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Verdict: Bristol City 2 Saints 0

Last updated : 15 February 2009 By Saint Bobby
Relegation is not yet a mathematical certainty, but any Saints fan who believes we are remotely likely to secure half a dozen wins from our remaining games is guilty not merely of over-optimism, but self-delusion on a grand scale.

Akin to witnessing a loved one withering away from a terrible illness, many Saints fans will hope that the end comes as swiftly and painlessly as possible.

In a period of just six years, Southampton will have gone from playing at the Millennium stadium to playing at Milwall, from playing in Bucharest to playing in Brentford. Only Leeds United's spectacular fall from grace has been steeper and faster. And with Saints' precarious finances, we would be fools to believe that things are likely to improve any time soon.

There are no grounds for comfort as a Saints fan today. None whatsoever.

On a grey, chilly West Country afternoon, the sinking feeling is made worse still by suffering defeat at the hands of Bristol City - like Saints, a fairly modest football club from a large city; unlike Saints, a well-managed, stable club with plans to expand and a very realistic chance of breaking through into the Premiership elite.

Line-ups

In something vaguely resembling a traditional 4-4-2 formation, skipper Kelvin Davis was behind a centre-back pairing of Perry and Saeijs. Lloyd James started at right back with a recalled Rudi Skacel on the opposite flank. Jason Euell finally started a match in centre midfield, playing in a slightly more advanced role than that of Paul Wotton, the anchorman. Drew Surman began in left midfield and Morgan Schneiderlin was played out of position on the right. Saganowski and McGoldrick were again partnered up front.

Forecast, Liptak, McLaggon, Gillett and Lallana sat on the bench

First half: Under the cosh from the outset

Bristol City started the game with drive and purpose. Saints failed to get hold of the ball or string any passes together and ended up camped in their own half. The Southampton midfield didn't put enough pressure on the ball or put it to much use on the rare occasions when they actually got hold of it.

A flurry of corners for the hosts seemed to signal that a Bristol breakthrough was imminent. On fifteen minutes, Skacel provided them with a golden opportunity by gifting City a penalty for a totally unnecessary shirt pull in the box. But for the second time this season, Bristol City failed to beat Davis from the penalty spot. Orr's effort was far too close to the Saints keeper and was cleared to safety.

It looked, for a few minutes at least, that the reprieve might spur Saints into action. A smart run, shimmy and lay off by McGoldrick led to a decent effort rebounding off the near post. With so few scoring opportunities being carved out by Southampton, these chances need to hit the onion bag if we are to foster any hope of notching up victories.

Another let off for Saints came halfway through the first period when Adebola fired straight at Davis from eight yards. But just after the half hour mark, the pressure finally told when he finished off an easy one-on-one from what appeared to be a clear offside position.

Although a tremendous shot from Euell a couple of minutes later connected with the wrong side of the woodwork, the truth is that Saints could not complain about returning the dressing room a goal down.

Half-time: Bristol City 1 Saints 0

Second half: Huff and puff, but nothing more

Wotte made no changes to personnel or formation at half time, which was particularly frustrating as Schneiderlin looked totally at sea on the right wing.

But as is the way with every modern manager - barring Mourinho - there seems to be some unwritten code that no tactical alterations can be made until after the hour mark however blindingly obvious the failings of the starting formation.

In fairness, the territorial advantage was with Saints for most of the second half. Skacel and James were both able to advance down the flanks and, in Rudi's case at least, looked a good bet to provide the desperately needed opening for the Saints strikeforce.

With Drew Surman showing the reflexes and imagination of a concussed snail, surely the two left-sided players should have switched duties. City were increasingly happy to sit behind the ball and Saints' chance of getting back into the match would have been greatly enhanced had Skacel been unburdened of his defensive duties, which usually meant he was having to position himself twenty yards closer to the Saints goal than was optimal.

When teams are chasing a game and manage to get most of the play in their opponent's half, they are often said to be "knocking at the door". But Southampton's version of this is more like "lingering around sheepishly on the front lawn". You sometimes wonder if we have the remotest clue where or what a door is - or what we'd do to the door if we suddenly found ourselves standing right in front of it.

Although Saganowski had a very indifferent game, Wotte's decision to replace him with Kayne McLaggon with twenty minutes to go was bewildering.

You always felt that our best chance to equalise was a split second of Saga magic and to take off an experienced international when you're 1-0 down and deep in the relegation mire is ludicrous. Especially as his (alleged) co-striker McGoldrick looked like having less chance of scoring than I did of sucking the ball into the Bristol net from the back of the stands. And I'm a chain smoking asthmatic.

In fairness to the three subs who did come on - McLaggon, Gillett and Lallana - they all contributed well. But when your last throw of the dice is replacing Paul Wotton with Simon Gillett, you start to appreciate how hopelessly threadbare the present squad really is.

Defensively, Saints did okay and Kelvin Davis had nothing much to do in the second half - we only conceded the second goal as the keeper rightly went up for a last gasp corner. Ridiculously, as the ball was swung in, 90% of the away fans seemed to genuinely believe that Davis was the Saints player most likely to find the net. The tragedy is they were probably right.

City's keeper, Basso, was only really called into action in the dying minutes and was not required to make any saves that would come close to stretching a goalkeeper of his ability.

Another totally lamentable day at the office for Southampton. Truly, we are doomed.

Full-time: Bristol City 2 Saints 0

Man of the match: Rudi Skacel