A  game where once again we got it wrong and looked rudderless.

Eyes were once again raised as Nigel Adkins tinkered with the side after Friday's defeat against Bristol City, most Saints fans would welcome back David Connolly to the starting line up, if only because it looked like it might restore Guly to the right midfield, Hammond for Schneiderlin was of course enforced by suspension, but what was the point of replacing Fox with Harding.

This was the first folly of the day, if Nigel Adkins did it to put some urgency in the side he certainly did that as by the half hour mark he was urgently trying to get Danny Fox ready to come on as after  a series of clumsy late tackles Harding was on the verge of being sent off before Fox could replace him.

Did Guly play on the right ? it was hard to tell at times as it seemed he had more of a roving role with Jack Cork covering the right, whatever the reasons at times we were stretched and it didnt seem to work going forward either, all that said Saints didnt play too badly in the first half and could easily have gone in at the break ahead.

In the second half the game was effectively over for Saints before it had become, it has to be sais though how on earth didnt the referee see Lambert being hauled down by El Abd as he tried to get up for a loose ball, the ref was only five yards away and it was clear, unfortunately he did see the clear punch to the face that Lambert issued to El Abd, the offence being right in front of the Saints contingent, I dont think there is one Saints fan who believes that "The frontman punched the ground to show his disapointment and in doing so caught El Habd who went down easily" as the incident was described on the official Saints site, why dress this up as anything other than it was, you will rarely see a more blatant lash out or red card.

With some 40 minutes to go you hoped that Saints would role up their shirt sleeves and show the spirit that we used to have, sadly that was not going to be the case and the lack of leadership was clear, at times like this you want your players to stand up and be counted, the fact was that ours didnt and looked like lambs to the slaughter, it didnt help that we gifted them the first goal, it had been coming as Brighton poured forward with each attack, but to be blunt it was a mistake by Kelvin Davis who spilt a routine shot straight at him and the rebound was swept home, again being blunt if it had been Bialkowski then he would have been crucified for this error.

If the first was soft then the second was a blinder, and it reminds you off the days when Saints used to get goals from outside the area, on 78 minutes Saints had a rare attack and almost got back in it, Cork putting over the bar when it looked easier to score.

The third goal only confirmed what Saints fans already knew.

But the real worry after this game is that we appear to have lost our team spirit and the manager seems to be trying desperate measures rather than calming the ship and steadying the nerves, players like consistency in their managers, they all know when a player deserves to be dropped and they know when he doesnt, the dropping of Fox at intermittent moments over the past month or so will not help team confidence, everyone knows Fox being substituted at Pompey was a big factor in conceding the late goal, it plainly upsets the team rythym and style of play.

But the substitutions made no sense either, why was Forte brought on with 30 minutes left, here was a player who was surplus to requirements and has spent the last few months on loan to Preston, even there he cant get a game starting only 2 games plus 1 as sub and not scoring, so whats he doing coming on in a game like this, why was he on the bench ahead of Steve De Ridder and why did he get on instead of Lee Holmes, it smacked of a manager at a loss of what to do in a time off crisis and trying something different for different's sake, simiarly the introduction of Reeves for Lallana with the game still at 1-0, not a moment to give a youngster with only one sub appearance in the league behind him a game, if Lalana had to come off to try something different surely Holmes would have been a better option .

It doesnt bring me any pleasure to write such a scathing review of this game and even more so because im daring to criticise the manager, something which is almost taboo after our success in 2011, however there is no other way of pointing out our failures of late, they have come from a poorly motivated team and a series of selction and tactical blunders, in short these problems havent just suddenly emerged, they have been present for at least two months, wher  eonly the inability of those behind us has kept us in top spot.

The worrying factor is that this isnt a squad down to the bare bones either, throughout this time the manager has always had options, yes we have been a bit light up front, but elsewhere we have options in every position, why have players like Danny Butterfield and Lee Holmes be virtually ignored, even Ryan Dickson, in the case of the former two after contributing assists and goals when they did play, yet a player like Forte who cant get in a struggling Preston side is suddenly thrust back into the limelight.

Since we beat Brighton at home we have played eight games, in those eight games we have got only eight points, this isnt a rant after a rare defeat, this is backing up my points with fact.

I truly hope that Nigel Adkins learns from his mistakes, certainly he is on a steep learning curve having never managed in this type of situation before, hopefully a few key signings will help paper over the cracks, again I hope so, I dont travel thousands of miles each year and spend several thousand pounds of my hard earned money, just to gloat, I do so to seeus win games of football and we are not doing that.

In the next six weeks Nigel Adkins will either still be a revered figure having shown he is the man to turn this problem around or he will find the fingers pointing from loftier quarters than mine and questions being asked, I for one certainly hope its the former.                 

