Agree, they have an x-factor. This is the biggest game since the QPR game, and we came through that with flying colours. Difference is, Reading don't give up, and morale seems high despite results. They know they beat us last time there was this much riding on it. Hence why a great performance doesn't necessarily mean anything for us - I don't care much for a beautiful display of flowing football and 70% possession if they beat us. I still have an in-built fear of LeWeasel. Plus, this is more than about who is the better team - this is about pride and a real statement. A lot of pressure on both teams - we can go six points clear with this, and the table may look special come 5pm on Saturday should we win, and Sunderland and Villa lose. And hopefully Wigan draw. A situation I don't feel comfortable in as a Saints fan, and an area in which I have very low faith in us (despite the Fulham game) is when we are a goal down. We have seemed bereft of ideas in this situation when I've seen us this season. So I hope we can get an early buffer of goals - not too early, though. Mid-second half will do. Reading will not stop coming at us, and battering Gazza in the air, I predict. I know we can do this, though - let's make sure we make it count this time.
Think I'd rather have him in the side on Saturday and contemplate the bigger questions of whether we can beat a team without him until after Christmas.
I want to say something about Pog, but I will say it after the game on Saturday, because I know what will happen if I say it now...
not the end of the world without Gaston, Morgan,Cork and Davis in the middle to form asolid base for attack. Cork has been cropping up on the wing in the last two games which gives us abit of width
Hope the defence is training for corners and free kicks during the week................. and isn't it time the refs started to clamp down on all the ragging and blocking of goalkeepers at set pieces?
Saints should outfit Rickie with a tearaway shirt for one match...ref will have little choice but to call the penalty when the opposing defender takes the shirt clean off him!
It was reported at first by Simon Peach and later confirmed in a pre-match interview with Nigel I believe.
So with 2 days to go how nervous are we all feeling? Have to say my early confidence is starting to ebb away and I'm getting very twitchy. If saturday goes wrong we will be back where we were a few weeks ago with the Nigel out brigade out in force.
My certainty always ebbs away as the game approaches, though in this case we are not facing an experienced PL sides. We should have faith in the home factor, and our fitness and spirit. A couple of early goals is what we need to settle down, then it will be all down to our defence
