Southampton V Preston North End The Verdict Wednesday, 17th Apr 2024 10:15 There was a big shock for Saints supporters when the teams came in, Jack Stephens wasn't in the starting line up, but that would not be the last shock of the day as Preston were despatched in fine style. When the team news came through at 7pm there was a shock, Russell martin had gone back to the back four that in the main had seen him through that 22 game unbeaten run in the League. That meant a return to the starting line up for Jan Bednarek in the centre of the defence and Ryan Manning at left back.
That wasn't the only change, Stuart Armstrong was back in the starting line up as well, as Russell Martin clearly looked to attack. But when the teams lined up there was another shock, Gavin Bazunu had injured his achilles tendon and bizarrely the manager didn't slot the keeper named on the initial team sheet Joe Lumley into the starting line up, but Alex McCarthy who has been out in the cold since his only appearance of the season back in August, a EFL Cup defeat to Gillingham.
This was a very strange decision and one that mist have puzzled Lumley, surely you would have on the bench throughout the season, the keeper out of the pair you considered the second best keeper, truth was McCarthy aside from an early flourish from Preston saw not much more action than if he had been in his usual seat in the stands. Saints took a little while to get going, but when they did it was again Adam Armstrong who provided the assist for the opening goal, playing a superb pass for Che Adams to sweep home on 19 minutes. It was two 10 minutes later as David Brooks played in Che Adams who finished with aplomb past the Preston keeper, now it was Saints firmly in control, but the worry was that like the previous two home games, we would ease off and let the visitors back into the game.
But the only easing was done by Stuart Armstrong, who intercepted a poor clearance and then fired home into the bottom corner to leave the keeper wrong footed. Now the crowd and the team seemed to have a weight lifted off their shoulders, we were back to our form of October - February, we had our mojo back and by half time it could have been more than the 3 goals on the scoreboard. But would as in much of the games in the last couple of months would it be a different Saints side in the second half than the first ? that was the big question on most Saints fans lips, yes a three goal lead was a big ask for Preston to catch, but would they like Sunderland, Middlesbrough, Coventry & Watford in the previous 4 home games, come back in the second half and make it very uncomfortable. The answer was it was a different Saints side in the second half, one that had suddenly learned the rules of game management, yes they played the same possession football game, yes it could be said that at no time did Preston show the fight that those sides mentioned showed in the second half of those games, but it could be said that to a degree, Saints did not give them the chance to do so.
Our attacking play in the second half was restrained, rather than pouring forward, although it did take two outstanding saves from the Preston keeper to keep the score respectable. But our display was about making sure that we didn't concede and let the visitors see a chink of light. The substitutions for once were well thought out and made sense, Flynn Downes was off at half time for a well earned rest and on came Shea Charles, who added pace and strength to the midfield to ensure it would not be overrun.
On 70 minutes it was Joe Rothwell & Will Smallbone on for Stuart Armstrong & Joe Aribo, again it took off a little attacking edge, but replaced it with hard workers, a good change, resting two key players and again shoring up the middle of the park Having done that in the final 15 minutes we could start to bring on fresh legs up front with Sam Edozie & Sulemana coming on. So the final whistle in some respects was an anti climax, 3-0 up after 33 minutes and no more goals in the final 57, but it was the 3 points that mattered not the number of goals, but what did matter was the manner of performance, this was a side who played with a confidence and discipline lacking from the last 2 months and it was no coincidence. Hopefully Russell Martin has learned a lesson, he returned to the foundations of the side that took us into the top two, before he tinkered with the side and cost us some dropped points. So hopefully we will see the basis of this side start against Cardiff on Saturday, the win against Preston has suddenly made the League table look a lot better, we are within catching distance again, if we win our last four games we are guaranteed 3rd place whatever happens, although we would need Leicester & Ipswich to drop points if we were to squeeze into the top spots. But the opportunity is there, albeit I think we are rueing those late goals from both Ipswich & Middlesbrough, not only now when if we had hung on in both games we would now be in 3rd place and looking good, but also on the final day when I think goal difference may well come back to haunt us. But all we can do now is win games of football and this performance showed that we are getting back into form, yes Preston were poor, but we also played a part in that, we were clinical both in defending and attacking and also seeing the game out, Preston aren't a bad side, if they had beaten us they would now be in 7th, so we should give our side it's due.
Hopefully Russell Martin has taken note ! Photo: Action Images Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.
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