Banana
21st February 2005, 12:44
A superb second-half fightback more than made up for some uncharacteristic errors in the first half, and in the end we were good value for the draw, and will fancy our chances of pulling off an upset back at Griffin Park.
Martin Allen stuck to his tried-and-tested 4-5-1, but with Hargreaves failing a fitness test Andy Frampton deputised in the centre of midfield, and Steve Hunt dropped to the bench, with Jay Tabb starting. Saints fielded a near full-strength side, with only Redknapp of the players available, rested, and Crouch, Philips and Camara forming a three-pronged strikeforce.
It took only 4 minutes for them to capitalise on some sluggish Bees defending, as a neat passing movement saw Le Saux played in beyond Dobson on Saints left flank, and he was able to roll the ball across the six yard box for Camara to tuck in. The game-plan could so easily have gone out of the window there and then, but we stuck to our task, and minutes later Dobson’s throw was flicked on by Eddie Hutchinson and Deon Burton found himself in space at the back post and attempted to hook the dropping ball in. The angle was tight though, and Paul Smith was able to make a fine point-blank stop.
Rankin and Tabb were proving useful outlets down the wings, and Stewart Talbot was sitting just in front of the back four, and making several crucial interventions. Saints showed plenty of pace on the counter though, and forced several corners. A succession of good deliveries from Le Saux posed problems, with centre-back Davenport smacking one header against the bar, and Nelson going full-length to turn another from Crouch round the post.
At the other end Smith was forced to tip over a rising drive from Tabb, but we still looked a bit nervous, with too many slips and misplaced passes. We were undone in the 36th minute as Nelson’s kick from hand deflected up off the head of the retreating Philips, only to be gathered by Crouch, who was able to slip the Saints striker through on goal. Nelson got down well to turn away his low shot, but only into the path of Camara, who’d been in an offside position for the initial pass, but who the officials let claim his, and Saints’, second.
2-0 down away to a top-flight club, with half-time still nearly ten minutes away, we were facing a stern test, and fortunately Martin’s troops were up to it. Within five minutes Sam Sodje saw an opportunity to run the ball out of defence, and continuing into the Saints half he released Isiah Rankin, who had swapped flanks with Tabb, down the left-hand channel; and to the delight of the away support he took on Delap before cutting back onto his right-foot and rifling a shot past Smith and in off the foot of the post.
2-1 at half time, and game on! Allen resisted the temptation to give the tireless Deon Burton a partner up front, probably believing that with more consistency in midfield we could still get back into the game. So it proved with his collection of old pros and non-league hopefuls turning on the style at times, and making our extra bodies in the centre of the pitch count. With the hour mark approaching Tabb made some space for himself on the right flank, and his beautifully floated cross evaded Smith, and Sodje stole in at the far post to nod in from one yard.
Chances came for us to snatch victory from what had looked certain defeat – Frampton forced to swing his weaker right foot at a half-volley from the edge of the area that flew straight to Smith, and getting another chance from similar range, after Burton’s laid-off free-kick was blocked. This time his effort was more cleanly struck, but span up off an outstretched leg and Smith was able to make a diving stop.
We did tire in the last 15 minutes though, and at the other end Turner had to be at his very best to make a last-ditch block on Kevin Phillips. Rankin made way for May, and the visibly shattered Burton for Hunt, whose main contribution was an unconvincing fall over an outstretched Saints leg on the byeline. Almost certainly not a penalty, but one we’ve all seen given (usually to Hunt). As the final whistle neared Nelson had to react instinctively to keep out another Crouch header from a corner, and Henri Camara blazed narrowly wide when well-placed.
For a split-second it looked as though our impressive second-half display might have been for nothing, as Phillips reacted quickest to seize on a knocked-down corner and fire home with the last kick of the game, but the flag raised against Camara on the other side of the six-yard box delivered us the draw we had richly deserved.
Nelson 7 – redeemed himself with a couple of good stops, but suspect kicking finally cost us a goal
Turner 8- shaky start, but soon found his feet
Sodje 8- surprisingly deft pass to set up the first, in the right place to convert the second
Dobson 6 – given a hard time by Bernard and Le Saux
Salako 7- did better than might have been expected against the pace of Camara
Talbot 8 – superb, crucial tackles, generally good distribution
Hutchinson 7 – covered tons of ground
Frampton 6 – made a good fist of unfamiliar role
Tabb 8 – gave Saints lots of problems
Rankin 8 – willing runner, great finish for the first
Burton 7 – so much crucial work in isolated striking role
May 6 – held the ball up well, when our legs started to tire
Hunt 6 – showed intent in brief cameo. Greedy in looking for penalty when options were on
Harrold – only on for seconds
Martin Allen stuck to his tried-and-tested 4-5-1, but with Hargreaves failing a fitness test Andy Frampton deputised in the centre of midfield, and Steve Hunt dropped to the bench, with Jay Tabb starting. Saints fielded a near full-strength side, with only Redknapp of the players available, rested, and Crouch, Philips and Camara forming a three-pronged strikeforce.
