It's all getting a bit Religious on the blog.
It was time for another shitty away game. A shitty midweek trip to a shitty ground. From Wembley to the Withdean, from heaven to hell. I’ve had a pop at a few grounds and pitches over the course of the season but this is the worst by a mile. Credit where credit is due though and the Brighton fans put up with a hell of a lot back in the day and they must still be reminded of that fact every time they go into the Withdean. It can’t seem like home… I guess it’s better than playing at Gillingham but that’s about it.
Bearing in mind it was only 4 days since the Wembley trip, Pards must have been slightly worried about the focus of the players. All the right noises were being made in the press as you’d expect but it was a surprise to see that the one player who would definitely put in a performance was left out. Lee Barnard was actually one who had made all the right noises in the press about fighting for his place after the success in the JPT when he was cup tied. He had scored 7 goals in the previous 9 games he was available and of course, he wouldn’t suffer from ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ because he’d not been invited to the Lord Mayor’s Show. Papa Waigo and Joseph Mills were left out of the JPT Final XI with Jon Otsemobor returning at right back (Harding switched to the left) and Jason Puncheon coming into the midfield. I assumed that Antonio would be up front, having had a great game in the JPT but he was wide right and we lined up 4-5-1.
Having done the predictor for the rest of the season, I thought this was our most difficult match because of the ‘shit ground away midweek’ thing and also because Brighton stuffed us 3-1 at SMS and thoroughly deserved their win though I feel that the DVD they produced of that win was a touch over the top. I wonder if our lads watched it on the coach back from Wembley?
Saints were out of the blocks like a sprinter who had had his laces tied together and Brighton had two decent chances to score in the opening 10 minutes but on both occasions, managed only to hit the running track. Buoyed by Brighton’s inability to hit the target, Saints assumed they were going to keep on missing and served up a chance to Bennett with a shite clearance from a player who I haven’t identified as yet.
Instead of lashing it wide like he was supposed to, Bennett smashed it in the net, 1-0, 12 minutes gone. Bugger.
The sound of the crowd on the radio is telling me exactly when Hammond or Harding are on the ball as they are about as popular as Harry Redknapp in Portsmouth what with both being ex-Brighton and all. Loud booing and jeering with a bit of cheering thrown in when they misplace a pass or slice it out of play. It then gets amusing as the word ‘Wankaaaaaaaaah’ is clearly audible on the airwaves. Tiny things please tiny minds and that made me laugh anyhow.
Saints are gradually getting back into it and they go close on 20 minutes when a Sir Rickie free kick goes just over and five minutes later, Paul Wotton of all people lashed in a volley that flew just wide. More free kicks for Saints and even though the first was in Rickie territory, Saints executed an intricate training ground routine which involved Puncheon hitting it into the wall and then hoofing the rebound out of play. Genius. The 1-2 off the wall always works better in training.
Or next free kick was out on the right on 40 minutes and again, Puncheon took it opted for the more percentage free-kick from Page 1 of the free-kick manual which states ‘shoot or cross it into the fucking box’. He did the latter and it was met with a flicked header by Dean Hammond who buried it for 1-1. Whilst punching the air myself, I had to laugh at Dave Merrington’s description of ‘some players don’t celebrate too much if they score in front of their former teams fans but Hammond’s just done the complete opposite’. Scoring and then giving it the large one in front of people who are giving you a lot of grief must be very satisfying. Five minutes later, half time, 1-1
Saints started the second half well went close a couple of times through solo efforts from Puncheon. Brighton manager Gus Poyet reacted to Saints forcing the pace by introducing Lua Lua (no not that one but another one) and Barnes and pretty soon, the former had crossed for the latter the bury a header and make it 2-1, shite…. More Brighton pressure for the next 15 minutes and on 75, Pards decided we needed to win the game after all and went for broke with a triple substitution which saw Barnard, Waigo and Seaborne come on for Wotton, Antonio and Jaidi
Barnard immediately went to work on the Brighton defence, causing all sorts of bother and managing to get himself booked in no time for rattling a few cages by falling over in the box. The next time he fell over was 30 yards out and this time it was given but Sir Rickie was again over the bar with the resulting free kick.
