Two frustrating games, but it’s always worth remembering how lucky we are. Our beautiful stadium, hosting the highest level of league football in the world. Come on Bury.
Unlucky not to take all 3 points last week against the ‘Appy Ammers, pleasure at our performance and contentment at the result amongst our fanbase was somewhat dependant on the outcome of this game. So, so frustrating, that the expectation of tearing the struggling Saints apart had evaporated after just thirty minutes.
Team news in, and there’s one thing we now know for certain: we’ll never know for certain what team Potter will put out for any given game. Lots of PACE up front, lovely. The hugely influential Pascal Groß found himself on the bench despite two strong displays, new signing Neil Maupay taking his place. Somewhat surprising, given the strength of performance Pascal has put in thus far. Slightly more expected was Andone in for Murray - Muzza looked like he could do with a bit of a rest, no harm in giving Andone a chance to impress. Ah well - Glenn’s ageing legs chasing the ball at the Etihad it is.
Kevin Friend gets the game underway in the gorgeous August sunshine, and Albion’s start is as bright as the weather. Complete control, whilst I was expecting Southampton to test our back three with an aggressive press, the home side seemed able to build attack after attack without difficulty. Montoya and March pressed high, Dan Burn (More on him later) marauding forward on occasion to support the attack. Twenty minutes in, the enigmatic Trossard jnks to byline, cuts back smartly. His lifted cross is met by the onrushing Montoya - I erupt out of my seat fully aware the Catalonian is sitting in my fantasy team - only to slump back down as the ball bounces just wide. Very nice move though.
All Albion. Some of passing on display was simply wonderful; short, long, one-twos, triangles, diamonds, you name it. With Trossard, Pröpper and Stephens on their game, combining with our three centre backs, the opening 29 minutes featured extremely attractive interchanges, fluidity and invention aplenty.
Pace up top too. Andone a willing runner, and looked a constant irritant for the Saint’s defence - defenders hate players who will run at them. Florin tests Vestergard’s legs early on, great pace, power and strength. And stupidity.
A frequent action of Florin - it’s a staple of the Romanian to step across to protect the ball, it seems part of his technical makeup. And usually it’s to positive effect. Not this time. Awful, awful challenge. Instead of planting his foot on the ground, Andone’s studs slam into the unfortunate shin of Yan Valery. Very fortunate the young wing-back wasn’t badly injured. Mr Friend has absolutely no hesitation, and sends the striker straight off.
And now we have to face a whole hour a player down. You bloody idiot Andone. The game remains huge, we were all set to BATTER them, that I’m sure of. It might have taken till after half-time, it might have taken the injection of a substitute or two, but we were on a direct course to win this game. Goodbye to our possession and poise, hello backs to the wall defensive desperation. I’ve seen enough of that over the last two seasons. SO unnecessary Florin.
But despite a numerical disadvantage, no such transformation occurs. Potter stays calm, no double change or frantic shouting. Instead, he instructs the gigantic frame of Dan Burn out to left back, and tells Solly to tuck into midfield, adamant we maintain control of the game. Fluidity, hybridity, versatility. Potterball, ladies and gentleman.
Indeed Albion maintain composure, well in this contest up against pretty meager opponents. Expected a lot more from Southampton; you’d think after a pointless start to the season they’d have every incentive to put in a performance to earn something here. Just below average in every department. Except Nathan Redmond that is. The only creative force, the Englishman forced a minor scare as he danced away from Stephens and sent a low drive towards goal - comfortably held by Ryan.
We’re still looking to create, the players clearly full of belief that we can take the lead, clever acrobatics from Montoya wins a corner. Trossard sends in an outswinger, which arrows perfectly onto the head of Lewis Dunk. Dunk’s header powers into the net, GOALLLL - wait, what was Burn doing there? SAKE. This is going to be ruled out, isn’t it? Clear as day.
As expected, a VAR check rules out the goal. What on earth was the Lino doing not flagging straight away though? You don’t get many as clear as that, and yet the official appeared too timid to flag. Do we have to ask the supercomputer for EVERYTHING?
