Southampton get complacent

Wednesday, 20/10/2010

by Chris Rann, Shoot's Southampton blogger

So all good runs must come to an end, and ours did in emphatic style at the Galpharm Stadium. We knew that Huddersfield Town away would always be a tough fixture, perhaps even the most difficult of the season, but it would be fair to say that our recent upturn in form had made a few of us (players and fans alike) a little bit complacent.
 
So it was a shell-shocked set of Saints fans that left Yorkshire on Saturday night for the long trip home. It was not so much the scoreline that was stunning, but the manner of the defeat. I think even Nigel Adkins himself would admit, tactically we got it wrong.

Our pretty football, which has been a fantastic bonus recently was part of our downfall on Saturday. Playing it out from the back at times caused only to put ourselves under pressure. We should take nothing away from Huddersfield though, who were rampant in the first-half, a solid combination of pressing and aggressive football ensured that they completely bossed us, and fully deserved their two goal lead at half time.
 
Saints were slightly better in the second-half but never looked like getting back into the game. Sometimes you just have to hold your hands up and admit when you were beaten by the better side. I tipped Huddersfield to win this league at the start of the season, and it still looks like a pretty good bet.
 
Rickie Lambert suffered a serious clash of heads early in the second period, and concussion, it was said that later in the day he had no recollection of the match. Lucky him was the reply from the traveling Saints faithful.
 
In other business, Joseph Mills joined Doncaster Rovers on an emergency loan deal this week and the Development Squad carried on their good winning run, beating Fulham in a friendly.
 
Oldham Athletic visit St. Mary’s on Saturday, which should be an interesting test of Adkins' new-look Saints, to see how they respond to a disappointing result and performance. I am sure he and all the staff will be looking for a good three points at home.

The Oldham manager is Paul Dickov, someone who was often the pantomime villain as a player, not least on his trips to The Dell, can we expect his team to be as feisty and tenacious as he was? Probably.
 

 

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