It didn’t take long for Dean Smith to be afforded a demonstration of why City’s goal difference was -21 going into the game.
Hesitancy, missed tackles, missed opportunities to clear, ball-watching, you name it… the full gamut of defensive cock-ups Norwich City-style were on show as Che Adams bundled his way through the Keystone Cops before side-footing past Tim Krul.
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
Except they didn’t. Not this time.
The response took just three minutes and you just know when Teemu Pukki buries an acute near-post header it’s not going to be a run-of-the-mill day, even if for the 38 minutes that followed it looked very much that way.
While the lads took it upon themselves to give Dean that perfect demo of their defensive frailties in the opening four minutes, for the rest of the half, they went for the *let’s show the new boss why we’re so easy to play against* part of his Carrow Road initiation.
It wasn’t an easy watch for those of us in the stands, so one can only imagine what was going through the minds of Messrs Smith and Shakespeare.
That type of inaction, passiveness and lack of aggression is usually reserved for Chelsea, Man City and co. but here we were rolling the red carpet out for Southampton. Submissiveness on a level usually only associated with Cabinet meetings.
The time and space afforded to the excellent James Ward-Prowse and Oriel Romeu was only going to end one way; a half of nothing but backs-to-the-wall defending interspersed with some ‘hot potato’ City passing on the rare occasions the Saints coughed up possession.
To have gone in at half-time level in those circumstances was a triumph. A schooling of epic proportion, and only later did it become clear how vital that Tim Krul save to stop Adams making it 2-0 was. Match-winning.
Oh to have been a fly on that dressing room wall.
But whatever collection of words were delivered, they worked. Brilliantly. I don’t imagine, on this occasion, it was a Shakespearean soliloquy.
Todd Cantwell, who was so far off the pace he appeared to be playing in US Eastern Time, was the one to be hooked but it really could have been one of about seven and, in fairness to Cantwell, his rustiness was clearly borne of being an absentee for most of the season.
Billy Gilmour was among the group who could have had no complaints if they had been the subject of the hook, but was also among those who responded magnificently to what had been said.
The impact was almost instant. From Martin Atkinson’s whistle, there was an extra edge and sharpness to everything City did. Instead of standing off and admiring the qualities of Ward-Prowse and Romeu, the duo were pressed and denied time and space to get their heads up.
Teemu Pukki was, all of a sudden, given some structured support in a high press, and a Saints defence that throughout the first half was able to pass the ball out under little pressure was being squeezed and harassed. As a unit, City shifted a few yards higher up the pitch and coupled with an intensity level that was doubled, the whole feel of the game changed.
In the stands too, where the first-half had been watched in near-silence, there was an appreciation that whatever had been said at half-time had had an impact. 50/50s were being won, so too second balls, and it just grew. It was no longer a matter of when Southampton would get a second.
Everything happened that little bit quicker and with Josh Sargent being the replacee of Cantwell, there was an extra physical and robust presence to disrupt the Saints defence down their left side. As a result of moving to City’s left, Milot Rashica too looked more comfortable. It started to click.
So significant were the improvements in City’s performance level, when the goal came it was deserved. Pukki had earlier stung the palms of McCarthy with a shot he’d tried to squeeze into that near post, but the Saints keeper was unable to stop Grant Hanley downward header in that same corner that luckily skipped up off the turf.
It triggered the first proper outbreak of pandemonium seen inside Carrow Road since February 2020. It was joyous.
Of course, there were another 11 minutes plus injury-time to endure, and bloody nerve-shredding they were too, especially with Ward-Prowse arcing in some outstanding set-piece deliveries, but it felt like, for once, it was going to be our day.
And it was our day. A brilliant day.
Credit of course goes to Smith and Shakespeare for addressing perfectly what needed to be addressed but so too to the players who implemented the changes and somehow forged a win out of what appeared an unwinnable position.
Those who’ve played the game, at any level, will be acutely aware of how difficult it is to raise yourselves from such a low base, but to do it so successfully in those circumstances and under that pressure was extraordinary.
In that second 45, for the first time all season, we looked like a Premier League football team.
