‘Saints were again cost by a mix of nerves, complacancy and most worryingly a distinct lack of second half effort’
If Southampton are to make the Coca-Cola Championship play-offs then Victories are minumum requirment between now and May, how they come and in what form is not of interest to anyone involved with the club.
Last nights 2-2 draw at home to play-off rivals Cardiff City was hardly what Saints needed and added to Southampton`s run of only one win in there last five fixtures it is getting more and more desperate in the race for a top 6 finish.
Two first half goals from the saints should have been enogth for all three points thogh. Chris Baird slammed Southampton in front on 29 minutes with a 30 yard screamer and in the last few seconds before the interval it was Bradley Wright Phillips who reacted quickest to tap saints 2-0 ahead after the City keeper had made a poor cleareance from a Marek Saganowski header.
Cardiff City were near on invisable in the first half but came out in the second reinvigorated. Southampton were again cost by a mix of nerves, complacancy and most worryingly a distinct lack of second half effort.
Steve Thompson got the away side back into the game on the hour mark with his first touch of the ball after being substituted on. Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis was the only player on the pitch deserving any second half praise, there is no doubt that if it wasent for a string of fantastic saves City would have been on level terms much earlier then they were.
A 20 yard drive from former Aston Villa man Peter Whittingham broke saints fans hearts on 86 minutes as it just crept in in the corner of the net to bring the game level.
Southampton (4-4-2): K Davies ? C Baird, C Lundekvam, D Powell (sub: C Makin, 46min), G Bale ? A Surman, P Pele, J Viáfara, R Skacel (sub: N Dyer, 65) ? B Wright-Phillips, M Saganowski (sub: L Best, 82). Substitutes not used: B Bialkowski, G Rasiak. Booked: Pele, Viáfara, Saganowski.
Cardiff City (4-4-2): N Alexander ? K McNaughton, R Johnson, G Loovens (sub: C Gunter, 64), J Ledley ? P Parry, R Scimeca, S McPhail, P Whittingham ? M Chopra, J Byrne (sub: S Thompson, 59). Substitutes not used: D Forde, S Walton, M Green. Booked: McPhail.
Referee: I Williamson.
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