itsbeautifuloutside

Match Report

IBO Reporter : channonite

I guess this has turned out to be a half time report, given that the game ended 2-2 and there will now be a replay at St.Mary's.

There was a lot of navel-gazing amongst Saints fans after the match, feeling that a 0-2 lead won by Nathan Redmond's two goals (Who was it said that he had no end product again?!). My take on it, for what it's worth, is that there were six youngsters, either starting, or on the bench. That included Gunn, Slattery, Valery, Johnson, Barnes and Ramsey. Now that is something to be celebrated in my book. Gunn and Valery have already proved their worth and I reckon that at least two of the other four will go on to establish themselves as regulars in time (No, don't ask me which ones!).

So, Hasenhüttl rang the changes for this game, given the exertions of Chelsea just a few days before. One constant was another outing for Angus Gunn on goal, in front of hime were Cédric, Stephens, Vestergaard and Targett. Midfield was Elyounoussi, Slattery, Ward-Prowse and Redmond, with a front two of Austin and Long. Just looking at that side you wondered how they could get a result against 'Frank Lampard's Derby'™, as they seem to be called these days. There are so many weak spots all the way through the side.

Much to my surprise Saints started well, pressing high and it was only four minutes into the game before the pressure told, with Redmond working his way into the Derby area and firing a low shot towards the far corner. It was going in anyway, but just to make sure, a Derby defender managed to get a foot to it and diverted it beyond the goalie. It was still credited to Redmond though. 0-1.

Both sides then had half-chances, until Saints almost scored again when a great Ward-Prowse cross was just missed by Stephens at the far post.

Half-time arrived without any further goals and the Saints dressing room would have clearly been the happier of the two.

We didn't have to wait long in the second half for the first goal, as Redmond picked up the ball and drifted wide, then took aim and fired from all of 25 yards out. The ball fair flew into the net, giving the Derby goalie nothing to do, except pick the ball out of the net. 0-2 in the most spectacular of fashions.

This was the highpoint of the game, as far as we were concerned. The makeshift team had done well up to this point, but Lampard made a change that had an immediate impact, taking off one of his youngsters and sending on veteran David Nugent. Within nine minutes Derby were level, with goals from Marriott and Lawrence. You could point the finger at individual Saints players, but at the end of the day, it was a cup game and all sorts of things happen.

Saints were not downcast and very soon had an excellent chance to retake the lead, when Charlie Austin sent a cross across the face of goal and slap bang onto the head of Elyounoussi. Unfortunately he could only head the ball straight into the arms of Roos in the Derby goal.

Before long Hasenhüttl replaced Elyounoussi with Marcus Barnes for his debut.

There were chances for both sides in the final few minutes, but nothing actually came from any of them, so it is back to St.Mary's for the replay.

Half time, two quarters to play.