There’s half time. Strong performance in adversity, and we look the better side. You’d imagine there ought to have been strong words exchanged in the away side’s dressing room, Saints have looked decidedly ineffective. Testament perhaps, to the efforts of the boys in stripes (That’s us, Southampton opting for a black and yellow monstrosity, looking like 11 lazy bumblebees).
Play restarts, and for the first few minutes, it seems Southampton’s Poundshop Klopp clearly didn’t make any impact on his players during the break. Albion continue to look the more likely, controlling possession and showing bravery on the ball.
A change for Saints, as Andone’s victim Valery exits the play, Djenepo on. The Mali winger hasn’t featured too prominently as of yet, and wouldn’t you know it, today he makes his mark. Copy and paste Exile’s incredulous reaction as we watched Hernandez slot the ball past Ryan a week ago. Smash. And. Grab.
“A goal is coming.
Any minute now.
Aaaand there it is.
For crying out loud. Seriously?”
My response, pretty much as above. Albion’s adventure their downfall, the away side break away with newly injected pace, and an unbelievable finish from the substitute Djenepo. Made an exquisite goal look so easy. Davy Pröpper, take notes.
From then on, the game was always going to be extremely difficult. Southampton had their goal, and they didn’t have any immediate intentions of searching for another (Yes, I know.) Albion still went about their work with a great deal of personality, probing the Saint’s back five in search of a deserved equaliser. Montoya breaks through and makes it to the byline...no one in the box. Collective glares towards Andone.
Less than half an hour left, and a bold change. Potter opts to take off the impressive Solly March, replaced by Locadia. Something of a 4-2-1-2 now.
In Solly’s absence, Burn takes it upon himself to advance down the left, finding himself our emergency winger. The giant defender took the MOTM plaudits, and rightly so. The man was absolutely unreal today; strong, committed, brilliant on the ball. 6ft 7, and was swashbuckling down the left like Roberto Carlos in his prime from the first minute. Marvellous display.
Burn involved yet again at another controversial moment - Trossard lifts a delightful free-kick onto the head of rampaging Duffy, who sends the ball looping dangerously towards goal. With Burn lurking, Bednarek clumsily moves towards the ball, then at the final moment ducks his head away, cradling the ball briefly. HANDBALL REF. The Lino and Referee stare on blankly, not given. Unlucky Bednarek, no matter. Big Brother is watching you, you’re in trouble, no question. Kevin Friend will surely put his hand to his ear - the referees must love the theatrics of the new technology - but no. Our referee inexplicably waves play on. What the...
Murray enters for the ineffective Maupay, and then a final roll of the dice - Groß for Stephens. An air of desperation about that one, we needed a goal, but as impressive as Trossard was at times, the diminutive Belgian looked dead on his feet from about 70 minutes. Ah well.
Time ticking, we prayed that our positive performance would be rewarded, a footballing cliché dripping from the lips of every fan inside the ground: “Just need one more big chance”. The 30,000 faithful willed it into being, if you can convince yourself the team HAS to get one more opportunity, just maybe it’ll fall.
Minute 87, the golden chance. It just had to be. SAKE.
Pascal over to take the corner, puffs out his chest and steadies himself for a trademark pinpoint delivery. The German thumps the ball into the area, Dunk with the decoy, Duffy fighting the Southampton defensive brigade to make it to the ball. It’s Murray who gets there, straining to get a touch on the ball - will the meek touch just trickle through harmlessly to Gunn? No, it bounces through, to Big Jürg in ACRES of space. FINISH IT JÜRGEN.
He can’t, he doesn’t. The forward’s effort cannons off the left hand post, our mythical last big chance comes and goes. Head in hands from the Dutchman, Duffy lies dejected on the ground. May have been offside anyway. Who cares. We deserved that.
As the game advanced into injury time, Saint’s sub Boufal showed the Dutchman how to make the right impact, making it to the byline and smartly crossing for Redmond to tap home. Game over, despite the home side’s valiant efforts and brave approach. Captain Dunk sinks down, he’s absolutely gutted. Very harsh.
A massive task away next week, as we take on the seemingly unstoppable football machine that is Manchester City. Still, Potter gave it a pretty good go last year…
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