Photo: Action Images

Bombay_TV added 11:21 - Jan 3 Whether Harding should've played or not, anyone that thinks he deserved the yellow card, or his other "foul" when their mug dived is a plum plank. I'm not his biggest fan but he did feck all wrong yesterday. You must see different things to me
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SaintNick added 11:27 - Jan 3 I didnt say he deserved the yellow card, although the second foul was a clumsy challenge that deserved a free kick but not even a talking too, maybe i did see a different game from you, but I certainly saw the same one as Adkins who could see Harding was heading for an early bath with the crowd and referee on his back
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Bombay_TV added 11:32 - Jan 3 He was a cert to be sent off, and had to be subbed. I am not saying he should've started ahead of fox. I'd like to see Harding and fox start, and Butterfield and Richardson away from home. My point was, Harding shouldn't have been booked. He won the fookin ball, and their player rolled around and got him booked. At 0-0 with half hour to play we were by far the only team that would win the game. That was a cert pen as well before Lambert was sent off. I agree we should've been ruthless and taken the chances in the first half. Once Lambert was sent off we were fooked. Simple as that

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SaintsHub added 11:35 - Jan 3 Guly played through the middle, with Lambert and Connolly either side of him. Steve De Ridder was injured, so not sure why you're moaning about him not being included. Baffling to see Adkins criticized. We were played very well in the first half and would never have lost that game with 11 men. Don't see why it was Adkins fault that Lambert got sent off. Forte was only brought on for Guly because he was injured, so once again, it's bizarre that you would moan about that. Very strange comments indeed

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mattsergcooper added 11:38 - Jan 3 Completely agree with SaintsHub. We're top of the league.. so we've not done brilliantly for a few games but we've still generated more points than anybody else. January come at the right time - signings needed and will come in. Critising Adkins - can't understand that! Play some good stuff and top of the pile where at beginning of the season nobody, not even the most biased saints fan would have predicted us to be! UP THE SAINTS!

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Stephen added 11:48 - Jan 3 StNick Your article seems to suggest you are getting frustrated with our current form and I guess you are not the only one. Let's put this in perspective though, we were top team until Lambert got sent off and then we lost because we were down to 10 men. Simple really. Regarding Lallana being substituted I for one was expecting it. Adam is a great attacking player but very average, maybe even below average, at defending. As Adkins was playing three across the middle it was only to be expected that Lallana would be subbed. The question is was Reeves the guy to help pull the midfield together. I wasn't at the game so can't say but as I say I was expecting the sub.

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BlackRod added 11:57 - Jan 3 Go back to Nick's point about eight points from eight games. This isn't an isolated bit of bad luck it's a trend. A lot of our success was built on confidence and momentum and that seems to have gone. Will be a big test of the manager over the next few weeks.
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Fordy added 12:13 - Jan 3 Lambert hardly punched him, he pushed him in the face. I think there's a bit of a difference between a push and a punch, still probably deserved to go though. I don't know how you can compare Forte to Dickson, Butterfield and Holmes, he's a totally different type of player. Dickson is currently our third or maybe fourth choice left-back, NA feels Cork can cover for Richardson which is why he's not on the bench and Holmes is usually on the bench. We are very, very short of players that can make any impact off the bench and with SDR out, Forte was pretty much the only option.

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geezershoong added 12:13 - Jan 3 First half - no problems from what I saw. The Lambert sending off changed the whole game & I'm sorry, Forte shouldn't be anywhere near the first team squad. The RL sending off will have big ramifications for the next 3 games - who is KD going to hoof it up to from goal kicks to start any attacking play? SFC should appeal the red card, imho Brighton are the dirtiest most cheatin'est team in this division. These incidents show in reality how thin the squad actually is. But January is here & now is a good time to sort it out. But the club have to take affirmative action. Buy some quality players & not fanny about or bottle it because the press become involved.

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sholingred added 12:24 - Jan 3 Nigel has been great for us,but the past month seems to be losing the plot,i thought Fox was injured and couldnt believe it when i saw him on the bench for Harding,Brighton play the south American way,niggly winding up their opponents,and we fell for it,and it cost us,another howler from super kelv,playoffs are the way we are heading at this rate,as this is relegation form,the funds need releasing if we are to be promoted,goalkeeper,two strikers and a wide man, who can deliver a cross,Puncheon is our player,and we could have done with him yesterday,forget promotion if we dont improve.

