Here are our league goals scored on the season, separated into 15 minute intervals (stoppage time included in 31-45 and 76-90, naturally): 1-15: 5 16-30: 7 31-45: 3 46-60: 3 61-75: 1 76-90: 9 Here are our goals allowed, in the same fashion: 1-15: 3 16-30: 1 31-45: 2 46-60: 4 61-75: 3 76-90: 1 And the goal differential: 1-15: +2. 16-30: +6. 31-45: +1. 46-60: -1. 61-75: -2. 76-90: +8. The Saints have been very, very good in the first thirty...12 goals for to only 4 against thus far, but for whatever reason they've lagged in the middle of games; despite our massive goal differential overall, we're actually getting outscored between the 31st and 75th minutes, 9 to 7. But that last figure is stunning: we're outscoring opponents 9 to 1 over the final fifteen minutes of the game, with the only goal against being Max Gradel's gift penalty. Included in those nine goals are one winner (Lambert's hat trick goal against Forest), and three point-savers: Schneiderlin against Burnley, Lambert against Derby, and now de Ridder against Reading. Conversely, we haven't yet given away a point late...all in all, that's six points saved, the difference between first and fourth. That's both good and bad; on one hand, it shows the fitness and fight necessary to steal results late, which has already produced a considerable windfall. On the other, to keep finding late winners/equalizers while surrendering nothing has to be considered a bit lucky, and one has to wonder whether such form can be maintained. So which is it, Saints fans (and the WUMs who will undoubtedly latch on to this): are these signs of a team with the mettle to go up, or is our penchant for leaving it late reason to worry?
It's too early in the day here to go out drinking, but too late to have a nap. How else am I to waste five minutes at a time?
