Saints hung on in there and were good for a point at the end of a game that was crucial not just for the result but the morale boost of showing we can get a point on the road.

Nigel Adkins put his funny turn of the weekend behind him and went back to the players who have dragged us out of the relegation zone, Mayuka went back to the bench and his normal role of seemingly only making up the numbers on it, whilst Steve De Ridder disapeared back to the fringe squad as quickly as he had inexplicably arrived on the picth against Sunderland.

But the game could not got off to a worst start as Saints once again conceded a trade mark goal, I have been harping on about this side of the field all season, for good reason, Luke Shaw found himself on the back foot with two players bearing down on him and absolutely no one tracking back to cover him, in truth the cross that came in was poor and should have been dealt with by Kelvin Davis who fumbled it into the path of Berbatov who didnt look a gift horse in the mouth, at that point you thought that this might be a very bad day at the office.

But Saints rallied and although they had a few pieces of good luck go their way, as the game wore on they got stronger and looked the better side, the heart of the midfield with Jack Cork again working his socks off aided by Schneiderlin and Steve Davis kept the side going and although we were creating very little in the way of decent chances the good thing was we didnt collapse although at times we seemed to be doing our best to gift them a second.

In the second half we came on strong but the lack of a real goal threat was glaringly obvious, Nigel Adkins made the right substitution though bringing on Jay Rodriguez and it was a just reward when we got awarded what was a nailed on handball although just why Chris Baird stuck his hand up and batted it way will never be answered.

A good battling draw which we thouroughly deserved, however we shouldnt overlook the problems that are still glaringly obvious, we cannot afford to keep letting whoever is playing left back getting exposed and we need to be getting the ball into Lambert a lot quicker, yes sometimes the penalty for having to concentrate on defending is that you lose something going forward, but the fact is we just dont get the ball up to Lambert with the speed and precision that we did last year.    

Photo: Action Images

stmichael added 10:35 - Dec 27 We have not conceded 2 goals in a game since WBA which is such an improvement. Every point will be vital and we actually gained ground on our rivals yesterday which feels great. Its a hard league and you have to scrap for everything. Big acknowledgement to Fonte and Yoshida for their part in our improvment.
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ExiledSupporter added 11:47 - Dec 27 Notwithstanding that we still have glaring weaknesses (goalkeeping yet again and cover on the left side of the defence) we do seem to have got back on track. For about 6 weeks I have suggested on this site that, at least away from home, we should use all three of our best workhorses in midfield (Cork, Schneiderlein and Davis) and I think that I am right in saying that yesterday was the first time they all started a match together...and what do you know we put in an altogether more controlled performance and defended in more depth. I would argue that assuming a continuance of individual form we should put out a default side that looks like this. Gazzaniga Clyne, Fonte, Yoshida, Shaw Cork, Schneiderlein, Davis Ramirez, Lallana Lambert Despite Puncheon's recent contribution I would play Guly (while Lallana's injured) and be ready to start with Rodrigues up front (depending on Lambert's form) and certainly bring him on much earlier if warranted by the situation. Since selection of the bench has been particularly bizarre recently I would choose: Boruc, Puncheon, Hooiveld, Ward-Prowse, Rodrigues or Lambert, Fox or Richardson But we urgently need to sort out the goalkeeping mess!

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stmichael added 12:54 - Dec 27 If Lambert had been subbed yesterday I would not have backed anybody to score that penalty. When Tiss was missing Jason Dodd used to slam them home for us and I was still confident. A good penalty taker is under estimated in my opinion. It will save at least 6 points a season.
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slynch added 12:57 - Dec 27 I would agree with much of the above. I wouldn't blame Davis so much he is usually a good stopper and the conditions were atrocious and the same thing nearly happened the other end. Hooi instead of Yosh? I think he might cope with K Jones better in the air. I wouldn't drop Puncheon in his current form although Guly is better than most people seem to think. I think Lambert needs to be dropped in the FA Cup, a format that works without him needs to be found and practiced just incase he gets injured one day. Happy Christmas one and all.

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jamesarmstrong added 13:42 - Dec 27 We need hang in until January and Stoke and Arsenal will be hard games, however in the transfer window we need to shop for a defender, another striker cause we just keep missing goals (I still think Billy the kid Sharp was not given a decent run, money was spent on Mayuka but Billy is a proven English football goal scorer and showed it against Leeds again. When he scores it's always a double or hatrick. We also need another Jack Cork type player who works hard. Lastly a decent goal keeper

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landsdownsaint added 14:47 - Dec 27 I think alls quite good at the moment, Yoshi and Fonte are looking a good partnership as for Hoovield playing with Fonte that was disastrous at times in the championship! A proven keeper, cover at LB and give JRod a run of games, I think he will score at this level..
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