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We're off!! Saints faced the top of league masters at set pieces, with Kenywne Jones watching from the Directors Box, to mounting abuse from the fans due to his "strike".
Up front a starting place for Bradley Wright-Phillips alongside Rasiak, and Darren Powell making his return in center of defence as captain alongside Wayne Thomas. Skacel and Wright making up the back four and Dyer, Surman, Safri, and Viafara in midfield.
Saints started brightly with a near penalty shout within minutes as Rasiak was brought down in the 6 yard box. This started a string of poor decisions from the referee from corners, throw ins and free kicks. With almost constant possession Stoke took the lead from the inevitable long ball up to Fuller who turned and drilled it into the bottom left of Kelvins goal.. With Fuller consistently intimidating the home fans by indicating he scored one goal with his fingers Saints piled the pressure on this time by playing the football they played last season.They built from the back with Safri regularly taking the ball from Davies and driving through midfield to distribute the ball wide to the ever threatening Dyer and Surman. Wright-Phillips played one of his best performances by constantly testing the defence with his twists and turns, and was so close to scoring with the goalkeeper tipping the ball over the bar. On 35 minutes Saints drew level with Surman driving a 30 yard shot into the bottom corner. Shortly after Safri long range shot was blocked, Fuller raced down the wing suprisingly outpacing Thomas, to pass back from the byline to Cresswell to tap in, only for Safri to block and put behind for the corner. This was whipped in for Shawcross to head towards goal to be cleared off the line by Skacel. Later indications showing that it could have possibly crossed the linee.! Fuller to the delight of the crowd was booked for dissent. At half time Skacel was changed for Ostlund due to an injury, Davis kept the side in it as a succession of corners from a resulting free kick, led him to make three outstanding saves, tipping the ball over the bar twice and and diving to save a near post shot. . To the delight of the crowd who started up "Super, Super Kel". On 57 minutes Rasiak nearly took us in front after some clever footwork enabling hime to turn swiftly to shoot to find it being tipped onto the post and out for a corner. All the pressure was on the Stoke goal as a succession of runs by Dyer and Wright-Phillips attacked down the flanks to find the side netting. On 69 minutes Surman made a great run to the byline through two defenders to cross into the box for Rasiak to score from a trade mark header. On 72 minutes Sidbe was subbed for Parkin, two minutes later on 74, Surmans cross [again] came off a Stoke defender to land at the feet of Viafara to net the third goal for Saints. Saganowski replaced Wright-Phillips and almost scored on the first header which looked by many to have crossed the line! Stoke pulled one back as the set piece masters whipped a trade mark cross into the box for Parkin to nod into the far corner, beyond the outstretched Kelvin Davis, who in my opinion was impeded by a Saints defender. This set up a tense finale with Stoke pushing for the equaliser. The game was stopped following a clash of heads as Saints put the ball out of play for players to receive treatment despite a break on down the flanks. The resulting drop ball, which should have been passed back to Davis was passed to Fuller who tried to lob the furious Davis. The resulting melee got Viafara a yellow card for making the point very simply! Fuller was booed off the pitch and the win was gladly received. Saints won this by playing the football we all know they can play. They were all outstanding but my Man of the Match was for Andrew Surman for his stunning goal and two assists but that is not to take away from the excellent Darren Powell in defence, and the inviting runs from both Dyer and Wright - Phillips. More comments to follow . . |
