Saints 0 v Bees 2 Report

Southampton began the game having made three changes from the team that last played. Jose Fonte was suspended allowing Dan Seaborne the chance to return.

Frazer Richardson wa not quite ready to resume after his imjury and Danny Butterfield replaced him with Lee Barnard also unavailable and replaced by Guly do Prado.

On the bench Saints had Harlee Dean, who was involved for the first time on matchday. With him we also had Martin, Doble and Gobern to make the bench look a bit on the light side.

The game began as normal with Saints starting brightly. Within the first two minutes Chamberlain robbed Woodman and then crossed brilliantly to Lambert who flicked the ball on to Guly who headed firmly goalwards only to see bees keeper Lee make a fantastic reflex save.

Shortly afterwards Hammond fired wildly over when given a half chance and gradually Saints began to lose control as Brentford became more confident.

Brentford made a foray into the Saints half and were more than a little lucky to score when they did. Alexander cut inside and hit a low shot goalwards which Davis seemed to have covered but the ball went through him and trickled into the net to give the Bees the lead on 13 minutes.

Saints hit back and from a Lallana corner Seaborne headed narrowly over the bar. As Saints continued pressing Seaborne was then booked for a bad lunge on a Brentford player to halt another attack.

Saints still made most of the running though Davis did have to make one good save from a Wright shot. The Saints pressure looked to have paid off when a Lambert cross was headed down by Schneiderlin and a defnder handled.

The referee though said ball to hand and waved play on. Still Saints tried valiantly to force an equaliser but keeper Lee was on hand again in the 26th minute with another good save that came when a Lambert 25 yard free kick was curled round the wall. Lee pushed the ball away and Brentford cleared.

Two minutes later and Brentford had scored again. Alexander broke up a move and his persistence paid off with MacDonald sliding the ball home from close range. The Saints defence again failing to clear the ball when they had been in possession.

The game became a bit scrappy and apart from one Lallana run Saints provided little hope for the fans who tried to lift the team but to no avail. Brentford looking more and more composed as the half closed which Saints looking more frustrated by the minute. HT 0-2.

The second half began in much the same manner as the first with Saints unable to break down a determined looking Brentford defence.

With the Saints fans giving full vocal support the team twice were thwarted by Legge in one on ones with both Lallana and Chamberlain doing well until stopped.

Seaborne got injured and had to go off for a complete kit change with his nose bleeding profusely and upon his return Saints again came close without finding the final finish to a move.

Saints broke swiftly and Lallana crossed to Guly whose effort was blocked and fell to Chamberlain who sent in a powerful header only for Lee once more to come to the rescue for Brentford.

the game continued in much the same manner with Brentford persistantly thwarting any ideas Saints had of getting back into the game.

8 minutes from time Brentford nearly had a third after some slip shod defending let in Forster. Luckily for the Saints though he missed the chance by mishitting his shot.

The Saints star striker had by now been replaced by Connolly but with no obvious improvement in play.

Lallana was brought down when on another run and from the free kick an effort hit the post on the inside but stayed out and from the rebound a Connolly shot was blocked by Legge.

The final act of the day of note came when Saints broke quickly and Connolly fed Chamberlain whose shot was heading goalbound until two deflections took it away to safety.

The final whistle went with Saints still trying manfully but ultimately unsuccessfully to break down the Brentford defence. FT 0-2.

The Saints man of the match was Radhi Jaidi. Nigel Adkins did nothing to change the game but may have had his options reduced due to the loss of Fonte, Chaplow and Barnard. 6 Gary Scott had his game plan well worked out and his side performed heroics for him. 8 Saints were overpowered by a strong Brentford side that came on the back of four straight away wins and once they had taken the lead never looked truly in danger of conceding defeat.

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