The trick for Smith and Shakespeare is obviously how to extract that level of performance week in, week out, but to have done it from a standing start against a good Southampton side should do wonders for the belief in this group.
Also, the fact the new managerial team was able to bring about a drastic change in the space of a 15 chat should be enough to convince the group they are indeed in safe, reliable hands.
It’s too early to get too excited of course but for the Dean Smith era to open with a win in such stirring circumstances was all any of us could ask.
Welcome aboard Dean and Craig.
Great tactical adjustment at halftime, Sargent truly made a difference. He may not be a natural goal scorer, but his work ethic is second to none. Can you explain how Southampton’s Salisu was still on the pitch at the end? Having already been booked, he then wrestled Sargent to prevent him breaking through, which was surely at least a second yellow, if not a straight forward red for preventing a scoring opportunity, but the referee in his wisdom didn’t even gia free kick. VAR was also noticeable by its absence.
No booking for Salisu according to BBC.
Maybe not, though I’m convinced he did get shown one prior to the WWE show with Sargent, but the point is there should have been a free kick for the wrestling, but it wasn’t given. If it had been, there there was also the question of “goal scoring opportunity “ to consider. Never any VAR when it might benefit us!
The biggest positive is the fact that we managed to fight back for once. Credit to everyone for that.
Just for a change it seems one or two things went our way. At full speed Rashica’s tackle could easily have been misread as a foul so credit to the officials for getting that right. And thank goodness Redmond was unfit, and they brought Walcott on and not Shane Long – I don’t think he’d have missed the target given the same opportunity late on. Above all, just for once an opposition keeper didn’t save his best performance of the season for us.
On RN the first half did sound pretty dire. There were 3 or 4 midfield names that were barely mentioned. Chris Goreham seemed to say that Hanley had been too easily shrugged off for the opening goal. Having looked at it I’d give a little more credit to Adams. Once he’d sneaked into the gap Hanley couldn’t really touch him without risking a penalty and possibly a red card. When you see it in slowmo Adams’s scruffy-looking finish under Hanley’s attempted block was quite astute. I wish we’d been able to afford him.
But when all’s said and done I guess we’re all now feeling considerably more optimistic. Smith has a heck of a task on his hands, but he certainly looks up to it. Starting on Saturday we have 9 games in 35 days. So he has only really got this week to bring the whole squad up to fitness – Cantwell isn’t likely to be the only rusty one – and put in to practice how he wants them to play.
It was interesting that Kamara apparently trained with first team last week and was not in the U-21s on Friday night, so I wonder if they think he has a role to play. I personally don’t think Idah offers much at PL level.
Finally shouldn’t the display screen pictured in the corner say “Man of the Second Half?”
What a refreshing half of football. Bravo, win or die!
Hi Gary
A great read on a very cold Sunny Sunday morning in Blackpool.
Sue Smith on Sky yesterday at half time said the game should have been done and dusted but at the end said city fully deserved the win.
Not being a MoTD viewer I would have seen those so called pundits trying to find something nice to say.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer but it holds out hope of what is or might come soon.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Stay Healthy and Keep Safe
Alex, they’re never going to have anything nice to say about us on MOTD. They did spend a couple of minutes talking about Billy Gilmour, and wondering why Farke didn’t rate him. (No Big Ears, but Newcastle’s favourite son, and Ian (“if it’s not Palace or Arsenal it’s not worth talking about”) Wright.
Good summary Gary.
We’ve lacked a midfield press all season, which in my opinion is the biggest factor for our poor performances.
At half time we wondered how bad the remaining game was going to be. I don’t know what was said at half time but credit where credit is due Dean Smith got them fighting for the ball and pressing for possession for the first time at home this year.
Previously we’ve given teams no end of space and as a consequence been too easy to play against.
A pity we didn’t have the benefit of his half time talks against Leeds, Leicester and Brighton!
I was sorry to see Daniel go but must reluctantly say it maybe for the better.
ossy and Lappin on the whistle nailed the problems very early on, too deep giving Saints too much room to play in. Bringing Sargent on kept Walker-Peters back, where he was having freedom of Carrow Rd. Also he was working his socks off upfront with Pukki, that for me made a huge difference changed the game totally. Although being honest Saints keeper was in a generous mood
We would not have seen this fightback and changes a few weeks ago, going one down would have ended with heads dropping, confidence draining quicker than the Wensum.