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saintBob added 12:29 - Jan 3 It's plain to see that our squad is not as strong as first thought. Strong when we were in League 1 but not in the Champ. Can't believe we're still top after only 8 points from 8 games. We defo need a stronger midfield and discover a different way of playing when things get tough.
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michaeljoycetf added 13:48 - Jan 3 I have read your poisonous rants over again and I think you have lost the plot. Saintshub has got it right and you are way off the mark with your angry reactions. Nobody asks you to follow saints and as you put it ''spend thousands of pounds of hard earned money to watch us lose'' and nobody asks you to write your extremist views. We are going through a bad patch, all teams do that from time to time. As supporters we should try to understand that we are ALL on the same side and that N.A. is doing his utmost to rectify, what I hope is no more than a blip in our fortunes. True Saints supporters will see beyond your fanatical rants and will surely, be more ready to accept the outcome of our last match in a more dignified manner than you did. Get off your soapbox Mr Angry

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StSaint added 14:04 - Jan 3 This article is a complete load of negative tripe. You failed to mention the Lallana goal that was shockingly disallowed. Had that been given it would have been the perfect first 45 and we would have undoubtably gone on to win. With the injuries and suspensions we have, Adkins had set us up in a way that meant we were in control. That wasn't given, a player was sent off (out of his control) and they took control, which isn't exactly unfathomable. It shouldn't be a surprise that we are having a struggle - our squad has barely changed from last year, yet we are top. I have full confidence that we will strengthen and go on to be promoted, but it will not be helped by negativity. Stop expecting miracles and try and understand that there will be bumps along the way.

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SaintNick added 15:22 - Jan 3 Im sorry that the last two posters feel that my view is negative, there are loads of excuses as to why we didnt win yesterday, but they matter nothing, all that matters is winning games of football and the final league table of the season, league tables are littered with sob stories from teams that have been unlucky. Yes there were a couple of appalling decisions yesterday, but that doesnt excuse the way we caved in once we went down to ten men, this story wasnt an hysterical rant, based on one game or even two games it was based on facts, the first fact being we have got only 8 points from the last 8 games, now that is relegation form, over those eight games we have only really had Richard chaplow & David Connolly out long term, over the last 18 games , basically 3/4 of a season we have got 29 points, an average of 1.6 per game, this tells us that our form has been declining at a growing rate over a long period of time, a bad patch for a top two side should be 2 maybe 3 games, ours is now eight games in this one. Stsaint asks me to stop expecting miracles, well i dont think its asking for a miracle to ask for the top side to beat a bottom three side at home,or to beat a side ravaged by suspensions & injuries who have lost four on the bounce or to take more than 1 point from our last 4 away games, all against sides in the wrong half of the table. I dont accept the point our squad has barely changed, we have added, Cork, Hooiveld, Fox, De Ridder, all of my points in this article I have tried to back up using facts, I havent used fanatical rants as michael puts it, I have questioned the decisions made by Nigel Adkins rather than blindly and fanatically screamed that Adkins is clueless and shuld be sacked, I made it quite clear i backed him, but that doesnt mean I dont think he hasnt got things wrong lately. As I said in six weeks we will know the answer as to if he can turn this downward spiral around or not, if he does then i will be the first to give him credit, if he doesnt im sure that I will be one of the more calmer voices . Sometimes its like the emperors new clothes, anyone who dares to question anything is slagged off

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rjh added 16:02 - Jan 3 There is a major difference in Saints now compared with six to eight weeks ago. When watching them there was never any worry when we conceded, I always felt we would reply - Burnley away, Coventry away, Hull home etc. Now it is totally different, if we concede I just can't see us coming back. I would take your hand off for a play off spot now.
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Jackflash1975 added 16:18 - Jan 3 These players are professionals and I am sure that they have played with 10 men before so do you think they are to dependant on Lambert as the talisman of the team? Over the season I have seen a change in performance whereby they are'afraid' to take a shot on goal and trying to walk the ball into the net. The team seem to rely on the backpost nod from Lambert but now we are not winning the 2nd phase ball as in earlier games. Teams have now cottoned onto the winning formula and know how to neutralise this and there is no Plan B. Is it only me that wants to get on the pitch and kick the ball towards goal from outside the box? You dont become a rubbish team overnight and Saints are not one of those teams because the passing of the ball is as good as some higher league clubs but its the final third that is the problem. A team has more confidence when they are scoring goals(obvious point)so I hope that Lambert does not get injured and Nigel can motivate them as he must have done at the start of the season. Here endeth the lecture ;-)

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StSaint added 17:02 - Jan 3 Can people really be that surprised that our form has dipped. We have had arguably our player of the season out injured (Chaplow) and no adequate replacement. We started the season with a surprise element and teams have got used to how we are playing. We could never expect to cruise through the whole season. We got beaten by a team that finished above us in the league last year at their place after having a player sent off. Had they been all over us before the dismissal then it would be worrying, but the fact is that were it for a linesman that could do the basics then we would have been winning. The reason I get so p*ssed off is that expectations are unrealistic. There are perfectly good reasons why things have dipped and none of those are because we have a bad manager. The most poisonous and self destructive element of football is often fans with unrealistic expectations. How is being negative going to help the situation. Get behind the team until you really have something to moan about. If we were mid table it would still be a decent achievement, so to grumble when we are to is crazy. Being negative is not going to help in any way. As a lifelong fan I feel I have a duty to try and make people see how unrealistic they are being and how unhelpful it is. Nick - you wrote that the abuse of Prado was disgusting and so is the abuse of the team and Adkins. Please let's all get being the lads. What they have achieved so far is miraculous. SFC gained more points than any other football league team in 2011. We should be treating them as heroes.

