I was in the lower shed end last night for the game surrounded by Chelsea fans right behind the goal where it all happened! I've got to be honest when the team sheet was read out my heart sank a bit as it seemed like Adkins was cutting his losses a bit and at half time I was already planning food and a hot bath! How wrong was I. We were immense and the Saints faithful to my right sang throughout and were amazing. "Champions of Europe, You're already out" ha ha! But anyway I kid you not we were so on top in the 2nd half and totally silenced the place and at one point a chelsea fan behind me who had been goading Boruc the whole game said "This lot are like Barcelona" and he meant it and we were. I was so proud of the boys. We were immense and to come back like that at the Bridge, it never happens. The Saints fans went wild and got their just rewards. Amazing, absoluetly stunning performance.
Yes looking forward to watching the highlights when I get home later. Have to admit at half time I weas expecting us to ship 5 or 6. Just shows how far the whole team has come!
Shows what a bit of application can do. Maybe the lax effort shown in the cup game was just an attempt to lull Chelsea into a false sense of security
I am glad for Saints but I feel for Benitez though. They had the players out there but they just did not or were not allowed, to perform. Yet the fans will blame him not praise Saints although to be fair some of the more even minded of Chelsea fans actually credit Saints on the result which is good to see.
That’s the best post I’ve ever seen you make Johny Shuttle – you’re lucky to have gone!
To quote the well known philosopher Nigel Adkins "Hard work beats talent, if talent doesn't work hard"
I think you're giving Benitez too much credit. I rate him as a manager, but his tactics yesterday were perplexing. Apart from the short period between their two goals, Chelsea just sat back and let us play. There were times when we passed it around the midfield and defence without anyone coming to press the ball, and times when one of our players would carry the ball into the middle third and have the time to just stop and wait for something to happen, such was the lack of interest from them. Not what you'd expect from any team in the premier league really and I can't help but feel this is what they were instructed to do. Even in the last ten minutes after the equaliser there was never any real urgency. Compared with Villa's efforts to score a late goal, I never felt we were going to concede. Considering what happened when those two met recently, you'd not expect it to be this way round!
I think one of the things I am most proud about is that last night we fielded 10 different players who were playing in the Championship last year (well 9 because Shaw hadn't played for the 1st team). One of the most truthful things the commentator said last night was that it proves teams like Chelsea go shopping in the wrong places.
The Chelsea fans have to take some responsibility. When we were losing games at the beginning of the season, our fans were still singing and supporting Nigel. There has to be a reason why Chelsea win more away from home than at home. Their heads go down when things go against them...ridiculous for a team like Chelsea.
Yes their fans seem to have lost the plot. I remember when they weren't as successful they were as fanatical as any club. Times change.
There's a certain irony that some Chelsea fans say this and we now have the ex-manager of the 'other' team in Barcelona!
Totally agree. I was at the Chelsea game and was loving the way we were playing! Am gutted we have lost Adkins.
