Having been stuck in traffic, Saints start to their match against West Ham couldn't have been more lethargic. Saints are nearly always bright at the start of games, and it has paid off often enough with goals. Last night, however, West Ham ran the match completely for the first 30 minutes.
Paolo di Canio, in particular, looked likely to punish Saints for their lack lustre opening spell. He was more than happy to run at our defence and create for his team-mates. Fortunately for the Saints, Di Canio received a knock early on and his effectiveness waned until he could play no further part in the game. Likewise, West Ham ad numerous opportunities to relieve the pressure on their manager, but these waned as the first half progressed.
Jermain Defoe put a clear shot at goal from 12 yards wide after nine minutes. After fifteen, Trevor Sinclair couldn't direct his header from a Di Canio freekick. Stand in striker, Ian Pearce had his effort saved on the line from a superb Antti Niemi. Pearce had an even better chance, on thirty five minutes after being released in space by Joe Cole. Niemi stood his ground in the Saints goal to prevent Pearce getting the opener.
Faced with the prospect of even more chances against their 'keeper, Saints began to get into the game. Saints began winning the tackles they had been second best at, they pressed their opponents well, and they had men available to pick up from any West Ham errors. As a result it was the turn of David James to keep out an effort from Delap on forty one minutes. Delap, whose hard working attitude saw him preferred once again to Anders Svensson, made a good run into the West Ham box but tried and failed to chip David James.
Saints had not only managed to go into the break level, but there were glimmers that we would see their normal selves after a little pep talk by Strachan. Strachan clearly felt that Delgado was being ineffectual and brought him off. Surprisingly, he didn't replace him with the dynamic Brett Ormerod, but chose to bring on another midfielder in Anders Svensson. Svensson's remit was to provide that missing link between the midfield and Saints lone striker. While a reasonable idea, Saints seem to always work best with a 4-4-2, and Beattie once again ploughed a lonely furrow with no one available to bring into the attack.
With Saints having only one up front, West Ham began with another bright spell and Saints fans were faced with the uncomfortable prospect of the first half repeating itself. Jermaine Defoe had two opportunities to put West Ham ahead after an hour. The first he failed to connect cleanly with, the second went straight at Niemi with better options available in the box.
Once again, Saints came back into the game and began to show signs of their normal selves. Saints fitness and determination were clearly evident; testament to the work Strachan has put in. As West Ham flagged, Saints looked stronger and stronger.
Strachan brought on Ormerod for the largely unimpressive Matt Oakley, and Saints had a balanced look about them again. Fernandes was being given more and more space down the right while Marsden was having a good game on the left, marshalling the play and getting his foot in.
It was almost a West Ham player who handed Saints a goal, as David James tried to clear the ball form the box. In the first half James had cleverly eluded a Saints striker after a short backpass. In the second half, and under no pressure whatsoever, James thought he'd try it again. He managed to hit the ball against his own leg and managed to get into a tangle with the roving Rory Delap.
Saints should have gone a goal up with twelve minutes remaining, when the irritating Repka, shoulder charged Beattie off the ball just on the edge of the penalty area. Repka had made no attempt whatsoever to get to the ball and he sent Beattie stumbling down. While the referee was well placed, it remains a mystery why the penalty wasn't given.
With Saints now very much on top, James had to make another save from Fernandes. On the touchline Glenn Roeder was pointing his fingers to his temples, either to to tell his players to keep focused or to try and influence the play telekinetically as it slipped away from him.
Roeder was right to be worried. Brett Ormerod proved to be the Hammer's downfall. Ormerod had been making a nuisance of himself since his introduction, not to mention his no nonsense approach to Repka, and in the last minute got himself clear on the left. In the penalty box, James Beattie peeled away form his marker who was aiming to intercept any cross. Brett didn't just send in any cross however, he sent in an pin-point perfect ball which Beattie latched onto and send easily past James.
West Ham were shattered by this and lost all fight while Saints celebrated their endeavour even though it had taken them much of the first half to even get into the game.
In last year's fixture, the press reckoned that either Roeder or Stuart Gray would be sacked if they lost. Annoyingly, they were correct and Gray got the axe. This season it could well be Roeder's turn although the West Ham fans seemed vociferous in wanting the departure of their chairman. Last year, I thought Gray had a few games more in him to turn it around. After all, you couldn't sack someone after an away result, could you ? But look at us now. Strachan is by far the better manager. He has introduced a far better level of fitness, commitment, confidence and ability in our squad.
Many West Ham fans think that their side should be heavily invested in to take them up to the heights of European contention. The likes of Everton this season show that this level of investment isn't needed to produce a strong, committed team. West Ham aren't doing the basics right with the players they have. Adding personnel isn't going to solve anything. Saints have shown this season that you can thrive on a shoestring budget which in these precarious financial times, is a trick a number of clubs could do well to emulate.
Our man of the match: Chris Marsden (although Niemi comes close)
Their man of the match: Paolo Di Canio (The Hammers are clueless without him)
Teams:
West Ham James, Winterburn, Repka, Dailly, Pearce, Schemmel, Carrick, Sinclair, Cole, Di Canio (Moncur 77), Defoe.
Subs Not Used: Van Der Gouw, Minto, Breen, Camara.
Booked: Repka.
Southampton Niemi, Dodd, Lundekvam, Bridge, Michael Svensson, Oakley (Ormerod 66), Marsden, Delap, Fernandes (Telfer 90), Delgado (Anders Svensson 45), Beattie.
Subs Not Used: Jones, Telfer.