Another frustrating performance and another result that should have been better than a draw. In previous weeks we’ve nicked wins with late goals but this week it was our turn to lose points with a last minute equalizer.
In truth Southampton got what they deserved. At least. They were the better side, played better football and had many more chances than Sunderland. But the manner in which they got the goal and the time in the game still leaves a bitter taste
It was changes yet again from Keane for this one, Nosworthy coming back in, Whitehead moving to the right of midfield and Wallace, returning from suspension, replacing Hysen.
For Southampton it was the return of 2 old boys, Chris Makin and of course Kelvin Davis. The former was cheered, the latter was jeered, although to be fair it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be and was very light hearted.
It would have been tempting for one of our players to try a cheeky 50 yarder just for old times sake to test him out, in fact it would have been handy for one of us to just have an effort but these were few and far between all game. The first half followed the same pattern as most this season, a slow start, poor passing, no urgency and when we do get in promising areas the final ball is always lacking.
Davis had little to do; Ward on the other hand had plenty to do with their front men regularly getting shots on goal. Several from quite far out but it was an indication that they were picking the loose balls up around our box. The defenders will take the blame for much of this but I think the midfield has a lot to do in this area too. Dwight Yorke is excellent with the ball at his feet and looking to create but while he does get back well enough I’m not sure his instinct is there to defend so is often second best to the ball. Maybe this is the area where someone like Leadbitter is useful. Kavanagh, still returning from injury didn’t have a great game, but they are the 2 best players we’ve got so I’m not sure of the answer.
Second half and Ward still had plenty to do, then just after the hour a free kick just outside the area gave us a chance to finally test Davis. He didn’t get a touch however as Wallace curled it into the left hand corner to put us one up. It was a fine strike and further enhances Wallaces reputation. He’s fast becoming our major attacking outlet and while he didn’t see a great deal of the ball on the left today, when he did he was always a threat.
After the goal we were guilty of sitting back on the lead, we went 1 up front and 5 in the middle and it really just invited them onto us. I can see why Keane did it but in hindsight it was perhaps not the best move. In the final 10 minutes Ward again was called on to make crucial saves. One from a header from a corner was as good a save as I have seen for a long time. He came from nowhere, tipped the close range header onto the bar, it bounced down onto the goal line and was hooked away. At this point you though it might be our day. However as injury time beckoned the ball fell to Bale on the edge of the area and his shot deflected past Ward into the net. It was perhaps the only way he would have been beaten and was very unlucky but it’s difficult to begrudge Southampton the point.
While it was a disappointing performance, there were some good individual displays and not from the usual suspects. Other than the mentioned Wallace and Ward, Nosworthy had probably his most assured game for Sunderland and was good going forward while Collins played well at the back.
We need 3 points next week against Colchester or else the play-offs begin to look fairly distant and the doom mongers will start to talk about a relegation fight.
Man of the match – Darren Ward
Report by marcopaul
