A comprehensive victory as Saints get back on track.

Although this wasnt the biggestvictory Saints have scored this season, its perhaps the most pleasing in that after a run that stretches back to after the Brighton game when Saints have not really performed well, in the five games played since the Seagulls were despatched Saints gained a miserable five points with their only victory coming in a patchy 2-1 win over hull at St Mary's, even the most blinkered of Saints supporters could not say that any game truly showed Saints firing on all cylinders.

But against palace they recaptured their form, from start to finish it was an accomplished performance against a visiting side that had set themselves up in a certain manner as predicted in the preview on this site, they came to to hold things tight and then see what they could get out of it, like their previous trips on the road it was either going to be a case of them holding firm and perhaps sneaking something, or Saints getting a goal and dashing their hopes, Crystal Palace just dont do draws on the road.

Thankfully it was the latter, finally Nigel Adkins saw that the team had lacked balance in that time and putting Steve De Ridder in restored width to the team, in truth Ridder had a patchy game, yes he put in a great cross for the opening goal, but both before and after too often he failed to put in a final ball when he had ample opportunity, however his running did give us that extra dimension we have lacked and in that respect he had a good game.

It was good to see Guly score both goals, it would have been nicer to have seen him get a hat trick, in my opinion he has been unfairly villified for Pompey's goal last week, he was criticised by many for his attempt at winning the ball, but the truth is Joel Ward had a free header and the finger should be pointed at who was supposed to be marking him not Guly who just tried to do something other than stand on his post and watch Ward head the ball past him.

But back to Boxing Day and Guly's display was the top of the Christmas tree, the defence defended well and finally got that clean sheet again, this allowed us to keep the game well within our control, I would prasie Kelvin Davis, but to be blunt, we defended so well as a team its hard to remember when he actually had to do anything, he didnt put a foot or glove wrong, but it was his quietest afternoon's work in a long while.

The midfield had balance again and although it was always going to be difficult against such a resolute side, we battled hard, made sure we didnt make errors and kept pressing from start to finish, up front Guly & Lambert worked hard but rarely got anything to feed off, but when they did Guly showed he knows how to finish.

More importantly though it was three points, points that restored a buffer at the top of the table, opening up a three point gap between us and third and twelve points to seventh, now we have to show in the coming games that we have battled through our bad patch and with a run of wins can start to bring promotion within our grasp.    

Photo: Action Images

twodlet added 10:35 - Dec 27 just like to say people were giving guly the finger after he scored which is disgraceful, he's our second highest scorer and second highest assister, you might not like him, but he's undeniably been key to our team
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ThermosNBlanket added 10:49 - Dec 27 Good report Nick....thought Cork and Morgan ran the midfield and Joos and Fonte outstanding at the back. Palace had 3 shots...1 on target and I could of saved that. We still lack the quick striker movement and turning them facing their own goal but a decent performance from all yesterday. Guly is marmite....so frustrating but then scores 2 good goals...you have to be in the right positions.

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1962saint added 11:27 - Dec 27 I agree with Nick's article that this was a most encouraging performance. With Morgan looking sheer class in his preferred midfield position, Saints are patient in breaking down teams that come looking to stop us playing. Very similar to the Brighton game where, as soon as we scored, we had a few uncomfortable minutes and from then on the 3 points were never in doubt. Added to our excellent passing game and goal scoring threats from so many areas, Saints also work so hard to cover any threatening forward play from the opposition. I was particularly impressed with De Ridder chasing back to dispossess a Palace player late in the 2nd half. I don't fully agree that Saints haven't performed well in the last 5 games. I feel that the last game at Pompey, in the most hostile atmosphere any footballer could expect to experience, was a superb performance. It was just one lapse in concentration at the end that robbed us of the the 3 points that should have been secured.

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Toussaint added 11:35 - Dec 27 @ twodlet....Ive said it before and i will say it again...a minority of Saints fans still give black players a hard time..top the the league and still one of our best players is treated differently from the rest...the list is long but to name a few.....Fuller Jones Boamorte Wallcott Oxo Puncheon the list is endless,its why they leave the first oppurtunity they get and who can blame em

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SaintNick added 11:48 - Dec 27 Firstly I agree with 1962 about the pompey game, but playing well means doing it without lapses and unfortunately the pattern has been away from home we give away soft goals, apart from the lapses the difference between palace and pompey was that at Fratton we had to dig in and never really got our passing game going whilst yesterday we did. I dont think the abuse of Guly is racial, its just a section of the Saints support ither takes to a player or doesnt, Kenwynne Jones got stick whilst at the same time Wright Phillips was praised to the rafters, a look at how their careers went after perhaps shows how much some people know about football Kelvin Davis was abused for his first two years but has managed to put that behind him

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Whatsforpud added 13:43 - Dec 27 Nick, although you didn't mention Schneiderlin by name, I think it worth mentioning that perhaps he had his best game for the Saints. He manages to pinpoint those 50-yard passes with such accuracy. He is better at passing to the right wing than being there, as it were. Also he and Cork were breaking up Palace's moves before they managed to get over the halfway line. However, it would be even better if either or both of them could chip in with a few goals. In this respect, Hammond is the more likely to score.

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tiptop added 14:49 - Dec 27 Encouraging report cheers Nic. Glad to here the tide could well be turning. It sounded like Steve de Ridder's best game in terms of playing form the start. Hopefully a continued improvement will see him claim claiming starting place..the extra dimension of sheer pace is necessary. He is kind of raw. There was a moment where he got through the middle in the first half and cut wide to the right instead of coming back inside between the centre halfs for a shooting opportunity. I still hope he will become a very important player. Remember a raw Nani at Man Utd 3/4 years ago was crap. I think Nigel really rates Morgan which is why he's played him at the tip of the diamond and wide right as well as centre. Hopefully NA will be clear in his head that MS is a central midfielder who would start for me ahead of Hammond..just. Guly answered any derision in the best way. Hopefully Connelly will be good for 90 mins over the next two games. COYR!

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kcaj1164retsof added 14:43 - Dec 28 I was pleased that Morgan was back in his best position. Dave Merrington said in the radio commentary that MS could become a goal scorer. In 50 odd years watching soccer I have never seen a player less likely to become a goal scorer. Keep him in th centre doing what he does best!
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