It wasn't the result that Saints wanted but on an evening when things weren't going their way Saints dug in and rescued a point.

The game went exactly the way that Saints did not want it to, with Aston Villa getting the opening goal and then getting behind the ball and going on the break.

The statistics said it all 64% possession for Saints, but this was not a game o squandered chances, Villa had a game plan and stuck to it, they held their line just outside their own penalty area and didn't give us the chance to get the ball into Pelle who found himself isolated and rarely got into the game.

The goal against us was a little bit of a mix up to say the least, Toby Alderweireld could probably have reached the hopeful through ball, but Fraser Forster called and failed to make it and it was a simple tap in.

From then on Villa stuck to the script, happy to hang on to what they had and looking to attack only on the break and from set pieces.

Saints did not really get their game going at any stage, but every side has an off day and perhaps we were well overdue one, but credit has to be given as we dug in and made sure that not only was the game still there for the taking, but hen the chance did come we took it.

It was a cracker from Nathan Clyne but it did not prove to be the calyst for a winner, again Villa dug in and held what they had.

The plus points of the game were the fact that perhaps last season we would have lost this game, his year we keep going and who knows how vital this point may turn out to be come May.

A bad day at the office for Saints but as I said all sides have them and a old side will get something out of a game when they have played badly and that was the case or us tonight.

Photo: Action Images

PatfromPoole added 22:41 - Nov 24 Our back four were decent tonight, but hardly anybody else was; real off-nights for Pelle and Mane. We are so much better with the 3 in centre-midfield. Cork should have come on a lot sooner than he did.
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hmmm added 23:06 - Nov 24 Thus far we are having a fabulous season, and yes we had an off night. I would just comment that If this match had occurred last year (or in many previous seasons) I believe The Verdict would have commented on the timing and nature of the substitutions, which for me were definitely lacking tonight.
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SaintNick added 23:15 - Nov 24 The problem Koeman had when chasing the game was he had no impact players on the bench, Mayuka isn't up to it and Cork is a good player but not going to change the game. In fairness to Koeman he didn't have options which probably tells us we need to bring someone in in TH window. Last season Pochettino sat on his hands when he had attacking options ion the bench tonight Korean didnt

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PatfromPoole added 23:31 - Nov 24 I think Cork coming on would have changed the game, as it would have enabled Schneiderlin to push further forward and have more influence. It was a scrappy game. I should be more grateful for the point really, given that we could well have been 2-0 down a minute or two before Clyne's goal.
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SaintMaw added 00:15 - Nov 25 Yea I think since we had Shane in at CAM we kind of dominated them. This in turn caused our line to be high allowing them to go in for the counter which led to a goal. Aston Villa weren't going for the win. Instead they went from the tie....from the beginning of the game. We posed the ball a lot so there are only 2 ways to score. 1. Play further back. With Jack cork in CM with Schneiderlin, and Wanyama, we play deeper forcing the central area to push forward allowing Graziano more space to score. The other way is to play direct which is how we did towards the end. But all in all the goal shouldn't have happened and I'm sure Koeman will have a better explanation for saints and we can work out the kinks and be ready for our game against Manchester City

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SaintDownUnder added 00:44 - Nov 25 I think this is one of the rare occasions where Koeman got the selection wrong. Villa were always going to pack the defence and try and hit us on the break, so we needed a bit of guile centrally. Personally I think w should have stuck with a 4-3-3 and brought in cork for Davis and played business as usual. I think playing Shane long centrally didn't work and arguably swapping him and Tadic might have helped our cause, we just lacked that last pass to unlock what was a packed defence - cork would have added this as he always seems to keep things ticking over. I think Pelle's movement is good he just didn't get any decent ball this evening. Still it's a measure of how far we've come that we expect to win these types of games and our opposition play like an away side in front of this home fans.

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WestSussexSaint added 01:03 - Nov 25 I thought we spent £10m on Forster to stop the stupid mistakes from the goalie. That was the defining moment in the game. I think the back 4 showed good stuff tonight but the rest of the team were fighting for the limited space Villa provided and tripping over each other and the defenders. In this respect Koeman has to take the responsibility for the tactics and team selection. But on the positive it was another point and we avoided defeat going into the difficult run of fixtures. Strangely I expect us to play much better against the better teams we are about to face.

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aceofthebase added 07:49 - Nov 25 The gamble of not playing a midfield three, which the team is used to and have played all season just did not work. Whether we should have tried a new system is what can be debated. If Forster hadn't committed such a howler then perhaps we would have an easy win but my thoughts prior to kick off was that we should have started with Jack Cork. Not a good game for several players Tadic Mane Forster but Fonte was a powerful force in defence and inspirational in attack.

