Sunday, May 2, 2010

League 1 Match 45 - Gillingham 2 Southampton 1


Gillingham away at the Priestfield Stadium in what for us, was a dead rubber without those pesky playoffs to worry about. In the build up this week, much was made of the need to finish strongly and the fact that it would make no difference to our performance that we couldn’t get promoted any more. As an observer, you could either take that at face value and believe we would put in a performance or alternatively, you could draw on your experience of supporting Saints over the years and suspect that it was all bollocks and the players would already be in holiday mode.

The team line-up will tell us for sure whether anyone cared about this game and then Aaron Martin’s name was read out in the starting XI and Sir Rickie was a sub. The full list of changes was Martin, Joseph Mills, Lloyd James, David Connolly and Lee Barnard in, Lambert, Harding, Seaborne, Antonio and Waigo out. The only change that I read any significance into was Lloyd James in the centre of midfield as clearly, we need back up for Hammond and Schneiderlin for next season and this was a chance for James to stake his claim, a claim that I am 100% convinced that he won’t take.

We started off badly which is no surprise given the changes that had been made and it took us a full 18 minutes to go a goal behind when a ball was played through our defence and Davis came steaming out and instead of putting it out for a throw, wellied it straight into Fonte. The rebound could have gone anywhere but unluckily it went straight to Howe who had an empty net to shoot into which he duly did.

Jose Fonte was touch and go for this game with a sickness bug. I’m guessing that his first touch and composure were two of the things that came out of him and ended up in the toilet. Every time Gillingham attacked, there was Jose, slicing it up in the air, missing it altogether or carting the forward up in the air.

Half time and we had nil which was more generous than we deserved as we had been diabolical by all accounts so it was time for Pards to do something about it. Fonte was replaced with Seaborne and went for a lie down and Sir Rickie came on for Lallana, meaning we went 4-3-3 with Lambert, Connolly and Barnard up front. Sadly for all except members of his family and anyone connected with Gillingham, Lloyd James was still on the pitch.

We had an early second half chance with barnard’s shot looping up off a defender and landing on the roof of the net but things were to get worse before they got any better and on 50 minutes, Simeon Jackson headed against a post and we totally failed to get away with it as the ball found itself out on the left wing where the winger totally skinned ‘One game to go’ Otsemobor and crossed for Gowling to head home. 2-0 and deservedly so.
Gills nearly went 3-0 as Heather Mills headed one off the line but at least Saints were creating a bit now as Papa Waigo had come on for Barnard and as usual, the dancing man was making things happen and he almost scored with his first touch. This is the sort of thing they say on the radio or on an official match report but what in fact happened was that Connolly set him up and he dithered and didn’t even get the shot away.

With Lambert on the pitch, Saints are a different side and we put pressure on as Gills got nervous and the goal duly arrived on 65 minutes as Puncheon cut in from the right and toe poked a pass to Connolly who lashed it in from the edge of the box. So, 2-1 and 25 minutes of mayhem and hopefully exploiting our opponents nerves. Well, a bit…

Firstly Sir Rickie controlled a cross with his chest and then volleyed into the ground and the keeper flapped it over the bar. Papa Waigo got through on the left and instead of shooting, opted for the unselfish option of squaring it along the six yard line to the onrushing Saints player that only he had seen – because there wasn’t any bugger there. Out final chance fell to Connolly in the last minute but his falling volley just flopped into the keeper. All a bit half arsed and so the final whistle went and the Gills were happy.

And so we lost and does anyone give a toss? Not really, would be my guess. We played a bit of a weakened side but I think we could safely argue that many more high profile sides than ourselves have done much worse this year. It’s a bit naughty really because the win does Gillingham a massive favour in their quest to stay in League 1 and some of the other teams down there like Exeter and Leyton Orient might not be too pleased with us. The thought of Barry Hearn not being too pleased with us is one I can live with however. On the other hand, Gillingham have one of the best home records in the division so maybe it’s not such a big shock that we went tits up, especially with our tendency to struggle against the lower placed sides away from home.

From a Saints point of view, we remained in the same position in the League and we will finish 7th as long as we beat already relegated Southend at home next week. It’s worth finishing 7th because you never know, a team may get liquidated from higher up the pyramid (can’t imagine who I’m thinking of here) and then who knows what will happen with the promotion and relegation issue. Can you imagine Don Nicola if we throw the last two games and finish 8th and then an extra spot gets opened up in the Championship. Of the players given a chance today, Aaron Martin proved today that he could be a decent player for us and Lloyd James proved that he wasn’t, isn’t and probably never will be.

As already mentioned, last game of the season next week at home to Southend. It should be a decent atmosphere with neither team having anything to play for and the Southend fans are a great bunch. Looking forward to that one and bring it on.

As a post-script for today – today was the day Avram Grant went on the pitch at Fratton Park and gave his Braveheart / Winston Churchill speech – what a total and utter wanker. As usual, he complained again about a points deduction which had no effect whatsoever and a transfer embargo which actually prevented them getting further into debt (and therefore ripping off more cancer charities etc). You’ll get yours you twat.

1 comment:

  1. Glen - Can I just say that I've really enjoyed this blog...it has a great blend of humour, information, irritation & blind support that I can relate too.

    Please keep it up next year... a promotion/succesful year is always a good one to diarise (ask Lawrie) & I doubt if we'll ever see a year where the low(e)s were so potentially low contasted with the highs that were 1) remaining in existence & 2) winning the JPT...I had a great day!

    Ongoing I look forward to progressive highs...now there's a statement from a Saints fan of some 50 years-that alone shows the progress made this year!

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