Sadly the six match winning run was brought to an end, but Saints can hold their heads up after this display and in the words of the new club slogan "We March On"

This was a game that Saints really should have got something out of, they had the chances, but those Saints fans present will know that this wasn't the best performance of the season by a long chalk, we looked tired and we didn't look our usual selves.

Having said that we had nothing to fear from Spurs and almost snatched a point with six minutes left when a well worked passing move sent Bertrand down the line, his cross was inch perfect for Mane in the centre, but with the goal at his mercy he side footed wide and that was the end of Saints hopes.

But no side can win every game, it was a shame that our run had to end here, another win would have sent us into second place again and that would have been nice for the International break, however we still sit in the heady heights of third and that is something we can really build on in the next round of games after that break.

We lost the game in a period shortly before half time when as Spurs took a hold they sent a few warning shots across our bows before firing home a long range effort that gave Forster little chance, they nearly scored again just after when they hit the post, but Saints survived further damage in this dodgy period and gave themselves a fighting chance in the second half, sadly there was to be no end product and the game was lost but Saints can take heart from a low key performance that still saw them compete.

As I said the players looked a little tired, but they still matched Spurs and the game really could have gone either way, once again Ronald Koeman was bold in his tactics and was not afraid to change them to try and rescue something from the game, taking off Wanyama who arguably had been our best player was a gamble, but we needed attacking impetus and bringing on Long gave us that and as mentioned earlier nearly paid off.

But we march on and we now have a run of games that are very winnable and if we do so we will be set up for a great second half of the season.

Photo: Action Images

schatfield added 09:26 - Oct 6 I generally agree with your reviews and they are normally spot on, but disagree with this one. For the first time, Ponco had Spurs playing like us last season, and we couldn't cope with their high tempo movement. I don't think we tested their keeper at all in the game. True, Mane had 1 golden chance to equalize but that was about it. Also, it's a shame our fans had to boo poncho. Have they forgotten what he did for us last year. If you or I got offered a better job, we wouldn't expect to be booed by our old colleagues when we visited. Don't know why football should be any different. Still, we sit 3rd, and as you said, we march on.

2

slynch added 09:43 - Oct 6 I was gonna write something but schatfield has already said it.
0

IanRC added 10:25 - Oct 6 Few concerns surfaced today. Thought Foster had his worst game by some way, he never really looked comfortable. Pelle was invisible for most of the game and after a bright start against Newcastle and Arsenal Mane looked off the pace. I would have liked to have seen Long on earlier and Jack Cork too. May just be tiredness but unfortunately the international break will not help there much. Hopefully back to normal after the break.

0

Jesus_02 added 10:31 - Oct 6 OK firstly I’m not being negative. I'm just full of questions as I wasn’t at the game and don’t feel I can really rely on Solent or the Beeb for info. Seems to me that Spurs fans will be delighted even though they got more than they deserved. And we will be disappointed because we got less than we deserved even though we didn't play as well as we could have. Could it just be that neither team has yet to gel? Defensively we seem sound, and bar yesterdays mistake I am happy. It seems strange (and it may just be my nature) but I have a fear that we are just waiting to be found out up front. What I want to know is: * Did Pelle "have an off day" or did Kaboul just do a good/average job? * Pelle has obviously been great, but are we THAT reliant on him? * Is Mane more effective than Long? Lets take his miss out of the equation, Mane looks great. He is quick and skilful. However is he as intelligent as Long. Long is always being fouled and he looks like a nightmare to play against. OK no goals but together with Pelle, Long asks real questions of defences and their manager.

0

Zambucco added 10:33 - Oct 6 We still haven't seen the best yet, there's more to come as we continue to gel and RoKo gets to know his best teams and formations. I thought we played well against a very good Spurs side who were out to make a point. Wanyama and Schneiderlin are GIANTS!!! I think Tadic is slightly wasted stuck out on a wing, he should have more freedom like Lallana used to enjoy, I think he could open a up a few more defences. Long mkaes such a difference when he comes on Cork too, that just shows the increased strength in depth of our current squad.

1

richardmdcooper added 12:07 - Oct 6 Not one of our better performances but we still could have come away with something on another day. RK has been pretty much flawless so far this season and I'm still very optimistic for the rest of the season - in this game though, he should have brought on Long sooner and maybe Cork as well. Schatfield - did you forget the way Poch treated the club in the summer?! I'd have been disappointed if our fans hadn't booed him

-2

WestSussexSaint added 12:43 - Oct 6 Disagree with the praise of Wanyama as he repeatedly lost sight of Ericcson in Spurs' strong period before HT and this ultimately resulted in their goal. I'm not sure why Saints would have been the jaded team as Spurs had a game on Thursday (albeit most of the team on Sun didnt play in that match) and we had a week without one. Maybe some players had sleepless nights waiting for an international call up (or celebrating once the call came!) I think the international break has come at a good time with this result as it allows RoKo 2 weeks to take a look at the areas that didnt work and make plans. Arguably a draw/win might have papered over any issues and the opportunity might have been missed.

