Southampton 2 Coventry 0 - 09/08/2006
Southampton 2 Coventry 0 - 09/08/2006
Southampton: Davis; Ostlund; Baird; Pele; Bale (Cranie 90); Belmadi; Viafara; Wright; Skacel (Surman 88); Rasiak; Wright-Phillips (Jones 82).
Subs (not used): Poke; Dyer
Goals: Bale 61, Rasiak(P) 86
Coventry: Marshall; McNamee; Heath; Ward; Hall; Birchall (Cameron 72); Hughes; Doyle; McSheffrey (Hutchison 72); Adebola (Virgo 68); John. Subs (not used): Tabb; Thornton
Booked: Hall (23); Hutchison (85)
Referee: G Hegley
Attendance: 21,088
Teamtalk
Gareth Bale produced a stunning strike to set Southampton on their way to a 2-0 victory over Coventry at St Mary's in the Championship.
The 17-year-old Welshman, on target in the 2-2 draw at Derby on Sunday, unleashed an excellent shot from 35 yards in the 61st minute which Coventry goalkeeper Andy Marshall got a hand to but could not keep out.
Coventry boss Micky Adams, whose side began the season with a 2-1 home win over relegated Sunderland, threw on all three substitutes in a bid to salvage an equaliser.
But Southampton wrapped up the points with four minutes remaining, Grzegorz Rasiak slotting home from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Elliott Ward.
The Sky Blues made a bright start and forced Saints goalkeeper Kelvin Davis into action inside three minutes.
Stephen Hughes swung over a corner which was met by Michael Doyle, but Davis punched away his effort.
Southampton, denied a winning start by a last-gasp Derby equaliser, responded and Rasiak directed Jermaine Wright's cross on target only for Marshall to make a comfortable save.
Stern John scored an excellent goal in the win over Sunderland and came close to getting another in the ninth minute but his drive was kept out by Davis.
Summer signing Bradley Wright-Phillips, in the starting line-up at the expense of Ricardo Fuller (hamstring), had a good chance to add to his marker at Pride Park two minutes later only to see his shot flash wide from 18 yards.
But only the frame of the goal denied Coventry the lead, striker Dele Adebola seeing his header bounce back off a post before Hughes was denied by Davis after the home side partially cleared a corner.
Adebola then had three opportunities in the space of 10 minutes, first failing to get his shot on target being twice being thwarted by Davis.
Coventry continued to press for the opening goal and John fired wide 10 minutes before half-time.
But it was Southampton who nearly went into the break in front, John Viafara heading just wide from Rudi Skacel's corner while Alexander Ostlund fired a shot from the edge of the box which went the wrong side of the post.
Southampton engineered the first chance of the second half in the 52nd minute, Wright-Phillips drilling a shot wide from 25 yards.
The home side went even closer moments later. Skacel's outswinging corner was met by Pedro Pele, whose header was well saved by Marshall.
But George Burley's troops broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with a belter from Bale, although Gary McSheffrey almost produced an instant response only for his shot to go wide.
Bale nearly repeated the trick nine minutes later but this time Marshall got down to parry his long-range strike after Matt Heath was penalised for a foul on Rasiak.
As Coventry pressed forward for an equaliser, Skacel nearly put the game to bed only to see his 18-yard shot go straight at Marshall.
Rasiak then put the result beyond doubt in the 86th minute and substitute Kenwyne Jones hit a post.
Only a fantastic finger-tip save from Davis prevented John from grabbing a consolation in the last minute and there was still time for Ward to put a header wide.
CCFC
Two second half goals condemn the Sky Blues to defeat against Southampton.
City created a number of good opportunities and hit the woodwork before the interval but a long range free-kick from Michael Bale and a dubious Grzegorz Rasiak penalty gave the Saints all three points.
Micky Adams named an unchanged side for the match, opting for the same starting eleven as the one which beat Sunderland 2-1 on the opening day of the campaign.
