Southampton and West Ham seek seasonal surge in

top-of-the-table clash

The sense of two teams still seeking their level makes for a fascinating prospect as first meets second in the Championship

Rickie Lambert, here scoring at Derby .

On the face of it tonight’s match between Southampton and West Ham at St Mary’s

represents a collision of the mutually buoyant: it is the biggest game in the

Championship so far this season, a meeting of first and second in the table and a chance

for two clubs with a genuine (and in West Ham’s case rather desperate) hunger for

promotion to gouge an early-season lump out of each other’s ambitions of setting up

a decisive autumnal surge away from the chasing pack.

 

Beyond that it is still impossible to contemplate a meeting between these two attractivemiddleweight top-tier regulars of the 1980s and 1990s without seeing the joins, noting thescar tissue and being reminded that these are still essentially two clubs in the process of bouncing back.

 

Southampton, with their enviable stable ownership, their recent promotion, their settled team may in fact claim to have already bounced back. But it is still a process and successes have come only very recently. That these two clubs are both operating in reduced circumstances is illustrated by the simple fact of their own most recent meetings. The last time they played each other outside the top tier was in 1952 (a full 54 matches ago).

 

Generally, at this stage of the season at least one Championship promotion hopeful will stir itself and make a decisive push for breathing space away from the pack. Both West Ham and Southampton have a convincing case for an autumnal surge, albeit their differing strengths are perhaps best illustrated by comparing their squads. West Ham in particular still bear the scars of last season’s relegation in their 35-man jambalaya of pressed men, coming men, men who once were and men who might still be.

Sam Allardyce is perhaps still stumbling across the right combinations in among this superfluity of manpower. The pairing of John Carew and Sam Baldock up front against Blackpool last weekend brought three goals in eight second-half minutes and a hint of an encouraging big-man-small-man chemistry. Allardyce enthused, in particular, about Baldock’s movement afterwards. Whether Carlton Cole regains his place this evening after being rested might be telling.

 

There is a managerial contrast here too. In Allardyce, West Ham have opted for an unpopular pragmatist – and with some immediate dividends. Southampton’s Nigel Adkins is a rather more modern breed, the kind of media-trained, visibly ambitious, holistically inclined career manager that appears to be very much current trend, a Championship-level André Villas-Boas. Adkins has known nothing but success so far and is clearly a man riding a crest of momentum. He is a likeable and energetic figure, extremely popular with a settled squad that has tended to nurture and promote from below rather than hauling in a land-grab of established stars.

 

No doubt this has helped provide a welcome sense of continuity after a spell of seven managerial changes in three years before the advent of Adkins, not to mention 15 changes of manager since the turn of the century.

 

Southampton have won every single home game this season, success based around a tendency to keep the ball and attack in waves. Rickie Lambert, who has 11 goals so far this season ahead of his 400th career appearance, has been a continued revelation this season, his ability to find space and use the ball intelligently key to Southampton’s success at the higher level.

 

Saints missed Adam Lallana’s explosive qualities against Derby at the weekend. He may return tonight after a foot injury. If he does Lallana will embody another passing point of comparison between these two sides: Southampton currently have one of the most successful youth set-ups in the country, another attribute that is often a barometer of internal stability. During West Ham’s happier times it was a status quo in the manager’s office that helped nurture and promote the fruits of what is still a productive academy.

 

Whoever wins at St Mary’s will be top of the table and well-placed to launch a gear shift towards promotion. It is a slightly giddy time for both these newcomers to the division, a clash of two sets of players with differing expectations and two managers with contrasting styles. It is always a bit of a shame the Championship’s most resonant matches often centre around the key issue of not to wanting to play in the division any more, but in this case the sense of two teams still seeking their level makes for a genuinely fascinating prospect.

Saints will get there first 30k plus crowd of the season for the top of the table clash with West Ham United at St Mary’s this evening, hopeflly topping the 31,653 who saw the Walsall game at the end of last season, although whether it will top the 32k mark that truly represents a fully sold out stadium will depend on the sales in the corporate areas.

But assuming a gate of around 31,500 this would push the average attendance at St Mary’s well over the 25,000 mark for the season so far, a good total but one that it would really be nice to see us maintain over the coming months when teams of not such a high interest level play here.

Hopefully those stay away fans that are coming tonight and havent been much over the last year will see a good entertaining game that will encourage them to come back again, this team deserves more than the 23,900 average it currently has going into the game and if we as supporters want to see the team stay at the top and perhaps strengthened in the January transfer window then we have to get right behind it and support it week in week out, not just for the backing that will help the team, but for the extra income that it will bring into the club and can be used to strengthen.

Southampton FC have made their best start to a season for 52 years after maintaining their position on top of the Championship with a 4-0 win over Watford, while second placed  Middlesbrough drew 0-0 at Reading on Saturday.

Third-placed Derby failed to take advantage in the late match,  going down 4-0 to Leicester.

Rickie Lambert scored two penalties and strikes from Guly Do  Prado and Lee Holmes ensured Nigel Adkins’ side, who still have a  100 per cent home record, moved two points clear at the top.

Adrian Mariappa, Jonathan Hogg and Joe Garner all had chances to  put Watford in front before John Eustace, under pressure from  Lambert, handled in the area in the 22nd minute.