0

SanMarco added 12:51 - Oct 6 I was high up in the East Stand above the halfway line with all the Spuds (yes £54, an impulse buy but I have no travel as I live 5mins walk away) so perhaps can offer a slightly different perspective: Spurs were definitely more energetic than us in the first half but I thought that came from nerves as much as anything. As was said in the preview (and as I was thinking just before Spurs' only real purple patch) 'if we can get to half time 0-0 we can do this'. It was a dreadful goal to give away and I thought it was a reflection on our first half sluggishness. In the toilet queue at halftime I overheard a priceless line: "Isn't it great to be winning it at half-time - we won't have to get on their backs in the second half". Sadly that summed it up. The increasing nerves and edginess of fans and players was not really exploited and they stayed with their team. Yes we did create a couple of chances and had one handed to us but it wasn't really from us getting on top of them like we did, say, at West Ham. Everyone will point to Mane (and quite rightly, awful miss) but Wanyama should have scored - and if that had gone in, especially as it was after a defensive howler, I sincerely believe Spurs would have been in big trouble. Two other points not mentioned in the review: 1. Forster was awful yesterday, an accident waiting to happen 2. and if Mane was fouled as he went through surely it had to be red? All in all I am disappointed but not devastated. It was a golden chance to beat Spurs that we didn't take but this side are still coming together and we do look pretty solid and will get more so. Sitting among the Spuds in that second half was a very different experience than the other times in the past. They respected us as equals yesterday and that to me is progress...

1

SanMarco added 12:55 - Oct 6 ps "but this side is still coming together" (apologies to the grammarians amongst us) and the positive Saints singing was a lot louder than the MoPo stuff which (perhaps it's my aging ears) I could hardly hear.
0

REEDYREEDOREEDZ added 13:13 - Oct 6 Spurs came out of the blocks at 100mph, got on the front foot and Saints struggled to cope with it. I agree with Schatfield that it was the first time I've seen Spurs play like a Pochettino side. They were in our faces from the first minute, closing down and full of energy. Saints seemed a bit stunned by this, and actually did well to compete, ride the storm, keep hold of the ball a bit and create a few decent chances. Its just a shame that we didn't take one of those chances because we could've had at least a point in the end. And anyone with concerns about Mane or Pelle; don't worry because they'll both be great players for us. Mane's miss aside, he's a lot better than I thought he'd be and looks every inch a £10m player. A very exciting prospect!

0

SingaporeSaint added 14:35 - Oct 6 Painful to lose given we had the miss of the year yesterday. We should have got a point but not enough of our boys were on their games and won their battles other than Wanyama, Alderwield and Bertrand. If I can be critical I think RoKo could have got Long on earlier and for me Davis should have come off rather than Wanyama. I also want to see a bit more from Tadic. Poor result as I think we are better than them, but with the Mane miss and the Schniederlin miss/save v Liverpool you have to hope we have had our bad luck for the season, and I really think we can compete with anyone.

0

BoondockSaint added 15:33 - Oct 6 You would have thought we were the ones that a mid-week game. In contrast, that was the most effort I have seen a Spurs team put in a game in about 3 years! They could have been up 3-0 at half time Forster looked shakey for the first time, but that's probably because he got the England call-up and was getting into typical England goal keeper mode. Lamela should have got yellow for simulation and so should Mane-Ron's should have a talk about with him about the "Southampton Way": No Diving. Since Mane has arrived, we've changed to accommodate him. I much prefer Tadic on the left and middle, not the right. Let Mane fit in with the team, not the other way around. So it was 3 points dropped, but no panic. Unlike last year, I never felt we were really out of it, and felt we always had a chance. Would have been nice to beat MoPo, but I still think we can finish above them (they won't play like that every game.)

0

darthvader added 18:05 - Oct 6 Disappointed .. I thought for the first time that Davis should have been subbed at half time as his passing and awareness seemed a little off , (though he's been amazing for us so he's allowed an off day .) That was one game we still could have won as both teams looked fragile defending counter attacks. A little bit more luck and skill in front of goal we would have won it . I'm not too disheartend as we may well go on another winning run . It's just the fact it was ferking spurs f.f s . They did seem to play the way we did last season but even after we went 1 down I still thought we would find a way to win ..not to be. Some spurs fans I overheard(before game) were hoping just not to lose . Onwards and upwards coyr

1

darthvader added 18:18 - Oct 6 Ps saw an interview where poch said he still loves Southampton and the fans are special to him .
0

FrankSaint added 19:37 - Oct 6 The way we play is demanding on the players and the formation as we are playing to avoid letting in any goals (hence our low goals against column) and at the same time trying to play offensively. This depends on rotation in midfield to have an extra player arriving late in the penalty area and also one overlapping fullback. Otherwise the front three with two wide wingers and one sole striker are too far apart when the final ball comes in. Often Spurs had six players against our three. Do the math. But when we do get those extra players in advanced positions we look odds on to score every time. Once the passing gets even better we will see more goals. Too often passes were played into space when the player meant to receive the ball was not where he was expected to be. It is a big challenge to pull off what amounts to two tricks at opposite ends of the pitch. Maybe we need to ensure that rotation in midfield and the fullbacks is there when we go up a gear during a game despite the odd risk that will incur? Credit to Spurs for their pressing game. They played with enormous energy like a lower table team playing against the big 4. Yes, like Saints used to as others have commented. We were much more controlled and it almost paid off but not quite good enough on the day.

0

Winchsaint added 12:00 - Oct 7 Disappointing result but that fact that we are all disappointed at losing away to Spurs is testament to just how much we have achieved in the last 5 years-October 2009 we were playing in league one! It's great that we have set such high standards and the run was always going to come to an end at some point. Hopefully we can now grab a hatful of goals at home to Sunderland and Stoke. Very exciting times.

0

Blogs 31 bloggers

Southampton Polls