Call it what you like, players impressing, new manager bounce, whatever it is, long may it continue. Smith & Shakespeare now know what they have to work on and with, looking forward to it all for the first time for a while
Very good call as always Gaz. Only thing is, I’d have taken Cantwell off after 5 minutes – he was an embarrassment yesterday. Maybe the rest of the season in the Under-23s might do the trick( not buying into he isn’t fit crap). Was wrong about Billy Gilmore – will hold my hands up on that one!
Mom Big Grant Hanley – can forgive one slip for the blocks n work-rate and that header was miles above everyone else.
10 more pts by Christmas and Thomo is going to be a happy bunny.
Gary, good summing up as usual, S&S have certainly got their hands full but there seems to be enough talent available to mould a winning team. Excellent manager involvement during the game, we haven’t seen that for a while.
That feels a whole lot better doesn’t it, hopefully we can build on this as we are now in the hands of real experienced football men instead of the clearly out of his depth Farke. Smith and Shakespeare managed to do at half time what Farke couldn’t do at all and that is to see a way of changing a game in our favour. It will be interesting to see how the team selection evolves in the coming weeks as it looks to me that maybe if Gilmour and Cantwell are both picked then it makes the team too lightweight and easy to play against, it would seem that the one thing that Farke did get right was leaving Cantwell for whatever reason, Gilmour on the other hand looks the real deal if he’s played further forward and Pukki should benefit from that. It’s a good start only but we can at least now look forward to the rest of the season……..I think !!!
Pleased with win and the spirit thought Hanley got himself out of jail with his goal his dithering and the ball getting stuck under his feet nearly cost us two more goals thank krul for his save of the season Gibson was excellent as was Gilmore and sergeant performance gives us hope for rest of the season three on the bounce would be great otbc
I wrote last week about 5pts from last 5 games. Now it’s 8pts from last 6 games.
Forget Chelsea’s 7-0 and we’ve conceded 4 goals from last 5 games.
Also only us and Man.City have won their last 2 games. (if they beat Everton)
Then consider how badly we have played, until 2nd half yesterday!!
Given S&S haven’t done any real coaching yet.
I’m seeing Premier League football 21/22..
Good review Gary,
Now isn’t that a whole lot better and just what we like to see, competing toe-to-toe with the opposition – and winning! Two great goals, and a massive glass of positivity all round to toast Hanley’s birthday with.
If Spurs can do us a big favour this afternoon, onwards to the Wolves match, and lets hope we can get out of the bottom three asap.
Look forward to more of the same, with fitness and points growing all the time!
Cheers,
COYY !!
Good read. I think Cantwell has blown his chance. Can’t see him getting another chance for a long while.
Definitely a game of two halves. The second half was so much better. It showed we can be competitive against those teams in the bottom half of the table. Hopefully we can get the best out of Gilmour in a more forward role.
I suspect S&S will be working on the defence to cut out the errors. Although I thought Williams had a decent game and Aarons cross was prefect for Pukki. I felt sorry for Aarons in the first half as Southampton doubled up on him and he got no help.
I’ll take the result and hope the performance improves as S&S get their feet under the table.
Hi Colin,
I wonder if players change boot studs these days? I remember one guy I played with always fitted a longer stud on the outside/back heel on his boots as it gave him more purchase.
Perhaps nowadays it depends on whether the guys use moulded or screw-in boots.
S&S will be sensible enough to realise that working with Cantwell, rather than being isolationist with him, will get the best football from him – after all at his best Cantwell can turn games for us which is always a good option, and he needs minutes on the pitch.
Anyway, a great result!
COYY !!
The biggest and most promising thing is that the coach was able to see the problem, tweak the tactics and significantly improve the side for the second half to win us the game. That simply did not happen under Farke at this level, ever. As good a coach as he was at improving players technically, he just did not influence games once they kicked off in a way that added something.
That more than anything gives me hope.