Alan Pardew escaped a humiliation at the Valley and I thought our fans behaved with a dignity beyond him. There was plenty of atmosphere early on as the 19,441 crowd got behind the Addicks but we were slow to start and Southampton stood up to us very well during the opening forty-five minutes. We were unchanged and they weren't fielding either Jaidi or Papa whateverhisnameis. They pushed up on our midfield and we were stifled for most of the first half. We struggled to hold the ball in the middle and Bailey and Sam hardly got a touch. The Saints forced the play but apart from an effort from the impressive Joseph Mills which Elliot did superbly well to paw away, they didn't look like scoring. Their persistence however paid off before the break when Lallana finally got on the end of a cross and knocked it back beyond the stranded Elliot. We could hardly complain.
We expected more from the early league leaders and we got it after the restart. Within minutes we were level. A long throw from Elliot freed Shelvey in space and his cross was bundled home by top-scorer Deon Burton. Southampton then went into their shell and visibly shrank. We scored twice more after this but both were ruled out for offside a yard or two out. I will need to see the replays but the second Burton goal looked good to me.
Kelly Youga waltzed into the box before pinging a shot off the foot of a post as we continued to harry but we lacked some of the poise and supporting play of recent weeks. Mr Wright, the referee, didn't help the flow of the game either, especially in the second-half and it looked a draw with twenty minutes to go. Tempers flared a bit towards the end and it finished with five bookings (three Charlton and two Southampton).
Phil Parkinson will be disappointed but we are still unbeaten after a sub-standard performance and have moved back to the top of the table. For their part, Southampton will be glad to have got a draw but they must be aware that draws are relegation form and they need to start winning matches if they are to overcome their ten point handicap.
The gate of 19,441 might be our best well into the New Year as we are unlikely to see anyone other than Millwall bring the 2,000 fans that Southampton did. I bought two guest tickets today at £25 a pop and have to say that it's too much to expect fans to pay for third division football, even if you are leading the table. The club have been proved right so far on their ticketing policy, so I won't push this but the commitment to ensure season-ticket holder value for money means their options are limited for discounting.
I am expecting a more complete performance at Carrow Road next week when we should attack with much more purpose when we do get forward. In the meantime, hold your heads, we're still the team to beat and have all before us.
Pardew seemed to get it right tactically by stopping us play that midefield passing game that teases and opens up the opposing defence.
ReplyDeleteSouthampton's physical approach is strange in that when he managed us we never seemed to out muscle sides, in fact the reverse. I tend to be an edgy fan, but thought that Souhtampton could have won it in the last ten minutes. So I was surprised when he bought on a couple of time wasting subs at the end. May be that tells us about his mindset at the moment, and why Saints haven't won a game this season.
Pembury Addick