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landsdownsaint added 08:29 - Nov 25 A good result psychologically to go into Sundays game?
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schatfield added 08:59 - Nov 25 Forster had a Boruc moment...ok, slightly harsh on Boruc that. But it was a crazy move. Not sure if you folk noticed how much the back 4 didn't communicate with Forster last night either, lot's of balls where the back 4 swept up but Forster wanted but he wasn't communicating well enough. Lucky Villa were pants though. Still, hopefully an off day..
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birminghamsaint added 09:43 - Nov 25 Koeman's formation just did not work for this game, but that does not mean it will not work in the future (or do we expect things to instantly 'gell' because we have been fortunate so far this season?). This formation may work better against a side better than Villa, who currently have the attacking intent of San Marino on one of their more positive days! On the plus side I think Saints kept their heads, after going behind and I certainly did not see any evidence of Forster being nervous after his mistake. Pelle and Schneiderlin both avoided yellows, so will be available to face Man City on Sunday. I also think that Phil Dowd (who looks seriously unfit) did not give us anything, although his decisions had no influence on the result. On the negative side, I was disappointed by the abuse being given to Shane Long and to a lesser degree to Sadio Mane by a few loud morons in the Saints away support. Shane Long from hero to villain in the space of just 2 games! - unbelievable.

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thegeneral added 10:34 - Nov 25 Mane looks off balance and rushed, he needs time i think to adjust to the league and like Wanyama a season will improve him. We can't carry passengers though and i thought he should have been subbed much earlier. Don't think its fair to criticise Pelle as service into the box was dreadful, he never really got a clear chance, i thought he was very strong in winning headers from long clearances and goal kicks. Spiderman seemed to deep, a position better suited to Cork with Morgan pushed up. Villa were awful as were Leicester, i'm looking forward to City to get an idea of just how far we've come.

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ItchenNorth added 11:32 - Nov 25 I think it's now time we start looking for a new manager. We need someone who can deliver the title not let 2 points drop against Villa! 2nd place is for losers!!!!!!
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BaselSaint added 11:45 - Nov 25 sACK kOeMan. Its all a disaster!!!
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BaselSaint added 11:49 - Nov 25 It looked like an off day and it was. We were due one I guess. A little bit of post international distraction maybe? They did well to keep to their plan. A grudging compliment due to Lambert I guess. It could well be completely different Sunday.
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A1079 added 12:29 - Nov 25 The result or the performance was not that bad it was just not as good as we have been accustomed to thus far. I must admit, I could not see where a goal was going to come from. There were some disappointing aspects in our play and I do not understand why Cork was not brought on earlier. But, other years I would have been pleased with this result and sides are not going to lay down and let us play and we need to get used to that. The other thing, which I know is a ridiculous statement, but we again did not perform as well as we can when we are being shown on TV. It does seem a bit of quirky coincidence with us.

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GeordieSaint added 13:50 - Nov 25 How bad were Villa? They tried to make this into a non-match, could you imagine paying to watch that every week? I certainly wouldn't go if I was a Villa fan, it was absolutely horrible. Sunday will be different as City need the win.
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BoondockSaint added 14:29 - Nov 25 As I said in an earlier post this season: Don't let Forster practice with Boruc! He's picking up his bad habits! This isn't the first time. If you're going to come out, get the ball and/or the man! (As Schumacher said to Shilton)
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Whatsforpud added 15:31 - Nov 25 Using the full width of the pitch, as we were doing, resulted in many crosses. Unfortunately, most of them were aimless, resulting in the first defender heading away, or just a gift for the keeper. It is worth noting that our goal came from the left wing in the form of a cut back pass rather than a hopeful cross. We need to open up defences by passing the ball in and around the area.

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TimSaint added 11:58 - Nov 26 Worst performance of the season so far, but not the worst result. We had far too many ineffectual players, so maybe the international break took its toll. I was not convinced by oiur attacking line up before kick off, but i think Koeman was trying to accommodate Long and Mane, but perhaps should have opted for Cork. I really wonder what he has to do to get a start, even when Davis is injured. Perhaps this is why he has not signed a new contract - even though we must have offered him one bynow. Mane was woeful and summed up his night with his early 'shot', if you can call it that. He should have taken Hutton on much more and crossed more. Likewise, crosses from the other wing were hit and hope and perhaps credit to Villa, but our passing was not its fluid self that we have become used to. Pelle was very isolated and perhaps could have had more support from Long or Tadic. Even a 4-4-2 with the same players may have worked better ? Anyway, as others have said, last season or the season before, we probably would have lost that one, so credit the lads for coming back well. Koeman's new formation did not work, but perhaps this was just all part of his master plan to show city how bad we really are and that they have nothing to fear on Sunday....... :-) Hopefully they have loads of injuries after last night's win over 10 man Bayern, but with Aguero's hatrick, there is really only 1 man we need to look out for. Hoefully Pelle can outscore him on Sunday and end his mini-drought. See you all at SMS on Sunday.

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