SAINTS extended their unbeaten run to 18 matches in all competitions by emphatically beating Blackburn Rovers 3-0 at St Mary’s last night.
The win sees Tonda Eckert’s side move to within 3 points of second placed Ipswich who lost 2-0 last night at Fratton Park. Pompey have certainly had a say in the promotion picture as they defeated Middlesbrough in dramatic fashion on Saturday. Saints host the Tractor boys in a crunch promotion clash on the 28th April.
But with that now out of the way, lets review last night’s action with ratings from each individual player.
GK- Daniel Peretz: 7/10
The Israeli had a fairly quiet night but when called upon responded well. His only notable save was in the 80th minute when he parried out Yuki Ohashi’s strike away from goal and was fortunate enough to see Ryoya Morishita’s thunderous strike rattle the crossbar. The January recruit’s distribution was good and with the confidence he has allows saints to hold a higher defensive line. It was a night where those in front of him made his night easier.
RB- James Bree: 6/10
Played just the opening 45 of this game and was replaced by Nathan Wood. A smart desicion by Eckert as Bree has transformed Saints fortunes since returning from his 6 month loan at Charlton. The 28 year old did create one big chance in the game, with his corner meeting Cyle Larin’s head in the 14th minute but the Canadian was denied by Balazs Toth. Another one who had a fairly easy night.
RCB- Taylor Harwood-Bellis: 8/10
What stood out with THB last night was his range of passing and on the ball work. One particular pass was in the 70th minute when his defence splitting ball found Cyle Larin who then teed up Hyuru Matsuki but the latter skied from around 8 yards. The 24 year old also made six clearances, one tackle and four headed clearences.
LCB- Jack Stephens (C): 7/10
Another composed performance from the skipper who continues his formidable partnership with Harwood-Bellis. During this unbeaten run, Stephens had played every single minute possible in the league and led by example. last night was a routine night for him as he helped Saints keep a 6th home league clean sheet from the previous eight.
LB- Ryan Manning: 9/10
The Irishman celebrated his 100th league appearance for the club with a goal and three massive points. It was Manning’s 7th goal of the Championship campaign. Whether it’s his, I’ll let the dubious goal panel to deicde that. Manning also made 6 passes into the final third and created three chances. All in all another very good night for him.
CDM- Shea Charles: 9/10
This man simply has to start when available. His ball carrying ability is frightening and is such a key cog in Saint’s system. The Northern Irishman made 12 passes into the final third constantly linking play between the midfield and attack. It was his pass that set Leo Scienza away who then found Cameron Archer for goal number 3 last night.
CDM- Cameron Bragg: 7/10
The youngster keeps showing maturity above his years with yet another composed perfomance in the middle of the park. It was his first league start since March 14th against Coventry, and there was probably no better game to return in.
RW- Tom Fellows: 6/10
A young man who needs a goal. He didn’t necessarily do anything wrong last night, but is a player clearly lacking in confidence. Every pass is sideways and there is a reluctance to beat a man and get a final ball into the box. Only Cyle Larin and Kyuru Matsuki registered fewer touches and in a Tonda Eckert system where getting the ball into wide areas is much as possible is a neccesity fellows once again struggled to make meaningful impact.
AM- Kyuru Matsuki: 6.5/10
An interesting one as he did lots well but we can’t forget about his glaring miss. but I’ll start with the positives first. Matsuki’s ball unleashed Cameron Archer who squared for the opener. it was a clever position taken up by the Japanese international and the ball in behind was even better. he saw an effort saved by Toth in the 23rd effort but that was a relatively comfortable save for the Hungarian. Now the glaring miss. It would’ve been one of the goals of the season with a back to front move saw Matsuki lash at the chance in the 70th minute, he did everything right but find the net.
LW- Cameron Archer: 10/10 MOTM
It’s going to be hard to drop him for Swansea on Saturday. one goal one assist and one regalvanised Cameron Archer. His best performance in a Saints shirt and one he really needed. Saints have a busy schedule and competition for position is only a good thing for Tonda Eckert at this stage of the season. The german has managed players very well. Archer, a bit like Edozie has felt loved again and is hopefully back to his best.
ST: Cyle Larin: 8/10
Led the line fantastically and notched his sixth goal in what has been a productive loan spell for the Canadian. Eckert knew Ross Stewart had to be managed due to his injury record but having Larin as deputy has proved a master stroke. he drops deep to bring others into play, wins duels, works hard and most importantly knows where the back of the net it. His unselfish play in the 70th minute should’ve rewarded him with an assist but as mentioned previously Kyuru Matsuki couldn’t find the net.
Substitutes:
–Leo Scienza: 8/10
Fans are running out of superlatives to describe how good this man is. His electric play caused a whole host of issues for the blackburn defence last night and he managed to register an assist in the 19 minutes he played. He freshened up the forward line and is sharp ahead of the Swansea game
–Nathan Wood: 7/10
Came on at half time for James Bree and helped preserve the clean sheet. There was one tackle he put in that was as clean as a whistle as Blackburn made a rare surge into the Southampton penalty area. It was the first time Wood played more than 20 minutes in a league game since Saints last league loss on January 17th.
–Wellington, Flynn Downes, Jay Robinson: 5/10
All three helped see out the game. Nothing else to add.
