These are the type of games that you win promotion with.

On the face of it this was a 2-1 win and lets be blunt anything less than three points would have put Saints under a lot of pressure at the weekend, however it was a hard fought win  that had many different elements to it.

To cover the game first, Saints looked comfortable early on in the game and really should have taken the lead when firstly N'Guessan hit the bar when it looked easier to score and then from the rebound, Lee Barnard again hit the bar from close range with basically an open goal gaping, add to that a Rickie Lambert free kick that had it been at the other end would have landed in somebody's second floor living room.

Exeter had for most of the half, passed the ball well but ddnt make much headway apart from one effort that Davis got down smartly to block, so when they took the lead seven minutes before the break it was if not completely against the run of play, certainly a little unexpected, a hopeful lob forward caught us flatfooted, Davis came way out of his box  and seemed to miss an easy header leaving their man to put the ball into the empty net.

After the break the game opened up and to be blunt it was Exeter who were running it, they passed the ball better than us and carved us open not just opn the flanks but in the middle as well, Davis redeemed himself with two decent saves to keep the score level, although you always felt that the next goal would be decisive, whoever got it.

Saints hung on in there though and got an equaliser on 70 minutes when a great cross from N'Guessan saw Lambert head home, that saw the steam knocked out of Exeter and Saints seemed to step up a gear from that point, strangely N'Guessan who had looked to get stronger as the game went on and had started to get in some telling balls was substituted almost immediately after the goal.

Saints now looked the more likely to score although Exeter were dangerous on the break and flashed several dangerous crosses into the box.

But it was Saints who would score a goal that might in May, be seen as a pivotal moment in the season, when Lambert again headed home from close range, that just left Saints to hold out for four minutes and then it was job done.

Not a pretty win by any means and plenty of questions to be asked, but it was a win all the same and vital.

But it could be said that the failure to take a grip on the game was of Saints own making, a series of errors and strange tactics and substitutins beggared a few questions.

!. The starting line up was a little puzzling at the back, a few weeks ago Nigel Adkins appeared to have settled on a back four that looked strong, yet despite all defenders being available he opted for what had been a weak link a few weeks back, although Harding and Butterfield let no one down, they are not as good as Dickson and Richardson, who seem to have both been dropped for one bad game each or in Dicksons case one bad pass.

Likewise the selection of Jaidi, he is usually there to combat aerial threat, yet Exeter are known for passing the ball and having small nippy fowards, it didnt seem Jaidi's sort of game.

2. Individual error, yes Kelvin did pull off a couple of saves, but he again made an individual error that could have cost us dearly, this was his fourth game in eleven that this has happened, as mentioned earlier certain players seem to be dropped for one bad ball, yet others seem to be continually picked and reinstated despite continual gaffs, this isnt a witch hunt, this is fact, we were saved by a last gasp gaol, but put on the back foot by a goalkeeping error as at Tranmere, ironically the performance at Tranmere was probably better.

3. Substitutions, N'Guessan seemed to grow into the game, he had a willingness to run at players and seemed to be getting in dangerous crosses, on the other wing Chamberlain was largely inneffective, yet only two minutes after putting in a pin point cross for the first goal, N'Guessan was removed, maybe he was tired but he didnt look it.

Even more surprising was the player replacing him, Dickson would have been an obvious choice being quick and left footed, however it was Hammond on and a reshuffle moving Scheiderlin out left, it was our width on the left causing them problems yet we stopped it dead.with the substitution.             

Photo: Action Images

channonite added 11:57 - Feb 2 Interesting report Nick. The substitution of N'Guessan was strange at the time, but according to Adkins was purely down to strategy. He wanted to counter Exeter by "narrowing" the game which was why he put Hammond on for N'Guessan. It worked, so I guess he was right. Still, it was encouraging to see a player that I went "Who, why?" when he was signed, play so well.
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hortonsaint added 12:13 - Feb 2 What last night proves is that Kelvin is not going to be dropped, he is the no. 1 keeper and we have to accept that.. Nick- Adkins was a keeper don't you think he is better qualified to judge than any of us? Clearly Adkins has made his mind up on this. Re Harding/Butterfield, surprised about Richardson's omission however whilst I recognise Harding's vulnerabilities to a degree, it does seem that any error by him is seized on by you such as on saturday when he allowed one cross to come over that led to the goal. I've yet to see a full back who prevents every potential cross in a game. I also see no evidence that Dickson is a better -player he looks fragile in confidence to me and whilst quicker than Harding, he dives into tackles too often for my liking and again, like Davis over Bart, there must be reasons why Harding gets the nod most of the time