All was looking a bit grim as we reached the 89th minute still 2-1 down but all praise be to Serigne Ababacar as Papa Waigo fired in a cross which Barnard smashed into the net from close range to make it Desmond 2-2 (a shite joke I heard on the TV the other day).
There’s always that one chance isn’t there – the one chance to snatch it or throw it away and it fell to Dean Hammond but no doubt with the cries of ‘Wankaaaaaaaaaah’ ringing in his ears, he fired straight at the keeper. Full time, Desmond.
One point gained or two dropped? I think normally you’d say one gained having not played well and having been behind in the 89th minute. However, we had to win really so it’s not good enough. I’m sure there will be a suitably hysterical reaction amongst the Goldfish fans that we have, the ones with the very short…. Sorry forgot was I was going to say there. The bottom line is that we’ve done it yet again where we win a few and the gap suddenly looks manageable and then we go and make a balls of it when we really shouldn’t have.
It’s easy to say in hindsight but Pards made an error in my opinion with the 4-5-1 and leaving Barnard out. I can understand the selection though and I feel it was down to trying to shore up the central midfield of our team which I think is the weakest area of our side anyway and even more so when Schneiderlin is out. Wotton and Hammond don’t offer enough control to dominate a game and push on which is why Pards put an extra body in there. That’s a total guess of course. When the formation was wrong in the Hartlepool game, it was recognized and changed but today unfortunately, it was the 80th minute before the gameplan altered. Sir Rickie looks like he’s running on empty to me so expecting him to play up front on his own was a bit of a tall order today. Barnard is a very hard working foil and it makes a huge difference when he plays, a bit like Brett Ormerod but with goals and with a face that doesn’t look like someone’s been chopping wood on it. Good fighting spirit shown I guess and Lee Barnard is man of the match despite only playing ten minutes.
Next up, Leyton Orient at home on Easter Monday…now it is certain if it wasn’t already – we have to win every game.
Bearing in mind it was only 4 days since the Wembley trip, Pards must have been slightly worried about the focus of the players. All the right noises were being made in the press as you’d expect but it was a surprise to see that the one player who would definitely put in a performance was left out. Lee Barnard was actually one who had made all the right noises in the press about fighting for his place after the success in the JPT when he was cup tied. He had scored 7 goals in the previous 9 games he was available and of course, he wouldn’t suffer from ‘After the Lord Mayor’s Show’ because he’d not been invited to the Lord Mayor’s Show. Papa Waigo and Joseph Mills were left out of the JPT Final XI with Jon Otsemobor returning at right back (Harding switched to the left) and Jason Puncheon coming into the midfield. I assumed that Antonio would be up front, having had a great game in the JPT but he was wide right and we lined up 4-5-1.
Having done the predictor for the rest of the season, I thought this was our most difficult match because of the ‘shit ground away midweek’ thing and also because Brighton stuffed us 3-1 at SMS and thoroughly deserved their win though I feel that the DVD they produced of that win was a touch over the top. I wonder if our lads watched it on the coach back from Wembley?
Saints were out of the blocks like a sprinter who had had his laces tied together and Brighton had two decent chances to score in the opening 10 minutes but on both occasions, managed only to hit the running track. Buoyed by Brighton’s inability to hit the target, Saints assumed they were going to keep on missing and served up a chance to Bennett with a shite clearance from a player who I haven’t identified as yet.
Instead of lashing it wide like he was supposed to, Bennett smashed it in the net, 1-0, 12 minutes gone. Bugger.
The sound of the crowd on the radio is telling me exactly when Hammond or Harding are on the ball as they are about as popular as Harry Redknapp in Portsmouth what with both being ex-Brighton and all. Loud booing and jeering with a bit of cheering thrown in when they misplace a pass or slice it out of play. It then gets amusing as the word ‘Wankaaaaaaaaah’ is clearly audible on the airwaves. Tiny things please tiny minds and that made me laugh anyhow.