The St Mary's was buzzing for Saints' first home game of the campaign and with a new board at the helm, the supporters were clearly looking for a positive start after seeing two points snatched away from them at the death when Derby equalized in the last minute at the weekend.
City did their utmost to silence them by forcing two corners in the opening three minutes, the second of which found Matt Heath unmarked in the middle, but his header was blocked. Andy Marshall was soon put into action for the first time, making a fairly routine save from Grzegorz Rasiak's far post header.
Micky Adams had clearly given his players clear instructions to go for the kill and in the eighth minute, Stern John produced a good stop from Saints keeper Kelvin Davis, having pulled neatly away from his marker.
But Bradley Wright Phillips showed how alert the City rearguard would have to be when he produced a scintillating run which was only let down by his weak shot.
Coventry were having the better of it though, pinning the home side back for lengthy spells, and Dele Adebola was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring with a quarter of an hour played when his crisp shot from a Stephen Hughes free-kick rebounded off the inside off the post with Davis well beaten.
Elliott Ward's thundering clearance presented the powerful striker with a half chance not long afterwards but this time he cleared the goal by some distance with his attempted chip.
City's strike partnership of Adebola and John were giving the Southampton defence all sorts of trouble and clever interplay between the duo saw Davis make yet another smart stop from Dele. And Stern was not far from scoring a stunner, when he swiveled to volley a Hughes corner narrowly over.
Towards the end of the half, Southampton suddenly came to life and it took some solid defending to keep them out, with McNamee in particular making an excellent last ditch challenge on the explosive Wright-Phillips.
The Saints continued to exert their authority at the start of the second half and it took a brilliant goalline clearance from McNamee to prevent Wright-Phillips' close range header from giving Southampton the lead.
But it was not long until they were ahead and the goal came in some style in the 62nd minute as Gareth Bale's 30-yard free-kick beat Andy Marshall and found the back of the net to put Southampton 1-0 ahead.
With 68 minutes on the clock Micky Adams made his first switch, bringing new loan signing Adam Virgo on for Adebola in a straight swap that saw the utility man partner John up front. Colin Cameron was soon introduced for his Sky Blues debut, replacing Birchall while Hutchison came on for McSheffrey.
Stern John did well to create space for a shot as City went in search of an equalizer, but Southampton looked far more organised at the back than they had in the opening period and chances were coming far less frequently for the Sky Blues.
With eight minutes to go Coventry's defenders must have thanked their lucky stars when the impressive Wright Phillips went off, only to see the equally rapid Kenwyne Jones replace him.
Moments later and the referee sealed City's fate by awarding a penalty when Rasiak went down in a somewhat acrobatic manner with little or no contact from Elliott Ward. The Polish striker made no mistake, sending Marshall the wrong way from the spot to rub salt in the wound.
Right at the end, John went clean through but Davis made a good save to deny City a goal they deserved.
The scoreline may make it look like a comfortable victory for Southampton but over the course of the 90 minutes it was by no means one-way traffic. However, the Sky Blues will have to learn to take their chances, especially away from home, if they are to improve on their consistency.
4thegame
Gareth Bale scored his second goal of the season with another stunning long-range free-kick as Southampton swept aside Coventry's muscular challenge.
Bale, Wales' youngest international at 16, scored something similar at Derby on the opening day.
This time after 61 minutes, the powerfully-built full-back stepped up to bang his 30-yard free-kick beyond the dive of Andy Marshall for the opening goal.
The precocious teenager almost added another 10 minutes later from the same position but this time Marshall got across to his right to make a diving save.
Southampton's second with just four minutes remaining had an element of good fortune when Poland striker Grzegorz Rasiak earned a penalty after falling over the foot of Elliott Ward when there was no obvious danger.
Coventry were furious with the decision of referee Grant Hegley and substitute Don Hutchison was booked for dissent.
But Rasiak kept his nerve and beat Marshall with his spot-kick to earn Southampton their first win of the season.
They could have even grabbed a third when substitute Kenwyne Jones struck a post in the last minute with a low shot.
