Not often I get the chance to say “that was a really professional performance” but the Preston players made it very easy for us. Cardiff, with RM and Manning’s history should be a more difficult game, but one we can win. Not a bad performance in the team and one that will definitely put pressure on the top 3.
Excellent night. Perfectly happy for us to stay in 2nd gear second half as Preston never threatened any sort of comeback.
Tonight also proved that we can move the ball out of defence more quickly by keeping a flat back four. We are still able to use the FBs in an inverted position, just when the ball is in a safer position upfield, as KWP showed when we were attacking down our left and he was tucked into the centre of midfield. And the balance with Manning in the side allowed us to get back to playing triangles around their RB and giving them problems all game. Same again Saturday will do for me.
I thought Manning had a good game tonight. Linked up with Adam and Stu very well. He didn’t have an awful lot of defending to do but he was fairly solid.
From the BBC live text "Having played every minute of the Championship campaign before tonight, Saints fans will be waiting anxiously for news about his status." Given some of the comments re his ability what news are the Saints fans waiting anxiously for?
Can’t really judge on tonight as Preston were so bad. We played better without him to be honest. Made us more positive as we have to go forward