Saints are gradually getting back into it and they go close on 20 minutes when a Sir Rickie free kick goes just over and five minutes later, Paul Wotton of all people lashed in a volley that flew just wide. More free kicks for Saints and even though the first was in Rickie territory, Saints executed an intricate training ground routine which involved Puncheon hitting it into the wall and then hoofing the rebound out of play. Genius. The 1-2 off the wall always works better in training.
Or next free kick was out on the right on 40 minutes and again, Puncheon took it opted for the more percentage free-kick from Page 1 of the free-kick manual which states ‘shoot or cross it into the fucking box’. He did the latter and it was met with a flicked header by Dean Hammond who buried it for 1-1. Whilst punching the air myself, I had to laugh at Dave Merrington’s description of ‘some players don’t celebrate too much if they score in front of their former teams fans but Hammond’s just done the complete opposite’. Scoring and then giving it the large one in front of people who are giving you a lot of grief must be very satisfying. Five minutes later, half time, 1-1
Saints started the second half well went close a couple of times through solo efforts from Puncheon. Brighton manager Gus Poyet reacted to Saints forcing the pace by introducing Lua Lua (no not that one but another one) and Barnes and pretty soon, the former had crossed for the latter the bury a header and make it 2-1, shite…. More Brighton pressure for the next 15 minutes and on 75, Pards decided we needed to win the game after all and went for broke with a triple substitution which saw Barnard, Waigo and Seaborne come on for Wotton, Antonio and Jaidi
Barnard immediately went to work on the Brighton defence, causing all sorts of bother and managing to get himself booked in no time for rattling a few cages by falling over in the box. The next time he fell over was 30 yards out and this time it was given but Sir Rickie was again over the bar with the resulting free kick.
All was looking a bit grim as we reached the 89th minute still 2-1 down but all praise be to Serigne Ababacar as Papa Waigo fired in a cross which Barnard smashed into the net from close range to make it Desmond 2-2 (a shite joke I heard on the TV the other day).
There’s always that one chance isn’t there – the one chance to snatch it or throw it away and it fell to Dean Hammond but no doubt with the cries of ‘Wankaaaaaaaaaah’ ringing in his ears, he fired straight at the keeper. Full time, Desmond.
One point gained or two dropped? I think normally you’d say one gained having not played well and having been behind in the 89th minute. However, we had to win really so it’s not good enough. I’m sure there will be a suitably hysterical reaction amongst the Goldfish fans that we have, the ones with the very short…. Sorry forgot was I was going to say there. The bottom line is that we’ve done it yet again where we win a few and the gap suddenly looks manageable and then we go and make a balls of it when we really shouldn’t have.
It’s easy to say in hindsight but Pards made an error in my opinion with the 4-5-1 and leaving Barnard out. I can understand the selection though and I feel it was down to trying to shore up the central midfield of our team which I think is the weakest area of our side anyway and even more so when Schneiderlin is out. Wotton and Hammond don’t offer enough control to dominate a game and push on which is why Pards put an extra body in there. That’s a total guess of course. When the formation was wrong in the Hartlepool game, it was recognized and changed but today unfortunately, it was the 80th minute before the gameplan altered. Sir Rickie looks like he’s running on empty to me so expecting him to play up front on his own was a bit of a tall order today. Barnard is a very hard working foil and it makes a huge difference when he plays, a bit like Brett Ormerod but with goals and with a face that doesn’t look like someone’s been chopping wood on it. Good fighting spirit shown I guess and Lee Barnard is man of the match despite only playing ten minutes.
Next up, Leyton Orient at home on Easter Monday…now it is certain if it wasn’t already – we have to win every game.
Almost woke the kids up laughing so hard at this! Probably a largely forgettable game yet another unforgettable match report. I'd still like to see a full season compilation in print ;-)
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm trying to work out how to do that... cheers for your interest and comments by the way. Much appreciated.
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