must get ultra irritated playing against him and know they have been in a game.

4

davidargyll added 15:11 - Aug 21 A terrific result and I am more than happy to admit that my concerns - that Ralph supposedly losing the dressing room would lead to his demise - were premature, maybe now rubbish. Furthermore, I’ve had it in for Salisu and Djneppo for many months, but again I am happy to admit that yesterday they both showed markedly improved performances, which hopefully is indicative of the norm rather than flashes in the pan. But everyone put in a real shift, especially ALL our new signings. I was worried that in H1 JWP barely touched the ball, anonymous would be putting it politely. A cynic might say that it was almost as if he was not buying into the new formation. But with that sublime cross for Che to score his second, he didn’t half redeem himself. Yes in the first half we did give the ball away at least 15 times - I counted them! - but it did look to me that the gameplan was to get the ball forward as much as possible and test Leicester’s back line, even if most of the time it didn’t come off as the pass went astray. But with the youngest team in the PL for at least five years versus one of the oldest, it was only a matter of time before the plan, coupled with our enthusiasm and fitness, paid off. OK so it needed Madison’s goal to galvanise our boys into action but my God did our bunch of kids then all really start to PLAY and in the end we were so much the better team. The only part of the whole day which worried me was the really grumpy look on Che’s face after scoring both goals. I only hope he was telling Ralph et al that “Yes, I’m really good and you should treat me as your star striker”, and not something more negative. PS. On yesterday’s performance, if I was a Foxes fan, I’d say Vardy was certainly not worth the value of his new contract. But then he does have rather a large legal bill to pay…

4

ItchenNorth added 15:18 - Aug 21 It kind of puts to bed that stupid media stories about Ralph losing the dressing room. So far this season, we lose away to a Champions League team (ok, no massive surprise), then, pull out back to back games where we fight back from losing positions to take points. Yeah, the dressing rooms gone! It's a tough league, the toughest in world football. For team's like Saints, there will be plenty of ups and downs. Support the boys, back the manager, and enjoy the ride. COYR

7

felly1 added 16:11 - Aug 21 Great win, it felt like a good time to play Leicester. Great to get ourselves up and running and to see the ongoing development of these exciting young players. Still think we're in for a tough season but we're showing in these last two performances the kind of spirit and fight that will be needed. Love reading all the positive posts on here, just a shame some of the more negative posters seem to disappear when we win rather than come on here and just enjoy these moments!

4

DellBoyWally added 17:14 - Aug 21 ItchenNorth, it's now being described (not just by Sky Sports) as the toughest league in world sport!!! Read it in a review in the Portland Press Herald in the US so it must be true!!! Also, have we really bid 25m euros plus 5m in potential add-ons, as reported in Record, for Ramos from Benfica? He's scoring for fun and playing CL at the moment. It would be a step up in league but no CL football. Well, not yet anyway (64 years attending Saints games, the eternal optimist!!)

0

ItchenNorth added 18:47 - Aug 21 DellBoyWally. I'm not quite sure what you point is. I think you'll find it's been widely accepted for many years now, that the Premier League is the toughest league to play in, as due to the money flooding the game, it attracts the best players and managers. There is no debate about it.
0

carolinasaint added 23:18 - Aug 21 What a turnaround following Maddison's goal! First half was frustrating. We were solid at the back but could not hold on to the ball once we got it. For me, the game was crying out for Che given how good he is at holdup play. Mara just couldn't get a sniff, though he put away his offside goal with aplomb. The Leicester goal seemed to spark us to life. After the equalizer, I feared we'd retreat into our shell but we kept the momentum going which was great to see. As for individuals, KWP looks so assured, ABK immense, Djenepo lively and mistake-free on this day. No real complaints about anyone, in fact. Great 3 points!

1

KriSaint added 00:25 - Aug 22 Youngest of any team fielded in the PL since 2017 and one of our holding midfielders 18½ years old (and has played every minute of the first 3 matches!!!). Ralph has so big balls, and I'm absolutely delighted that we managed to beat Leicester City, away from home, with such a young team and seem to have finally found out that a back 4 is the right thing. Many find performances. KWP, Armel B.K. and Che Adams our 3 best on the day. New signings settling in well and great to see Ralph listen to his assistants on the touchline and do succesful substitutions. Up the Saints <3

1

onetowatch added 12:37 - Aug 22 Like most Saints fans , relieved at such a great result and second half performance, so PLEASE RH, reassure us on Saturday that the penny has dropped....play a back 4 from the start!!
1

onetowatch added 12:38 - Aug 22 Ps with KWP continuing on the right!
1

Blogs 31 bloggers

Rochdale Polls