Saints’ biggest day

Saturday, 14/01/2012

by James Beavis, Shoot's Southampton blogger

If you had questioned all Southampton fans at the beginning of the season I think it would have only been only the most optimistic that would have predicted that they would be top of the league, and have been there for almost four months, by the arrival of the January transfer window.

Despite the fantastic first half of the campaign, recent form is a worry, with the side picking up just eight points from their last eight games, allowing the chasing pack to close in.

They go into today’s clash away at Nottingham Forest on the back of two straight defeats, something that last happened in the league in September 2010.

It is easy to see that this is a real testing period for Nigel Adkins and the players, but an injury-stricken side produced an impressive victory on the road at Coventry last week in the third round of the FA Cup.

Two youngsters, James Ward-Prowse and Aaron Martin, netted their first goals for the club, which would have been sure to boost squad morale.

Talisman and top scorer Rickie Lambert is suspended for a further two matches after his dismissal against Brighton and with other potential niggles for fellow strikers Guly Do Prado and David Connolly, it could mean that either/both of the relatively inexperienced duo of Sam Hoskins or Ryan Doble could be asked to lead the line against Steve Cotterill’s men.

The side is in dire need of extra quality in the forward positions and Adkins himself admitted this week that he and the chairman Nicola Cortese are ‘endeavouring to strengthen the squad.’

He has moved to partially resolve the situation with Japanese forward Tadanari Lee set to join after winning his work permit appeal this week.

The hope amongst supporters though is that a proven player who won’t need time to bed in will also be purchased.

Despite being heavily linked with players such as Billy Sharp, Nicky Maynard and most recently Gary Hooper, you can’t help but feel that like in the summer, when Steve de Ridder and Jos Hooiveld were plucked from nowhere and welcomed onto the bus, that we might all be surprised again with a new name that no one had speculated on.

First things first with today’s encounter, and with no Lambert, plus the fact we’re facing a Forest side that haven’t scored at the City Ground since the middle of November and you can’t help but see anything past a goalless draw, which could finally see Saints surrender top spot.

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