The return of Ryan Bertrand this week has been the key to two wins that have suddenly made this season a much better place.

With all due respect to Matt Targett who has done a sterling job filling in for Ryan Bertrand and does not deserve some of the comments aimed at him by some supporters, the return of Bertrand to the back four was always going to be crucial.

Looking back it is easy to see why we have conceded goals, it hasn't been because we have sold players its been firstly because of a lack of a commanding presence, that hole has now been filled by Virgil Van Dijk and secondly a lack of pace.

Last season we had the pace of both Ryan Bertrand and Nathaniel Clyne to get us out of trouble and this season we have had neither until this week and the return of the former Chelsea full back from injury.

Indeed the game on Saturday was the first time all season that Ronald Koeman has been able to field his first choice back four, even against United the week previously only two out of the four that played against the Swans were present and the difference showed.

But Bertrand is probably the key player in the defence this season because of his pace, we have missed that as goals in the opening two games showed, Bertrand may well have got us out of trouble with his pace and that might have meant two possibly three more points and this emphasises how close we are to getting back to last season's form, the margins are so tight in the Premier league these days.

But it is not only defending that Bertrand's pace can help us but going forward as well and that showed on Saturday, put simply we are now set up better as a side in all departments and Bertrand along with Van Dijk will see Ronald Koeman with the selection options he wants, not to mention the return of Jordy Clasie.

But what the opening games have proved is that it is a squad game and it is testimony as to how much Saints have come on that we have been able to absorb so many key players being missing over the start of this season and still sit in tenth place in the league.

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saintsnutcase added 10:48 - Sep 28 It is amazing how much difference one player can make. However, I am surprised that we have gone into the season with only one and a half full backs that are up to our recent very high standards. I hope that Cedric makes it, but he is far below the quality of Clyne. He gives the ball away far too often with hurried rash clearances. Targett should make it eventually, but isn't there yet. I think we should have gone for another proven right back, like Jenkinson -- of course, we did go for Chambers but missed out.

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SanMarco added 11:06 - Sep 28 Agree with every word of that saintsnutcase. If Bertrand stays fit we are sorted on the left but very muddled thinking on the right...
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SonicBoom added 11:23 - Sep 28 Getting Clasie back will be like having a new signing.....
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Jesus_02 added 11:31 - Sep 28 I agree with the comments and the article. On reflection we seem to have bought a lot off players in and still have a paper thin squad. We desperately need quality at RB and somehow the center midfield seems to be missing presence even though we have a number of players that can play there. We have Vic, Romeu and Davis who on their day are great but inevitably we are still missing Morgan. On a brighter note, up front we are obviously beginning to click. I am not the biggest fan of Pelle but he is certainly playing well, Mane is on fire and we appeared to have Jayrod chomping at the bit.

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IWOZTHERE added 12:07 - Sep 28 Big difference. Changes the whole shape of the team particularly attacking. Jury's out on Cedric but we've been spoilt. You can't keep replacing players worth £20m with players costing £5m? Attacking full backs are valuable commodities. Don't want to open the 'where's the money gone' debate again but ??? Hope Soares develops, he's got the potential.
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TimSaint added 12:34 - Sep 28 The return of Bertrand has most definitely NOT been the key to 2 wins this week. Yes he improved our shape and ultimately our performance against Swansea, but please do not give Bertrand the credit for our win at MKD. Bertrand came on as a 55th minute sub, with the score at 4-0, so had no influence on the result. To be honest, you or I could have slotted in at left back and it would not have changed the result, as MKD were already well beaten by then. I know you didn't go to the game Nick, as you only talked about the goals in your verdict report, managed to get the number of substitutions wrong (4 !!) and said that Long came off the bench to score a brace, when he played the full 90,, so it is totally wrong to disrespect Targett's role against MKD, by stating that Bertrand was KEY to this win.

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bigmart added 13:20 - Sep 28 You keep harping on about the lack of pace down the right but a couple of weeks ago, Sky Sports showed who was the fastest Premier League players. Who clocked the ninth fastest sprint, it just happens to be Cedric Soares. He was clocked at 34.74kph. Clyne didn't even make the list. Lets not forget, Cedric's on a Premier League learning curve as well.
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saintsnutcase added 14:04 - Sep 28 @bigmart That is really good news about Cedrics speed. I did notice he looked bloody quick is one sprint on Saturday.
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SaintNick added 23:52 - Sep 28 Tim, yes bit of a boo boo from me there, I havent disrespected Targett's role at all for any game let alone the MK one, indeed I wrote a piece dedicated to Targett today to make sure there was some balance in the praise heaped on Bertrand. But Bertrand's return this eek was key, perhaps not as much at MK, because as you rightly say we were winning quite well without him, however his return to action added something to our confidence even before he came off the bench, I have been saying all season we have lacked his pace and that has affeted our confidence. Im sure that Matt targett will have a great career for Saints, but for the first games Bertrand was the missing link for us

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TimSaint added 00:44 - Sep 29 Nick, I said in a previous post after the MKD game, that Targett looked almost relieved that Bertrand had finally come on to replace him. That is not taking anything away from Targett, but I feel that this season, he has not quite lived up to the expectations that he set with his cup performances last season. The MKD game, after 10 mins and 2 goals, there was only going to be one team in it, and the question was going to be how many. Seriously, we could have replaced Targett with you or I, or even played the last 35 with 10 men and it would not have changed the result. Bertrand was a welcome addition to the starting line up against the Swans and he selection gave the side greater balance, confidence and an extra option going forward. He will get better with more match fitness as well. Targett has been on a steep learning curve this season and I am sure he will put the experience from his latest first team run outs into good stead, should he be called upon later in the season (cup/injury/suspension etc). He will no doubt be our regular left back in years to come, but that will not be for a few years yet.

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