Saints made the 6 hour round trip to Plymouth on a wet Devon day.
Saints have shown that they can get results away from home, the last 4 away games ending in draws.
Saints started much the better of the 2 sides, the returning Alexander Ostlund was cheered by saints fans after a 3 month spell on the sidelines.
It was Ostlund who had a part in the breakthrough, Adam Hamill tackled back, half way inside the saints half, Alexander Ostlund played a superb ball round the defence, BRADLEY WRIGHT-PHILLIPS showed fantastic control and smashed the ball past the Plymouth keeper after just 15 minutes. The very vocal travelling support were sent crazy by a superb goal.
The surface was very wet and heavy but still saints tried to pass the ball.
Davis Norris a one time saints target went looking for a penalty and quite rightly didn’t get it, he took a blatant dive in the box, the ref Uriah Renne got the decison right (for once). But didn’t book diving David.
Despite saints dominating Plymouth had a good chance, saints had 5 chances to clear the ball but failed to do so, Davis made a save at the feet of Halmosi and then made the second, a superb diving save away to his left, he also made a fine save not long after that, the ball almost looped over him after he had made a good save.
Saints held out until half time
Half time: Plymouth Argyle 0-1 Southampton.
Just 5 minutes into the second half Plymouth were back on level terms, Sawyer played the ball to Halmosi who skipped past the not quite match-fit Alexander Ostlund, he played a ball accross the box to RORY FALLON, who sidefooted past the inform Kelvin Davis. Fallon had been previously hopeless, but got the all important goal.
Saints fan were getting behind the team, despite the set back of a goal, The Barn Park end almost packed to the rafters with Southampton supporters.
The saints were without 2 key midfielders, Viafara was suspended for having got 5 yellow cards, and Youseff Safri is away on African Cup of Nations duty, this showed as saints found keeping the ball in the midfield tough.
Halmosi was by far the best Argyle player on the pitch and he almost scored a winner, but for the best player on the pitch, his superb shot was parried by Kelvin Davis who then came from nowhere to save Fallon’s follow up.
Saints were denied a perfectly good penalty on 77 minutes, Surman got the ball in the middle of the park and played a beautiful chip ball over the back 4, Rasiak took the ball in his stride, he poked the ball round the keeper before being rashly brought down by Luke McCormick’s hands, it was a stonewall penalty, there was definate contact and certainly enough to bring Rasiak down, but Uriah Rennie had the cheek to book Rasiak for diving, it was even more cheeky concidering when Norris did actually dive he didn’t get booked.
Saints could have won it in the end, Plymouth only half cleared and the ball fell for Jermaine Wright, who lashed a shot from 18 yards, which may of skimmed the post in the dying seconds.
Full Time.
Plucky Plymouth 1 Super Saints 1.
Player Ratings
Kelvin Davis 9
Superb game, couldn’t do anything about the Argyle goal.
Alexander Ostlund 7
Wasn’t match fit but battled through and set-up Wright-Phillips’ goal, nice to see him back in action.
Darren Powell 7
An average game, some good headed clearences.
Andrew Davies 8
Another good defensive performance by the young centre-half.
Gregory Vignal 7
Found it tough, but kept Norris quiet, he has O’Holloran in the squad now who will battle for Vignal’s place.
Adam Hammill 7
Another fairly good performance from the youngstar.
Jermaine Wright 7
Passed the ball well, almost scored near the end. A good return to the midfield.
Jason Euell 4
Another very poor performance.
Andrew Surman 7
Battled hard, showed passion and skill but didn’t quite live up to the standard he set himself.
Bradley Wright-Phillips 8
Took his goal well and looked dangerous.
Grzegorz Rasiak 7
Should have had a penalty, but with Uriah Rennie in the middle, what do you expect?
Inigo Idiakez 7
Replaced Adam Hammill on 57 minutes.
Tried hard, another step-up from his road to recovery.
Wayne Thomas 7
Replaced Alexander Ostlund on 77 minutes.
Came on at right-back and offered some width, despite being a centre-half at trade.
Replaced Grzegorz Rasiak on 80 minutes.
Offered abit of spark for the last 10 minutes.