Was not expecting much last night!!!

To be honest after the team give their all on Sunday and all the injuries we picked up i really wasn't expecting too much last night and prior to the match predicted a 1-1 but feared a 2 - 0 defeat. Anyway the night got off to a great start when i called into the Ninian for a swift one and one of my all time favourite Jam track - Down in the Tube Station boomed from the Juke box and this was swiftly followed by Town called Malice and Much Too Young by the Specials somebody had a good taste in music

I was there with my Son and Daughter and because it was a warm night we went out into the car park at the rear of the Ninian to be greeted by a surprising but encouraging sight.... in the car park was at least a dozen Southampton fans all drinking and mingling with City fans. This was something you would never have seen in the past and personally i think it's good to see and i just hope that when we go down to Saint Marys we will be allowed to mingle with the Saints fans and drink in their pubs close to the ground although i have my doubts that this will be the case

Anyway onto the game and the first thing that was noticeable was the atmosphere the fans present seemed to be far more up for it than they did on Sunday (Not a fan of Sunday games TBH) and prior to the match there wre a fair few in the Ninian Stand singing and chanting and this was to improve as the game progressed.

Onto the game and although we were down to the bare bones what a performance not in terms of skill or flair which i still feel we are lacking (with the exception of Whitts) but for sheer hard work and endeavour i don't think there's any team that cam match us. I honestly believe that we have probably got one of the best midfields in the Championship with Gunnarson, Kiss, Whitts, Cowie and Conway when fit.

At this point i have got to make a special mention to Don Cowie before he goes out to play he must eat at least 2 dozen duracell batteries because this guy does not stop running and his work rate his phenomenal i honestly believe that if we had him last season we might be in the Premiership now! Also got to mention Miller i have always thought that he works hard and makes good runs but a striker is judged on his goals and up to last night he hadn't really delivered, however last night he took both goals really well and caused their cente halves a lot of problems with his runs and he looked a lot better playing alongside Joe Mason than he does alongside Earnie.

With regards to the goals the first was route one straight from Marshall to Miller who showed determination and bravery to beat the keeper to the ball and head over him into the net despite the best effort of a defender who tried to clear off the line. Just think back to Bothroyd last Season against Reading when he had a similar chance but bottled out against the on rushing goalkeeper Millers second goal came has Gunnarson won a challenge and fed the ball to Miller who finished clinically in the bottom left hand corner and in doing so confirmed my belief that if we give him chances Miller will score

It was not a complete performance by any means and Southampton to their credit looked a good side who try to play football get men forward quickly and create chances and if it hadn't been for a superb save by Marshall and a glaring miss by Lambert then we might have been looking at a draw or defeat but on effort alone i think we deserved the win

The atmosphere was a lot better and this seemed to be down to the large contingent that Southampton brought a fantastic effort by our team and the Stewards in the Ninian Stand seemed to be more relaxed and in block 116 of the Ninian a lot of people including myself were able to stand for large parts of the game and really get the atmosphere going.

Don't want to pick out any individuals because every player worked their socks off but Super Kev despite taking a knock kept going but still put in a goal saving block before having to leave the field and young Joe Mason who makes some great runs and is really hard to track and is only going to get better

Finally got to mention Malky who was our 12th man he really kicks every ball and will accept nothing less than 100% from every player he also appreciates the support and mentioned it in his post match interview

Has i said at the beginning i went down there last night not expecting a victory but happy in knowing that i would see every player give everything for the shirt i left the ground delighted with 3 hard earned points against a very good side who IMO will be right up there at the end of this Season. However even if we had lost i would have gone away proud of the side and feeling they couldn't have done any more to earn victory and i am convinced if we can just add some pace to the side in the shape of a fast tricky winger and a big striker with pace we have a real chance of promotion

good review and great game

Thanks mate that was a good read

Good read. Agree with that. Thanks for taking the time to do it.

Good read. Agree with that. Thanks for taking the time to do it.

No problem i had time because i'm in work and the boss don't read this MSGB hopefully