It took only 4 minutes for them to capitalise on some sluggish Bees defending, as a neat passing movement saw Le Saux played in beyond Dobson on Saints left flank, and he was able to roll the ball across the six yard box for Camara to tuck in. The game-plan could so easily have gone out of the window there and then, but we stuck to our task, and minutes later Dobson’s throw was flicked on by Eddie Hutchinson and Deon Burton found himself in space at the back post and attempted to hook the dropping ball in. The angle was tight though, and Paul Smith was able to make a fine point-blank stop.
Rankin and Tabb were proving useful outlets down the wings, and Stewart Talbot was sitting just in front of the back four, and making several crucial interventions. Saints showed plenty of pace on the counter though, and forced several corners. A succession of good deliveries from Le Saux posed problems, with centre-back Davenport smacking one header against the bar, and Nelson going full-length to turn another from Crouch round the post.
At the other end Smith was forced to tip over a rising drive from Tabb, but we still looked a bit nervous, with too many slips and misplaced passes. We were undone in the 36th minute as Nelson’s kick from hand deflected up off the head of the retreating Philips, only to be gathered by Crouch, who was able to slip the Saints striker through on goal. Nelson got down well to turn away his low shot, but only into the path of Camara, who’d been in an offside position for the initial pass, but who the officials let claim his, and Saints’, second.
2-0 down away to a top-flight club, with half-time still nearly ten minutes away, we were facing a stern test, and fortunately Martin’s troops were up to it. Within five minutes Sam Sodje saw an opportunity to run the ball out of defence, and continuing into the Saints half he released Isiah Rankin, who had swapped flanks with Tabb, down the left-hand channel; and to the delight of the away support he took on Delap before cutting back onto his right-foot and rifling a shot past Smith and in off the foot of the post.
2-1 at half time, and game on! Allen resisted the temptation to give the tireless Deon Burton a partner up front, probably believing that with more consistency in midfield we could still get back into the game. So it proved with his collection of old pros and non-league hopefuls turning on the style at times, and making our extra bodies in the centre of the pitch count. With the hour mark approaching Tabb made some space for himself on the right flank, and his beautifully floated cross evaded Smith, and Sodje stole in at the far post to nod in from one yard.
Chances came for us to snatch victory from what had looked certain defeat – Frampton forced to swing his weaker right foot at a half-volley from the edge of the area that flew straight to Smith, and getting another chance from similar range, after Burton’s laid-off free-kick was blocked. This time his effort was more cleanly struck, but span up off an outstretched leg and Smith was able to make a diving stop.
We did tire in the last 15 minutes though, and at the other end Turner had to be at his very best to make a last-ditch block on Kevin Phillips. Rankin made way for May, and the visibly shattered Burton for Hunt, whose main contribution was an unconvincing fall over an outstretched Saints leg on the byeline. Almost certainly not a penalty, but one we’ve all seen given (usually to Hunt). As the final whistle neared Nelson had to react instinctively to keep out another Crouch header from a corner, and Henri Camara blazed narrowly wide when well-placed.
For a split-second it looked as though our impressive second-half display might have been for nothing, as Phillips reacted quickest to seize on a knocked-down corner and fire home with the last kick of the game, but the flag raised against Camara on the other side of the six-yard box delivered us the draw we had richly deserved.
Nelson 7 – redeemed himself with a couple of good stops, but suspect kicking finally cost us a goal
Turner 8- shaky start, but soon found his feet
Sodje 8- surprisingly deft pass to set up the first, in the right place to convert the second
Dobson 6 – given a hard time by Bernard and Le Saux
Salako 7- did better than might have been expected against the pace of Camara
Talbot 8 – superb, crucial tackles, generally good distribution
Hutchinson 7 – covered tons of ground
Frampton 6 – made a good fist of unfamiliar role
Tabb 8 – gave Saints lots of problems
Rankin 8 – willing runner, great finish for the first
Burton 7 – so much crucial work in isolated striking role
May 6 – held the ball up well, when our legs started to tire
Hunt 6 – showed intent in brief cameo. Greedy in looking for penalty when options were on
Harrold – only on for seconds