Lambert slotted home the penalty and he made no mistake when he  was presented with the second penalty after being hauled down by  Mariappa in the 55th minute.

Guly ensured there was no way back for Watford with a fine  finish in the 70th minute, while substitute Holmes wrapped up the  win with a superb strike from long range late on.

Middlesbrough couldn’t stay in touch with Southampton FC after  their third successive goalless draw, this time against Reading at  the Madejski Stadium.

Substitute Morgan Schneiderlin’s 80th-minute equaliser spared Southampton FC blushes but their four-match winning run in all competitions was ended following their 1-1 draw with lowly Burnley at Turf Moor.

Southampton FC manager Nigel Adkins will be grateful to come away with something, though, after Charlie Austin scored his fourth goal in as many games against the npower Championship leaders to give the hosts a deserved lead eight minutes after half-time.

The Clarets, still without a home win this season, had made a mockery of their lowly league position in the first-half and Austin’s strike from six yards was just rewards for their efforts.

Southampton FC,though, had won six of their opening seven matches prior to this game and Rickie Lambert headed against the bar shortly afterwards.

And Schneiderlin levelled proceedings when he finished from former Burnley defender Daniel Fox’s cross from the left.

Both sides had opportunities to claim all three points but it was not to be and the spoils were shared.

The teams did not hold back in an enterprising opening and the talismanic Lambert should have headed Southampton FC into an early lead.

However, the striker could only put Fox’s magnificent left-wing cross back across goal with the net at his mercy.

And his profligacy was nearly compounded when Chris McCann and Austin combined, with the latter’s goalbound strike blocked by Jose Fonte.

Brian Easton then put through Jay Rodriguez, who had cut in from the left, but his shot cannoned off Fonte’s defensive partner Jos Hooiveld as Burnley were once again thwarted.

Yet it was the hosts who were starting to boss proceedings although they failed to create another clear cut chance before the interval.

They were almost caught out, however, when Lambert’s cross on the left was headed narrowly wide by Adam Lallana.

Eddie Howe’s side continued to belie their poor start and Brian Easton’s cross caused havoc in the visitors’ area, with the ball cleared off the line from Rodriguez’s effort before Easton hacked wide from six yards.

However, Austin notched his sixth goal of the season and continued his magnificent record against the Saints when he latched on to Rodriguez’s knockdown before poking home from close range in the 53rd minute.

To their credit,Southampton FC created two opportunities to immediately draw level.

Frazer Richardson’s snap-shot from just outside the area was well parried by Lee Grant.

But there was nothing the Burnley goalkeeper could do when Lambert pulled away from his marker but his header from Richardson’s cross struck the bar.

Lallana then spurned two gilt-edged opportunities after missing the target from two free headers as the visitors continued to build pressure.

And they were rewarded for their persistence 10 minutes from time when Fox’s cross fell to substitute Schneiderlin and he fired past Grant.

In a frantic finish, Andre Amougou headed wide as Burnley sought a winner, while at the other end, Grant saved well from David Connolly at the death

SCOUT Phil Smith looks at the threat posed by Championship leaders Southampton FC at Turf Moor tomorrow.

A 4-1 victory over Birmingham City, their 13th successive home league win, saw Southampton FC move to the top of the Championship.

Burnley have collected 14 points from a possible 33 at Turf Moor since March. The Saints boast a record of 25 from a possible 36 away from St Mary’s.

They are currently in blistering form having enjoyed six wins from seven in the league this season.

Diagram A illustrates the system of play that I expect them to utilise. It cannot be classed as anything but attack minded. 19 goals thus far emphasise that. Burnley have six.

The lack of a holding midfielder in the visitors 4-4-2 is likely to be an area Eddie Howe looks to exploit.

Jack Cork and Dean Hammond will be involved in penetrating runs centrally.

Cork will come short to receive the ball. He will look to release Rickie Lambert and David Connolly in depth. (Diagram B).

Southampton FC will utilise space behind the defensive line in their offensive transition. Expect across the face runs from the pair.

Lambert has broken the magical 20-goal barrier in each of his previous three seasons. The former Rochdale man has eight to his name already this term, including a recent hat-trick against Nottingham Forest.

Connolly will operate slightly behind Lambert. He will look to feed him. Brian Easton and Kieran Trippier must close inside to eliminate this threat.

Adam Lallana will give width and attack Trippier. Expect inside diagonals when Lambert drops into midfield. With four goals and five assists to his name already this campaign, Burnley will need to keep a close eye on the Saints Academy graduate.

Offensive transitions will see the team move quickly to offer support. Danny Fox and Frazer Richardson will provide width from behind and deliver the ball into the box. The cross will be attacked diagonally. Richardson has three assists to his name, including two against Birmingham City on Sunday.

Guly Do Prado is not a natural winger. He prefers to act as a third midfielder between the lines. He will look to release Connolly and Lambert with penetration through the defensive line.

Lateral free-kicks taken inswinging by Fox. Four players will attack the ball diagonally. Expect a late run from one player towards the penalty spot. Competent handling will be crucial from Lee Grant. Lambert will look to pounce on any second ball at the far post.