I don't understand the negativity. Saints deserved at least a point and probably all three. We were the better side, had a clear penalty/red card not given and then conceded a goal that was a foul.

I want Leicester to win the league and I don't think they have been lucky over the season but they were lucky today, but then all champions have their luck - I just wish it hadn't have come against us!

1

I agree that we were unlucky to come away with nothing. However, we showed a lack of tactical awareness and flexibility. It was obvious from early on that Morgan and Huth were able to dominate Pelle in the air, yet we continued to pump in hopeful crosses often from only just inside the half way line. We should have had Mane on Huth's shoulder throughout. The only way through that defence was on the deck as was proved in the first half.

4

A poor game.A fair result.Neither side deserved to win.

0

Scrappy, sloppy disjointed affair even 'though a win's a win but the overall impression was of a bunch of individuals kicking a ball about at end of term rather than a cohesive, united team pushing for a top six finish - to me anyway. We never looked like losing but were not all that convincing in victory. No wonder Ron was berating his players left right and centre. Is he losing the dressing room? I hope not but not very many happy bunnies as they left the field having made hard work of what should have been a stroll in the park.

1

Dreary game. I knew I was tired but could barely keep eyes open in first half and then planes heading in to Heathrow were more interesting than R's woeful passing. Seemed fitting that the goal seemed to be a mis-hit cross.

Then for 15 minutes at beginning of second half we stepped up half a gear. Chery had a shot heading for the top right corner of the goal well saved and Phillips was put clean through but predictably shot straight at the keeper. Then Charlton scored (should Hall/Kpekewa have closed down?) and they were the better team. We defended deeper and deeper and could easily have conceded again, but for a great one-on-one save by Smithies. Then a moment of brilliance completely out of keeping with the surrounding dross and we won. Didn't deserve it and felt sorry for Charlton who had fought hard in the second half.

Charlton are entitled to be rubbish - they're bottom of the table. We had no excuse.

0

Very poor Newcastle side. RK seemed to treat the second half as a training session by encouraging the team to try new moves. He seemed very annoyed when the players did not respond by leaving gaps in defence or not capitalising on an attacking move. Good to see Jay Rod back and almost scoring. Goals well taken but should have been more as we were not put under pressure by a Newcastle team that lacked confidence any had few ideas.

2

It's not a world-changing result but they did what they needed to do so well done. Why is it though, that we struggle to convert so much pressure into goals. So many crosses, so little end product. It's happened several times this season and cost us points against better teams. More imagination please Ron!

4

A nice win that we all would have taken before hand, but oh what could have been. Scoring the early goal was great in that it ensured that we pretty much had the game won already, but it meant that from then on, we lacked urgency, directness and a ruthless cutting edge.

Having Long back made a difference to our attacking play that was sadly missing at Leicester last weekend - and when Long was removed on the hour. Bringing him in as a straight swap for Davis worked perfectly.

It was disappointing that we didn't convert our total first half dominance into more goals. There was really another 8-0 on the cards, had we had the attitude and confidence, but too often it was apparent that the players thought they had done enough and didn't push on. Goal difference could play a part at the end of the season, so I'm surprised we didn't go for more goals.

Everyone played reasonably well, but the opposition weren't up to much. Maybe that was down to us though. On paper the Geordies have not a bad team, but their marquee signings of Shelvey, Wijnaldum and Mitrovic were truely awful, and their defending was even worse.

Shane ran his arse off as usual and created plenty of options going forward with his runs. Glad he is back. Mane did well for most of the game and works quite well with Marina down the right. He put a few decent slide rule passes in to Mane which I didn't know he was capable of, but still looks a bit suspect at the back. Vic did well and VvD was awesome as always. Great to see JayRod back and gives us even more attacking options.

There should now be some real competition for places for the run in and hopefully we can get 10 points or more - which will mean we have a chance of 6th place if other results go our way. Hopefully St Marys will sell out for the final games and the atmosphere improves on today (despite there being more Saints fans than usual, as the Geordies only brought 1,762).

Believe

4

Lucky we were playing Newcastle. Usual loads of opportunities, but don't convert them.
Players going for goal when they should pass to a man in better position-are they being greedy, trying to hit incentives in their contract? Or are they trying too hard to be the hero?
Tadic always better on the left -where he was and then got put here there and everywhere and people wonder why his production went down.
VvD is consistently one of the players of the match, hope other teams don't notice.

4

I hope Janmaat doesn't get paid. He was plainly disinterested from the off and feigned injury in order to be substituted. As it happens, the whole Newcastle defence could've been subbed after the most dismal performance from an away side I've seen at St Mary's this season. As for Saints - well, we dominated the first half but didn't truly capitalise on our opportunities. When Long went off I think Ronald should have maintained the attacking threat by bringing on Austin (although for some reason he didn't warm up at halftime) rather than the less mobile JWP. We then dozed off and might easily have squandered our lead if Shelvey had had more consistent support. I'll be amazed if the Toon stay up.

1