Saints went into this game with only 1 defeat in there last 14 in all competitions and were confident in improving on that run with the visit of Burnley who had been on a run of bad form
First Half
The game started slowly with the only chances being from distance.
The opening 15minutes saw the away side look more in control with a chance from Eric Djemba Djemba. Saints best chance of the first 15minutes was a shot from Gareth Bale from a free kick, but by his high standards it was very poor and it was fired straight at the wall.
Southampton were struggling to put any pressure on the away side with Burnley looking far the better side without having any clear cut chances themselves. On 26 minutes Jermaine Wright fired a shot from 30yards but it went woefully wide
By the half an hour mark the game hadn`t really improved with both sides failing to make any good chances. On 30 minutes a great run by Jones saw saint`s best chance of the game so far, after taking the ball half the length of the pitch his ball across the box went straight across the line without any saint`s players getting close to it.
Southampton were looking very predictable as Burnley were having no trouble cutting out saints attempts of long balls.
On 32 minutes saints won there first corner of the game which Bale took, Rasiak climbed highest to head the ball, but it skewed wide of the goal. Burley was issuing orders on the touchline for his team to lift the pace and push on faster.
Burnley player Harley found himself getting the first yellow card on 34 minutes after he ankle tapped Mario Licka as he looked to be breaking threw.
From the resulting free kick after a scuffle in the box Darren Powell got a yellow card.
On 36 minutes Pele had a shot from the edge of the box but like Wright earlier on it went woefully over the bar.
Mccgoldrick was looking good when he was on the ball and on 42minutes he made an excellent mazy run to set up Rasiak who shot wide.
As the first half approached St Mary`s was almost completely silent with Saints being unable to make any real good chances.
2 minutes were given for extra time which is something that Saints defiantly needed. The last action of the first half belonged to Burnley who had a chance with a free kick which Djemba Djemba fired over.
Some of the home crowd booed the team as the half time whistle went. It also appeared that Darren Powell was extemley angry coming off the pitch he was said to be heard saying ‘You no what you said’ Over and over to a Burnley player
Half Time Score – Southampton 0 Burnley 0
Second Half
Bradley Wright Phillips was subbed on at half time replacing Kenwyen Jones.
Wade Elliot placed a misplaced cross across the box straight from the kick off which forced Davis to tip it over for a corner. Lafferty also had a chance for Burnley but his shot from the edge of the box was straight at Kelvin Davis who parried it then picked it up.
Saints won a free kick on 48 minutes near the corner flag, Bale put it in and it had to be headed out for a corner. Bale took the corner but it was easily cleared. Mccgoldrick also had a chance on 50 minutes but his snap shot was always going over.
On 53 Minutes a long ball forward by Davis led to a saint`s free kick, Bale took it from 25 yard which missed the left hand post by no more then an inch with the keeper well beaten
Southampton appeared to have eventually stepped up there game, and had started the 2nd half a lot better then they ended the first.
On 56 minutes Bale won saints a free kick and took it himself, Pollit had to rise to punch it out for a throw. Following the throw saints had a string of passes before Rasiak went down in the box wanting a penalty, the ref said no and to be fair it was completely the correct decision no to give it.
The game had suddenly come alive and saints went on to win consecutive corners as they started to put together some continued pressure on Burnley.
On the hour mark Jermain Wright put a fantastic ball into the box which Mccgoldrick couldn`t quite bring under control. Then Bale placed a great ball into the box which Pollit put behind for yet another corner which ultimately came to nothing.
Saints won another free kick near the edge of the box on 67 minutes after Duff was penalised for a high foot. Bale yet again took it but he couldn`t get the curl on the ball correct and it went wide.
On 73 minutes Wright Phillips placed an east header straight into the hands of Michael Pollit. Apart from the odd counter attack Burnley had been played out of the game in the second half. On 76 minutes Burnley did have a chance from a corner but Wade Elliot`s corner went straight across the box and out for a throw
On 80minutes some nice control from Gregorz Rasiak prompted a lob volley attempt but it went way over.
On 82minutes there was a major shout for a penalty when Mario Licka appeared to be tripped inside the box by Mcgreal but the ref said no and saints won a corner which led to nothing, George Burley seemed in sensed on the touchline. After the corner a period of saints passing led to a Licka snap shot which went straight into the keeper`s arms.
Ade Akinbiyi got threw on 85 minutes but Kelvin Davis sprinted out to tackle and then clear the ball up field. On 86 minutes the game was really looking like a 0-0. Burnley had been outplayed in the second half. But even with saints stepping up there performance they had failed to make any clear cut chances.
On the 89th minute a Mccgoldrick shot was deflected out for a corner. Bale took it took it short, swapped passes with Licka before the ball was cleared easily from the resulting cross.
On 91 minutes saints won another free kick after O`Conner received a yellow card, Bale went across to put it in the box but his shot was weak and it bounced straight into the keeper`s arms.
The game eventually ended as boos again rang out after the game. Saints had basically not been nearly creative enough.
Southampton had been by far the better team in the second half but couldn`t create any more then half chances.
Line Ups
Southampton
Kelvin Davies, Chris Baird, Darren Powell, Claus Ludekvam, Gareth Bale,
Kenwyne Jones, Jermaine Wright, Mario Licka, Pedro Pele, Gregorz Raziak, David Mcgoldrick
Burnley
Michael Pollit, Wayne Thomas, Michael Duff, John Mcreal, Jon Harley, Wade Elliot, James O`Conner, Chris Mccann, Eric Djemba Djemba, Ade Akinbiyi, Kyle Lafferty
Player Ratings
Kelvin Davis – 6/10
Very little to do but did do well with what he was required to do. Looked much more assured then previous games.
Chris Baird – 6/10
Looked ok on the right, put a couple of good crosses in the box and defended ok. But like much of the team he was average at best
Darren Powell – 6/10
Defended ok but in fairness was very rarely called upon to do much
Claus Ludekvam – 6/10
Just the same as Powell, Defended ok but in fairness was very rarely called upon to do much
Gareth Bale – 7/10
Took some good corners and played on dispite picking up a knock early in the second half. Ok proformance but by Bales standards he is capable of much more.
Kenwyne Jones – 5/10
Came off at half time after being almost invisable during the time he spent on the pitch
Jermaine Wright – 6/10
Did ok in the middle of the park, played some nice passes and had a couple of shots from distance.
Mario Licka – 5/10
Tough game for Licka, he had very little space to do much as for long spells was vertually invisable
Pedro Pele – 6/10
Very simaler to Wright, Did ok in the middle of the park, played some nice passes and had a couple of shots from distance.
David Mcgoldrick – 6/10
Looked good in spells, had some nice runs and a good couple of snap shots
Gregorz Raziak – 4/10
Virtually invisable, very poor from Gregorz, allthogh to be fair he didnt get the ball at his feet as much as he would have wanted
Bradley Wright Phillips – 5/10
Came on a half time. Looked quite to be fair but as with Raziak he didnt get the ball at his feet as much as he would have wanted
Manager Rating
Burley Seemed to not want to make any subs, as the game went on it became apparent that saints were desperate for some inspiration and yet still he let it play out the way it was. I give Burley a 5/10 this week
Opponent Rating
Steve Cotterill didnt really put his side out there to play for the 3 points, our atleast it didnt seem that way, it seemed more like he set his stall out to frustrate and contain saints, which Burnley in the end did so based on that id give Cotterill a respectable 7/10 rating
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