All this was in contrast to the first half when Coventry looked the better side but the nearest they came to scoring was on 15 minutes when Dele Adebola headed against a post from a centre by Stephen Hughes.
Southampton's new keeper Kelvin Davis made two important early saves from Stern John and from Adebola, while Ward wasted a clear opening by heading against a group of players when unmarked at a corner by Gary McSheffrey.
But as the first half improved so did Southampton and John Viafara went close with a 25-yard shot and then with a header from a corner.
The second half belonged to George Burley's team and they should have gone ahead on 58 minutes only for Bradley Wright-Phillips to have a header cleared off the line by David McNamee.
Once Saints had gone ahead Coventry fell away but they should have pulled one back in injury time when John ran clear on to a Pele back pass but Davis rushed from his goal to force the shot wide.
Southampton manager George Burley praised teenage free-kick specialist Gareth Bale.
Burley said: "As a full-back Gareth is the best young player I have ever seen.
"Big clubs will be following his progress but the chairman will make sure he stays with us and they won't be getting him.
"When we had to sell Theo Walcott our hands were tied, but Gareth signed a new contract in the summer and both he and his parents want him to stay and develop with us.
"As for the free-kick, I spent 15 minutes with him practising those in training today and it paid off. He has tremendous ability and whips in a great ball.
"We have some injury problems and both centre-half and left-back are positions we may need to strengthen but tonight was great and certainly it was the best atmosphere at the stadium since I have been here." Coventry manager Micky Adams said: "I'm disappointed to lose but there are different ways to lose and this time it was with our boots on and our sleeves rolled up. At least we gave everything.
"I took great heart from our performance because I thought we dominated the first half and most of the best players were wearing the blue of Coventry.
"For that reason I don't think we deserved to lose but we must forget the result and move on because it was a good display.
"As for the penalty against us, if Rasiak was a boxer and went down like that, the promoter would withhold his purse.
"From what I could see there was minimal contact between my player and Rasiak but the referee has given a penalty and we have to accept it."
Southampton: Davis; Ostlund; Baird; Pele; Bale (Cranie 90); Belmadi; Viafara; Wright; Skacel (Surman 88); Rasiak; Wright-Phillips (Jones 82).
Subs (not used): Poke; Dyer
Goals: Bale 61, Rasiak(P) 86
Coventry: Marshall; McNamee; Heath; Ward; Hall; Birchall (Cameron 72); Hughes; Doyle; McSheffrey (Hutchison 72); Adebola (Virgo 68); John. Subs (not used): Tabb; Thornton
Booked: Hall (23); Hutchison (85)
Referee: G Hegley
Attendance: 21,088
Teamtalk
Gareth Bale produced a stunning strike to set Southampton on their way to a 2-0 victory over Coventry at St Mary's in the Championship.
The 17-year-old Welshman, on target in the 2-2 draw at Derby on Sunday, unleashed an excellent shot from 35 yards in the 61st minute which Coventry goalkeeper Andy Marshall got a hand to but could not keep out.
Coventry boss Micky Adams, whose side began the season with a 2-1 home win over relegated Sunderland, threw on all three substitutes in a bid to salvage an equaliser.
But Southampton wrapped up the points with four minutes remaining, Grzegorz Rasiak slotting home from the penalty spot after he was fouled by Elliott Ward.
The Sky Blues made a bright start and forced Saints goalkeeper Kelvin Davis into action inside three minutes.
Stephen Hughes swung over a corner which was met by Michael Doyle, but Davis punched away his effort.
Southampton, denied a winning start by a last-gasp Derby equaliser, responded and Rasiak directed Jermaine Wright's cross on target only for Marshall to make a comfortable save.
Stern John scored an excellent goal in the win over Sunderland and came close to getting another in the ninth minute but his drive was kept out by Davis.
Summer signing Bradley Wright-Phillips, in the starting line-up at the expense of Ricardo Fuller (hamstring), had a good chance to add to his marker at Pride Park two minutes later only to see his shot flash wide from 18 yards.
