Johnstone Paints Trophy 3rd Round - Southampton 2 Charlton 1

Now, do I lie about it meaning more to beat Charlton or not...

JPT time again and it’s Charlton at home for us. The Charlton fans will be looking forward to it as it’s against the manager who they see as the anti-Christ and us Saints fans will be looking forward to hopefully keeping the winning run going. In the last round, Saints got a gate that was bigger than all the other games put together but no chance of that tonight as Sky, in their wisdom, have decided to put this on the TV. In this case, I’ll forgive them as I at least will have a chance to watch it in my Dublin local. I can’t see there being a problem getting a seat in front of the TV for this one.

Watching Saints in the pub over here is usually a painful experience as we usually lose and people walk past, wondering why you’re getting so animated at a game that doesn’t involve the big 4. The first Saints match I watched over here was the playoff defeat to Derby. At the start of the game it was just me and Kelvin immediately flapped a goal in. My short outburst of swearing brought a few raised eyebrows. By the time Do Do Do Johnny Viafara had put us 2-1 up I had made so much noise that I had a small gathering with me. Leon Best’s ridiculous own goal (still don’t know how he did that, the tosser), Rasiak putting us in front again and the penalty shoot out starting meant I now had a crowd and by the time Idiakez sent his penalty into orbit, I had a lot of sympathy, a big bar bill and the beginnings of a headache which ultimately would last for two days.

The team selection tonight would tell us a lot about how seriously Pards was taking it. In the last round he rested a few but we were playing a League 2 side so it was understandable. Tonight we’re playing against a strong side and we don’t play again until Sunday so I’m hoping for everyone being present and correct…. and I was happy. Be it because Pards really wants to with the JPT or be it because he wants to stick one finger up to Charlton, we had the same 10 outfield players as Saturday with Bart in goal instead of the rested Kelvin. The only minor surprise is that Wayne Thomas kept his place ahead of Trotman who Preston had kindly made available for this one.

Saints steamed into Charlton from the off and really should have had the lead in two minutes as Charlton keeper Ikeme came for a cross and got no where near it leaving Captain Hammond with a free header at the back post with half a goal to aim at….which he totally made a mess of. Charlton awoke from their slumbers and did nothing as Antonio scared the hell out of them down the right and smashed in a shot which Ikeme beat away. Chances followed for Lambert and Connolly and then there was a tricky moment as Charlton got in our half and Bart had to pick up a half hit scuffer from Wagstaff.

On 35 minutes Saints finally took the lead as a James corner was missed by all the usual suspects and smashed into the net by Wayne Thomas for his first goal since a jumpers for goalposts match on the village green in 1985. The near 14,000 crowd (wow!) crowd at St Mary’s and one man in a pub in Dublin expected more and two minutes later, Connolly cut in from the right and curled a lovely left footed shot a foot wide of the far post.

We have got to try and sign Michail Antonio. All wingers are frustrating at times when the delivery is a bit wayward but this lad makes things happen and he commits defenders. He’s not frightened to shoot either and he forced another good save from Ikeme before half time when he cut in off the wing and smashed in a shot which t some part of the keepers anatomy and deflected onto the near post. Charlton meanwhile, were terrible.

Half time, Southampton 1 Ikeme 0. Pint of Guinness please.

Saints were forced into a change at half time with Schneiderlin being replaced by Trotman. Whilst it would have been amusing watching Trotters slot into central midfield and spraying passes about in that cultured way of his, I was thankful that we reshuffled with James going into midfield and ‘goalscoring centre back’ Wayne Thomas being moved to right back.

No doubt with the angry words of Phil Parkinson ringing in their ears, Charlton kicked off the second half and attacked a bit. They put me in mind of the Saints side of last year under the watchful eye of Jan the Complete Moron – one lad up front who is totally unsuited to playing up front on his own and much more suitable players on the bench. Still, the lone striker ‘wash trying very hard to make a goal for the boysh’.

On the hour mark, Papa Waigo came on for the clearly tiring Connolly who has played more football in the past week than in the previous two years. The dancing man was immediately involved, cutting in from the left wing and curling a shot for the far corner that was tipped away well by that bloody goalkeeper again. Unperturbed, following a neat passing move involving Waigo and Lallana, Lambert tried exactly the same effort only this time, Ikeme developed chocolate wrists and couldn’t keep it out. 64 minutes, 2-0 and really… game over.

The last half an hour was pretty tame but I thought there might be some stick for Deon Burton when he came on, being an ex-Skate and all that. There was none however and I think this was because no one recognized him as the last time he was here (playing for Brentford I think), he had a huge afro that was conspicuously absent. Highlight of this period of the game for me was Lloyd James executing a real cruncher of a tackle on Jonjo Shelvey who deserves all he gets, simply for being called Jonjo.

92 minutes were up and Saints were sitting back trying to play out the game when the usual happened. Following a great save from Bart, the ball was returned and Leon McKenzie fired home from 6 yards to make it 2-1. I never had one single moment when I thought Charlton would score again and in fact, they didn’t get in our half again aside from the one desperate boot forward as the final whistle went.

Positives are that we won and we’re now in the Southern Area Semi Finals against one of Hereford, Norwich and the Fake Dons. It’s a one legged affair still so I’m hoping for anyone at home, preferably Hereford. Bart did what he had to do pretty well and had no chance for the goal and the team as a whole looks very confident and capable of scoring all the time. Unbelievably, Charlton are one of the better League 1 sides so it’s a good win… on this showing though, we are light years ahead of them and the league positions will be crossing come the season end. Negatives were that we sat too deep in the last 20 minutes and really should have been 4 or 5 up by the time Charlton got their goal. Mind you, Ikeme made some brilliant saves but as is his lot when you’re a keeper, will be remembered for the balls he made of the 2nd goal.

Yes, I was the only person watching it in the pub.

Next up…. Brighton at home on Sunday.