x

Southampton At Chelsea The Carabao Cup Verdict

Saints went out of the Carabao Cup in a penalty shootout, but they came through the came with a fighting spirit and pride that made you proud to be a Southampton fan, we can march on with our heads held high.

Both sides put out vastly changed sides from the weekend and it was the home side who made the early running and it needed a great save from Fraser Forster to keep Saints in it.

It was the same old story for Saints though just before the break, we had got ourselves into the game and looked solid then we got caught on the break and although we got the ball out for a corner Havertz had a free header to put Chelsea ahead on the stroke of half time.

When the teams came out for the second half there weren't many Saints fans with high hope of the second half, surely Chelsea would now swamp an inexperienced Saints side.

But within two minutes of the restart it was the home fans who were silenced, Yan Valery pressed and won the ball, Kyle Walker Peters surged forward and his cross ball was swept home from close range by Che Adams.

Now it was game on and both sides went backwards and forwards, but Chelsea found Lyanco a solid rock in the centre of the Saints defence, he was mobile he was strong and he didn't know when he was beaten, he inspired his team mates both in his performance but verbally as well, I can see Lyanco being the latest cult hero.

If Chelsea did get past the defence and that was mainly from shots rather than carving us open they found Fraser Forster in inspired form, he produced several superb saves and stood strong from start to finish, he looked like the Fraser Forster of old, confident and strong.

But it wasn't just these two it was every player on the pitch, some were not having the run of the ball but they put in a shift and battled hard to make sure Chelsea never got a real grip on the game even when they brought on the big guns late on.

In the final minutes it was Saints who could have won it, Arrizabalaga saved brilliantly twice in quick succession as Saints ended with a flurry of corners, both Lyanco & Salisu were left wondering how he had kept out their attempts.

But it was not to be and in the final minute Fraser Forster had to make a smart save before the referee blew for time.

So to penalties and sadly it was not be our night, Forster saved well from Mason Mount but Theo Walcott and Will Smallbone failed to convert and Saints were out.

But as disappointing as it is there were plenty of plus points from this game, the main one being that we have a squad now who have spirit and fight.

Jan Bednarek and Alex McCarthy must be worried about their place for Watford on Saturday, Forster was magnificent and Lyanco was the big strong defender we have lacked for a long while, if he can repeat displays like this in the Premier League , then he will tighten up our back four.

All in all as I said in the Preview, a couple of years ago I would have said the League cup was our best chance for Europe, but with Manchester City winning it 5 times of the last 6, that has now changed.

We should be proud of our team tonight, no one and i mean no one let us down tonight, they played for the club they played for the manager and they played for pride, we may still be short in a few things but we don't lack spirit, this can see us through.

What to read next:

Southampton Set To Keep Chelsea Loan Signing
A couple of weeks ago it was odds on that Maxwell Cornet & Lesley Ugochukwu would be recalled by their club's, but now the situation seems to have changed for one of them.
Southampton V Brentford The Preview
Make no bones about this game, should Saints lose to the Bees, then with only 3 days gone of the New Year, we will just about be done and dusted in any effort to try and avoid relegation back to the championship.
Shea Charles On The Radar Of 3 Top Flight Clubs
The silly season starts today and the rumour mill is already turning at Southampton FC, one man who Russell Martin deemed surplus to requirements was midfielder Shea Charles who is currently on loan at Sheffield Wednesday, however he is attracting interest for a permanent move.
Do Southampton Cut Their Losses Now On This Season And Cash In On Kyle Walker Peters
After the Xmas period Saints find themselves effectively 11 points from safety due to our abysmal goal difference, so is the time nigh when we have to write off this season and start planning for the next and that means cashing in on Kyle Walker Peters.
Southampton At Crystal Palace The Verdict
Another improved performance but unfortunately another defeat meaning that an Xmas period that has seen only 1 point from 3 games, means that beating the drop is now an almost impossible task.
Crystal Palace 2 - 1 Southampton - Player Ratings and Reports
If you saw the match, please give us your player ratings and a mini match report.
Southampton At Crystal Palace The Preview
The clock is ticking now on Saints chances of survival in the premier League, the Saints board's hesitancy, has left Ivan Duric with an uphill battle and that means that every game is must win.
Southampton In Advanced Talks For Defender But Could This Spell The End For Walker Peters
Saints are said to be the front runner for a left back also wanted by Nottingham Forest & Benfica, but could this mean they will cash in with Kyle Walker-Peters with his contract due up in the summer of 2025.
A Rough Guide To Crystal Palace
It's been a couple of years since we have been up to Selhurst Park, so time for a quick refresh on how to get there and what's around the ground etc, in fact all the info that you need for the trip.
Southampton V West Ham United The Verdict
It was a different and far more positive performance by Ivan Juric's Saints side than under his predecessor, but despite the more attacking style employed the result was the same as most of those achieved before.