But only the frame of the goal denied Coventry the lead, striker Dele Adebola seeing his header bounce back off a post before Hughes was denied by Davis after the home side partially cleared a corner.
Adebola then had three opportunities in the space of 10 minutes, first failing to get his shot on target being twice being thwarted by Davis.
Coventry continued to press for the opening goal and John fired wide 10 minutes before half-time.
But it was Southampton who nearly went into the break in front, John Viafara heading just wide from Rudi Skacel's corner while Alexander Ostlund fired a shot from the edge of the box which went the wrong side of the post.
Southampton engineered the first chance of the second half in the 52nd minute, Wright-Phillips drilling a shot wide from 25 yards.
The home side went even closer moments later. Skacel's outswinging corner was met by Pedro Pele, whose header was well saved by Marshall.
But George Burley's troops broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with a belter from Bale, although Gary McSheffrey almost produced an instant response only for his shot to go wide.
Bale nearly repeated the trick nine minutes later but this time Marshall got down to parry his long-range strike after Matt Heath was penalised for a foul on Rasiak.
As Coventry pressed forward for an equaliser, Skacel nearly put the game to bed only to see his 18-yard shot go straight at Marshall.
Rasiak then put the result beyond doubt in the 86th minute and substitute Kenwyne Jones hit a post.
Only a fantastic finger-tip save from Davis prevented John from grabbing a consolation in the last minute and there was still time for Ward to put a header wide.
CCFC
Two second half goals condemn the Sky Blues to defeat against Southampton.
City created a number of good opportunities and hit the woodwork before the interval but a long range free-kick from Michael Bale and a dubious Grzegorz Rasiak penalty gave the Saints all three points.
Micky Adams named an unchanged side for the match, opting for the same starting eleven as the one which beat Sunderland 2-1 on the opening day of the campaign.
The St Mary's was buzzing for Saints' first home game of the campaign and with a new board at the helm, the supporters were clearly looking for a positive start after seeing two points snatched away from them at the death when Derby equalized in the last minute at the weekend.
City did their utmost to silence them by forcing two corners in the opening three minutes, the second of which found Matt Heath unmarked in the middle, but his header was blocked. Andy Marshall was soon put into action for the first time, making a fairly routine save from Grzegorz Rasiak's far post header.
Micky Adams had clearly given his players clear instructions to go for the kill and in the eighth minute, Stern John produced a good stop from Saints keeper Kelvin Davis, having pulled neatly away from his marker.
But Bradley Wright Phillips showed how alert the City rearguard would have to be when he produced a scintillating run which was only let down by his weak shot.
Coventry were having the better of it though, pinning the home side back for lengthy spells, and Dele Adebola was desperately unlucky not to open the scoring with a quarter of an hour played when his crisp shot from a Stephen Hughes free-kick rebounded off the inside off the post with Davis well beaten.
Elliott Ward's thundering clearance presented the powerful striker with a half chance not long afterwards but this time he cleared the goal by some distance with his attempted chip.
City's strike partnership of Adebola and John were giving the Southampton defence all sorts of trouble and clever interplay between the duo saw Davis make yet another smart stop from Dele. And Stern was not far from scoring a stunner, when he swiveled to volley a Hughes corner narrowly over.
Towards the end of the half, Southampton suddenly came to life and it took some solid defending to keep them out, with McNamee in particular making an excellent last ditch challenge on the explosive Wright-Phillips.
The Saints continued to exert their authority at the start of the second half and it took a brilliant goalline clearance from McNamee to prevent Wright-Phillips' close range header from giving Southampton the lead.
But it was not long until they were ahead and the goal came in some style in the 62nd minute as Gareth Bale's 30-yard free-kick beat Andy Marshall and found the back of the net to put Southampton 1-0 ahead.
With 68 minutes on the clock Micky Adams made his first switch, bringing new loan signing Adam Virgo on for Adebola in a straight swap that saw the utility man partner John up front. Colin Cameron was soon introduced for his Sky Blues debut, replacing Birchall while Hutchison came on for McSheffrey.