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eusebio added 12:19 - Feb 2 Hortonsaint is spot on
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trotsky added 13:06 - Feb 2 "Fragile"? My confidence would be shot to bits if I'd been messed around to the same extent as Dickson. He's better than Harding in all facets of the game, and any preference for the latter is baffling and will continue to prove costly.
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splurty added 13:24 - Feb 2 Oh how we miss lallana ! Agree with points that Dixon and Richardson are the better equipped fullbacks ,also where is Martin surely on a pudding of a pitch he would be 1st choice foil for fonte .also Morgan was diabolical as he is in nearly all the scrappy away games ,please let's start Hammond with chaplow on sat ,if Adam is fit for sat I would play him and nguessan wide and save oxo cube as an impact player ,again well battled chaplow and as always eager running from Barney ,oh and Ricky might just get on a roll now ,COYR

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hortonsaint added 14:04 - Feb 2 Trotsky-He looks fragile generally-let's re-phrase it his 'temperament looks fragile'. On what basis is he a better fullback than Harding in all facets of his game? Sorry don't see it and nor have our last two managers who see them every day in training and our better qualified than us to make the decisions. Just like Bart players don't get picked for a reason. To say the preference for the latter is baffling and he is better in all facets is my opinion baffling as the truth is if that was the case Dickson would be selected every time!!

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SaintNick added 16:28 - Feb 2 Bobby Charlton was perhaps the greatest english footballer along with Bobby Moore of the past 50 years, both couldnt pick their noses as managers let alone teams, likewise more often that not managers pick players the exact opposite of their own playing styles. Last night we won, but we were lucky, if we had lost last night as those there will testify we very nearly did, would people still be defending Kelvin ? probably not, good managers spot problems and deal with them before they develope

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hortonsaint added 17:28 - Feb 2 So by that logic are you are saying that Adkins is a poor manager who knows nothing about keepers? Seems unlikely to me that you know more about goalkeeping than he does. Bottom line is Kelvin will not be dropped and Harding is likely to play the majority of the remaining games. Let's accept that-yes we can keep debating this issue but to what end if the these two will not be dropped? I am open minded about this and don't see it as so black and white as you do and always acknowledge some of what you say. But would other keepers have made the second half saves, I don't know I wasn't there but as ever there are counter arguements. Let's see what happens and if we don't get promoted we can judge Adkins and say that his decisions with the likes of these two players cost us. At least if we don't go up you can say I told you so!

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splurty added 17:31 - Feb 2 Horton saint Calm down ! Kelvin will cost us away from home as his command of the box/area is very patchy at best .Also Ryan Dixon is a better all round defender than Harding and has been unlucky as he has been used as a utility player of late due to our injuries etc ,he and Richardson are good quality championship fullbacks .COYR
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hortonsaint added 17:41 - Feb 2 Ok I've calmed down-agree to disagree!-though I agree on Davis to an extent but just feel that some people need to accept he's going to keep playing. If ultimately we can tangibly say at the end of the season he's cost us promotion I'll admit defeat!
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zonehead added 19:15 - Feb 2 Dickson is a liability
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stmichael added 20:03 - Feb 2 Its about opinions and in my opinion Davis and Harding are better players than Bart and Dixon. It happens to be the managers opinion too which is fine by me. if it was down to Nick RL would not have played last night either. Do I have to remind people that SRL has been the highest scorer in all 4 divisions for 2 consecutive seasons as well as being our top scorer again this season and well on course for 20 + goals. Why on Gods earth would you drop him?? In fairness to Nick I agree about Jaidi .

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