Wednesday 2nd December 2009

After last night's 1-0 win at home to Wycombe Wanderers, Southampton climbed out of the League One relegation zone for the first time this season.
Rickie Lambert's goal four minutes before half time was enough for the home side to take all three points in a game that perhaps should have been won by a much bigger margin.
Saints had all the chances to take the lead in the first half, with Adam Lallana and Papa Waigo coming close, but the deadlock was finally broken in the 41st minute when Waigo latched onto a long ball forward then cut back for Lambert to slam the ball into the bottom corner of the goal from ten yards.
The second half was very much the same story, as Saints looked to double their advantage, but a string of saves from visiting keeper Scott Shearer and and a couple of near misses from substitute Michail Antonio kept the score respectable for Wanderers.
Last night's game was by no means a classic and Saints fans will have left St Marys wondering how their team only won by one goal, but a victory is what is most important and lifts Southampton up to 20th in the league.

Saints player ratings-

Bartosz Bialkowski - 7 - Showed he has safe hands and made a good second half save.

Greame Murty - 7 - Much more solid and reliable at right back than Lloyd James.

Chris Perry - 8 - Great to see him back in the side, he was strong in the air and positioned perfectly at all times.

Radi Jaidi - 6 - A bit shaky at times, but made some important clearances.

Dan Harding - 7 - Made a crucial headed clearance late on, was reliable at left back.

Lloyd James - 6 - Looked much more comfortable in midfield than at right back.

Dean Hammond - 7 - Covered a great amount of ground as the box to box midfielder.

Morgan Schneiderlin - 8 - MAN OF THE MATCH - Played some beautiful cross field passes and got stuck into tackles.

Adam Lallana - 7 - Looked a natural winger when he ran at defenders down the left.

Papa Waigo N'daiye - 7 - Caught offside countless times, but played a pivotal role in the goal.

Rickie Lambert - 7 - Perfect, low finish for what proved to be the decisive goal.

Subs -

Michail Antonio (on for Papa Waigo) - 7 - Ran constantly at the opposition and could have added to the score.

Paul Wotton (on for James) - 6 - Came on to overload the midfield and limit Wycombe's chances.

Jacob Mellis (on for Schneiderlin) - 6 - Brought on late simply to run down the clock.

Last night's win lifts Saints outside the relegation zone and now that one hurdle is cleared fans will want the team to push on for a play off place. Twelve points separate Southampton and Bristol Rovers in 6th place and results in December can often go a long way towards shaping the second half of the season. A win away to Walsall on Saturday could help push them that little bit closer to the play off places.

I only managed to make it to three games in November, but have still kept an eye on the ratings for each player to decide my player of the month:

=1. David Connolly - average rating 7.0, from 3 games
=1. Adam Lallana - average rating 7.0, from 3 games
=2. Dean Hammond - average rating 6.66, from 3 games
=2. Dan Harding - average rating 6.66, from 3 games

So Adam Lallana and David Connolly are tied on ratings for my player of the month, but after witnessing Connolly's wonder goal against Norwich he gets a slight edge and wins my vote as Saints player of the month.