Stern John did well to create space for a shot as City went in search of an equalizer, but Southampton looked far more organised at the back than they had in the opening period and chances were coming far less frequently for the Sky Blues.
With eight minutes to go Coventry's defenders must have thanked their lucky stars when the impressive Wright Phillips went off, only to see the equally rapid Kenwyne Jones replace him.
Moments later and the referee sealed City's fate by awarding a penalty when Rasiak went down in a somewhat acrobatic manner with little or no contact from Elliott Ward. The Polish striker made no mistake, sending Marshall the wrong way from the spot to rub salt in the wound.
Right at the end, John went clean through but Davis made a good save to deny City a goal they deserved.
The scoreline may make it look like a comfortable victory for Southampton but over the course of the 90 minutes it was by no means one-way traffic. However, the Sky Blues will have to learn to take their chances, especially away from home, if they are to improve on their consistency.
4thegame
Gareth Bale scored his second goal of the season with another stunning long-range free-kick as Southampton swept aside Coventry's muscular challenge.
Bale, Wales' youngest international at 16, scored something similar at Derby on the opening day.
This time after 61 minutes, the powerfully-built full-back stepped up to bang his 30-yard free-kick beyond the dive of Andy Marshall for the opening goal.
The precocious teenager almost added another 10 minutes later from the same position but this time Marshall got across to his right to make a diving save.
Southampton's second with just four minutes remaining had an element of good fortune when Poland striker Grzegorz Rasiak earned a penalty after falling over the foot of Elliott Ward when there was no obvious danger.
Coventry were furious with the decision of referee Grant Hegley and substitute Don Hutchison was booked for dissent.
But Rasiak kept his nerve and beat Marshall with his spot-kick to earn Southampton their first win of the season.
They could have even grabbed a third when substitute Kenwyne Jones struck a post in the last minute with a low shot.
All this was in contrast to the first half when Coventry looked the better side but the nearest they came to scoring was on 15 minutes when Dele Adebola headed against a post from a centre by Stephen Hughes.
Southampton's new keeper Kelvin Davis made two important early saves from Stern John and from Adebola, while Ward wasted a clear opening by heading against a group of players when unmarked at a corner by Gary McSheffrey.
But as the first half improved so did Southampton and John Viafara went close with a 25-yard shot and then with a header from a corner.
The second half belonged to George Burley's team and they should have gone ahead on 58 minutes only for Bradley Wright-Phillips to have a header cleared off the line by David McNamee.
Once Saints had gone ahead Coventry fell away but they should have pulled one back in injury time when John ran clear on to a Pele back pass but Davis rushed from his goal to force the shot wide.
Southampton manager George Burley praised teenage free-kick specialist Gareth Bale.
Burley said: "As a full-back Gareth is the best young player I have ever seen.
"Big clubs will be following his progress but the chairman will make sure he stays with us and they won't be getting him.
"When we had to sell Theo Walcott our hands were tied, but Gareth signed a new contract in the summer and both he and his parents want him to stay and develop with us.
"As for the free-kick, I spent 15 minutes with him practising those in training today and it paid off. He has tremendous ability and whips in a great ball.
"We have some injury problems and both centre-half and left-back are positions we may need to strengthen but tonight was great and certainly it was the best atmosphere at the stadium since I have been here." Coventry manager Micky Adams said: "I'm disappointed to lose but there are different ways to lose and this time it was with our boots on and our sleeves rolled up. At least we gave everything.
"I took great heart from our performance because I thought we dominated the first half and most of the best players were wearing the blue of Coventry.
"For that reason I don't think we deserved to lose but we must forget the result and move on because it was a good display.
"As for the penalty against us, if Rasiak was a boxer and went down like that, the promoter would withhold his purse.
"From what I could see there was minimal contact between my player and Rasiak but the referee has given a penalty and we have to accept it."
posted by SkyBlueSnowy at 7:57 am
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