1st Fizzy Pop Win

[GlosterSaint]

Sheffield Wednesday 0 Saints 1

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Saints got their first win of the season and only our second away win in 18 months thanks to a first half goal from Kenwyne Jones. It was a deserved win as Saints controlled the game, played better football and were not posed too many threats by a limited home side.

Yet more injury problems meant that Wise, Fuller, Ormerod and Baird all missed out. Claus came back into defence, Blackstock partnered Jones up front and Belmadi played left midfield.

Saints had a scare right from the kick off when a cross into the box found Whelan unmarked but the ball skidded off his head and wide when he should have done better. In heavy rain, Saints were on the back foot early on and Whelan had too much space to line up a shot, but he put it wide. Saints got more into the game and won a few corners that came to nothing. Prutton had our first serious effort on goal when his shot on the spin went just wide. Belmadi was doing well on the left and his style of play meant that Saints were playing it on the deck. On 22 minutes, Saints went in front when a slip by a defender allowed Kenwyne Jones to sneak in and finish well from a tight angle to the left of the goal. It was of course a goal against the team for whom he had scored 7 on loan last season. The goal lifted the confidence of Saints and we were dominating play, but without creating any clear cut chances.

Half Time 0-1

Saints continued to play some good stuff and after some nice passes, Blackstock was almost played in on goal, but the ball got caught up in his feet. Jones and Blackstock were linking up well and Belmadi was running at the home side whenever he got the ball. Saints almost doubled our lead when Jones did well on the right and pulled back the ball for the on-rushing Oakley who connected well, but saw his effort well saved. Wednesday were not creating anything, but maybe should have had a pen when a clumsy challenge by Hajto saw Peacock crash to the floor, but the ref played on. Redknapp threw on Walcott for the final 20 minutes and a number of times he was very close to breaking past the last defender with his incredible pace. Belmadi had a volley go over the bar as Saints entered the usual squeeky-bum time in the last few minutes. But for once, we were able to see out the game without any scares and picked up our first win of the season.

Full Time 0-1

Comment: A win! Feels quite good doesn't it? Certainly not going to get too carried away, but this win eases the pressure on the club and hopefully will increase the confidence of players and fans alike. Was going to be a tricky match against a team just promoted, but from the sound of it, Wednesday were not a match for Saints and we probably should have won by more. However, its turning possession into more chances is what we have to continue to work on.

Good to hear the game was played mostly on the deck and Belmadi had a good game as did Oakley, Jones and Higginbotham. Niemi was a spectator for much of it and thats now 2 clean sheets in 3 games played.

This sets us up nicely for the game against Norwich next Saturday.

[proud to be a saint]

indeed Norwich this Sat..i can't see us winning personally