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michaeljoycetf added 18:04 - Jan 3 Stsaint. you are spot on. I couldnt have said it better myself.
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Jackflash1975 added 18:50 - Jan 3 I agree 100% with Chaplow being missed as I regard him as a Dirk Kuyt type of player that runs and runs and gets under the skin of the opposition. We need someone to do the same.
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Jackflash1975 added 18:50 - Jan 3 I agree 100% with Chaplow being missed as I regard him as a Dirk Kuyt type of player that runs and runs and gets under the skin of the opposition. We need someone to do the same.
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Saintpaul120 added 19:06 - Jan 3 Rjh & Jackflash make very valid points and speak for how I feel at the half way point in the season. I've noticed a decline in shots from outside of the area. It could be argued this is a NA tactic 'to keep posession of the football' but who knows. I also felt a while back that, if we went a goal behind, we'd always bounce back and get back on level terms. Yes, it's different now and that confidence has been eroded. I'm sure that other teams ahve worked us out, look at Bristol City. Stsaint makes a great Churchillian rallying call which is admirable but not necessary for me nor, I'm sure, many other Saints fans. I believe you are confusing negativity with the right to comment and analyse the teams performances, as all fans will do. I think that's also Nicks right. If people don't like that they don't have to read his comments. I'd make it clear here I do not know Nick personally or subscribe to all of his views. I just happen to believe we all have the right to express our opinions on how the Saints, as a whole, are doing without being slated for doing so. At the moment Saints need to stop, take stock and evaluate and correct the problems we have. Chaplow, De Ridder, Seaborne, Lambert, Schnierderlin, Fonte and Barnard all back might help. New signings might help. Nigel Adkins and Andy Crosby are paid to work these things out so I am sure they will. I'm fully behind the team and management and am not negative. I'm positive we'll get it right and I'll back the team at the games.

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saintBob added 20:23 - Jan 3 Disregarding our recent form, and taking yesterday's game in isolation, I bet there was not one Saints fan at half time that didn't think we would go on and win the game. Brighton's tactics were to wind us up and I'm afraid it worked. A blatant push on Lambert in the box, whether he went down easily or not, it should have been a penalty. Plus the goal that was not awarded to Lallana, many things that frustrated Saints and culminating in the sending off. All that Adkins had instilled in the team went out of the window. I'm glad of the 2 week break and hope that a few of our injured players will be back by then. By the way - just been looking at the Hammers website and if you think Nick is being critical, take a look at their comments. Look on the bright side - Puncheon's back!!

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StSaint added 21:13 - Jan 3 West Ham's situation is a little different and I wouldnt be over the moon if I supported them. They were in the Prem last year, have a considerably better squad than the one they were relegated with (easily the best in the C'ship), and are only second. As if this wasn't bad enough, their fans who have always been accustomed to passing football are having to make do with Allardyce's long ball tactics. They should rightly be expecting the title at a canter. Having been in league one last year, our demands shouldn't be quite as high. Whilst I imagine the bulk of Saints fans can understand West Ham supporters grumbling, I bet if you asked them if we should be annoyed with our situation, 99% would suggest seeking medical advice. I fully respect that you have a different view on things Nick, and am not daft enough to read the official site for a match report. I just think that the emphasis always seems to be on what was done wrong with the benefit of hindsight. It would be nice to have a bit more balance to your pieces - perhaps get one of your glass half full mates to write the odd report now and again.

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UTS added 21:59 - Jan 3 News posters, get your arses in the forum.
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Whatsforpud added 22:44 - Jan 3 Some of us think that Harding links up with Lallana better than Fox. I think he was unlucky to be booked - it was a clean tackle, but the ref was influenced by the theatricals from the Brighton player, and by the baying home crowd. Maybe this was inevitable at Brighton, and perhaps Fox should have been preferred for this game. Saints had an impressive first half, and were doing OK in the few minutes of the second half before Lambert was sent off. From where I was standing, Lambert's push-away, when both players were trying to extract themselves from a tangle on the ground, was hardly worthy of any card. Is the 'raising your hand' offence being a bit overplayed by referees nowadays? I thought Saints had an impressive first half, and from all accounts, should have been awarded a goal. However, going down to 10 men, should have meant lowering our sights a bit, and doing no worse than a goalless draw. It shouldn't have led to a cave-in. Lambert will now miss 3 games (including cup-ties). I assume if we were to earn a replay at Coventry, he would only miss 1 league game.

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