Like us. Steve Claridge at St Mary's for BBC Radio 5 live:- "This game, albeit very early in the season, is massive for Southampton psychologically. If they were to win this one they would have six points from seven games, including the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United and Man City. "They did get beaten by Wigan, which was massively disappointing, but they beat Villa and won very well. If they can beat Fulham today then they will know they can pick up points against these sorts of clubs and they could be OK."
I don't see anything wrong with that statement if I'm honest. Given our current position at the foot of the table, I'd love the Rs to be in the same bracket as Fulham, Villa and Wigan.
Yes, I think Claridge is spot on, and few 3 pt wins could swiftly move us up the table. I remember Ollie in his relegation scrap stressed the importance of winning (rather than taking a 1 pt draw) and that's why Blackpool always went for it.
Late in Saints game, 2-1 up, I thought Fulham had really helped us out, but now 2-2, at least only 1 pt. Clattenburg being really lenient in this game, holding back his yellow cards, especially on what could have been a second card, and a red, for a similar offence to Diakite's.
I noticed that too, he couldnt wait to send Diakite off yet let off their player for the exact same thing, he also failed to give Fulham 2 penalties for handball.
Howard Webb was also very lenient in this respect towads van Persie & Tiote (stamping on opponent & later theatric performance).
van Persie is your typical Dutch player of the modern era, a nasty piece of work If he played for us he would get sent off about 6 times a season
