Another frustrating afternoon for Saints. Another draw. That’s 12 draws now this season, more than any other team in England. The result was all the more predictable considering Wolves have also drawn 8 times this season.
Considering we went into this game with so many injuries and the suspension of Quashie it could be argued that a draw was a good result, especially away from home. Some of the fringe players were given the chance to show what they can do and in some ways the game highlighted the depth of the squad, as Saints started the game in determined fashion and were the better team for much of the first half.
As you’d expect from such a makeshift midfield some passes went astray but otherwise they worked hard to keep on top of a tough tackling Wolves team. Oakley was excellent and controlled the midfield. Folly, although not doing much wrong in central midfield, has yet to show
Saints fans what he can do. Today he struggled to keep with the pace of the game but that has to be partly due to his lack of first team matches. He must have the ability or he wouldn’t have represented France at every level up to under 21’s, were just still waiting for him to show it. He may get a few games in the first team now and its probably his last chance to make an impact at the club.
Saints had the best of the chances in the first half, the easiest falling to Ormerod in the 20th minute. He latched onto a neat through ball to find himself one on one with the Wolves keeper, where his lack of confidence in front of goal became apparent and he stroked it
tamely at Stefan Postma.
It was promising to see the front two of Walcott and Ormerod getting into some good scoring positions, even if they couldn’t get the breakthrough their hard work deserved. Ormerod looked better than he has in recent matches and hopefully just needs a goal to boost his
confidence. As Redknapp said on the official site ‘I feel for Brett.
You have never seen anyone work as hard as he did today or cover as much ground. His work-rate was phenomenal and he has a great attitude.
He is a terrific pro but he needs a goal’. Walcott again impressed with his blistering pace, which on numerous occasions saw him caught offside as he tried over eagerly to escape the Wolves defence. He’s obviously still very young and learning but he has no fear when he’s got the ball at his feet and that’s what makes him such an exciting prospect to watch. In the second half he did manage to get free when released down the left by Kosowski. His excellent control took him straight towards goal but his low shot was excellently saved by
Postma.
During the second half Wolves came back into the game, the substitution of the pedestrian Darren Anderton for the tricky South Korean Ki-Hyeon Seol particularly giving the impetus to Wolves, his runs and crosses had our defence looking worryingly shaky. In the end the game was only kept to a stalemate by the heroics of both
goalkeepers. The best save coming from Niemi in the 82nd minute, when the Finn had to dive full stretch to turn away Huddlestones powerful drive one handed.
In the end a draw was a fair result but its still totally frustrating and leaves Saints languishing in mid table, which is just not good enough considering the players we have. We need to start stringing some wins together fast.
By Stefan Cormacey
By Stefan Cormacey
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