Southampton’s Hammer fight

Tuesday, 14/02/2012

by James Beavis, Shoot's Southampton blogger

After struggling in recent times Southampton seem to be getting back into their groove – in the league at least.

Following credible draws with Cardiff and Birmingham, albeit in awful conditions, Saints followed those up with a bitterly disappointing 3-2 home defeat by Championship strugglers Millwall in an FA Cup fourth round replay.

Despite that setback the side, who are still second in the division, welcomed an in-form Burnley side to St Mary’s on Saturday knowing that the first goal might be the all important one.

Since going behind to Blackpool in December, Saints had only won one game at home and in the other matches they had conceded the first goal which resulted in losses to Bristol City, Leicester and Millwall in the cup, as well as the draw against Cardiff.

With a fully fit squad to choose from, including the influential Jos Hooiveld back in the centre of defence as well as deadline-day signing Billy Sharp starting upfront with talisman Rickie Lambert and you could see that the fans had a right to be slightly confident.

Such are the riches of the squad that Nigel Adkins decided against naming a keeper on the bench and yet still, players such as Richard Chaplow, Steve de Ridder, Lee Holmes and Dan Harding couldn’t make it into the 16, which in a way makes a mockery of Football League clubs only being allowed to name five substitutes.

Saints were given the perfect start though when Adam Lallana met Frazier Richardson’s cross with a brilliant header on eight minutes. They continued to dominate throughout the first half and gave themselves a two-goal cushion when Sharp, making his home debut, caused a nuisance between the Clarets defenders leading to Ben Mee putting the ball into his own net.

Just like back at the beginning of the season, not only was it a comfortable 2-0 triumph, but also a convincing performance, and Burnley never really looked like breaching the hosts’ rearguard, which can only be positive ahead of tonight’s trip to table-toppers West Ham.

Sitting just one point behind the Hammers going into the big clash, it is a chance for us to reclaim top spot and move further above the dreaded lottery of the play-off positions.

Confidence will be high and taking the Millwall encounter out of the equation, we have only conceded one goal in the last three league games against some of the better outfits in the division.

If we can keep the Upton Park crowd quiet for the first half an hour, the fans are sure to start getting on their backs which can only benefit the away side.

Dealing with their long ball game will also be imperative and Hooiveld and Jose Fonte will need to keep Carlton Cole quiet in the Hammers’ attack.

I am confident that Saints can take at least a point and I wouldn’t be shocked at all if we took all three points if Adkins plays in an attacking manner because that is undoubtedly our strength as the division’s top scorers.

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