By Mark Deeks
November 19 2002

SOUTHAMPTON HOME. NOVEMBER 16TH. Another victory for the Toon. Exciting game and who'd have though that Aaron Hughes would score the winning goal!?! Mark also leaves his thoughts on the Champions League draw. I'd come to a decision. The mileage on my car was just getting racked up a bit too much for my liking. So, despite the fun and games experienced courtesy of the UK's train system a few weeks back for the Juve game, I thought I'd try again. Besides, £7.50 each way was cheaper than the petrol would've been.

The 11:24 to Edingurgh was to be my vehicle to SJP. I got to the station in good time, to be informed that the train had been cancelled. Wait for it..... Because of flooding at Bristol!! That's right folks, everyone inbetween Bristol and Edinburgh was to be put out because of flooding at Bristol.

Just when I was explaining my predicament to the lady conductor (incidentally the same one who tried to bail me out on the day of the Juve game!), it was decided the train was to be put back on. But now running over an hour late, because passengers in Bristol had to be bussed to Derby before it could leave! Things were not
looking good, although I was offered an alternative route via Leeds and York which would "possibly" get me to the toon for quarter to three!

I explained (in my nicest politest phone manner!) that this wasn't good enough. Much harrassed phone calls to "superiors" later, there was a way it could be done. On three separate trains, again via Leeds and York. But I had to make sure I didn't get on a GNER train because they had apparently decided to ban for the day any passengers of other train companies who had been
left stuck and were trying to find alternative methods of completing their journeys!

To cut the rest of the story short, I got a train to Leeds then found a train all the way to Newcastle. A GNER one. I explained I wasn't going to get off. There was no problem!

Southampton have a habit of making life difficult for us at SJP don't they? I seem to remember watching in seemingly slow motion as Mike Hooper (remember him?!?) was the only person in the stadium who didn't realise Le Tissier was going to hit the top left corner! Anyway... By the time two minutes had passed on this occasion, it felt like it was going to be another of those days. In all fairness, mind, didn't Beattie hit that goal sweetly?

My prediction of a draw was looking a bit optimistic after the first twenty minutes. The euphoria of the first few seconds, the basking in the glory of Champion League progression, had long since been wiped out. Both the crowd and the players had had the wind taken out of us, and if truth be told, we were pretty abysmal for the majority of the first half.

Viana wasn't having one of his better appearances (but still give me him over Robert anyday), the defence looked uncertain, and it was only really the industrious running of Dyer and Jenas that was keeping us going. It wasn't until the final five minutes of the half that things really exploded into action. A marvellous double drop of the shoulders from Dyer left Wayne Bridge looking at thin air, a simple finish from big Shola, and the most cast iron of penalty appeals from Shearer waved away.

Surely there would be only one winner in the second half? Well, yes, that's the way it turned out. But only by another narrow 2-1 margin. Full marks go to Super Al for another excellent display of leading the line, WKD for making some lung busting runs, and the unlikely hero Aaron Hughes for popping up for an unexpectedly superb finish. Is it not just a matter of time before we dish out a hammering to someone? You would think so. But why is it that the players only seem happy when they have a goal headstart to make up?
Life would definitely be easier if we could just cut out those early mistakes.

Before we finish, what about that second round draw? D'ya know what? I fancy us. Maybe not to win the group, but I reckon that second place is up for grabs. I'm going to put my neck out. We will qualify in second place behind Inter Milan. There. I've said it. Barcelona are beatable this season. As for Leverkeusen, they're struggling to find their form of last season as well, and currently sit twelfth in the Bundesliga (Bush Bush - for the Soccer AM-ers amongst you!). I think there are points to be had at SJP if we
keep our heads. Only time will tell. But one thing's for certain. We'll certainly be giving it a good go.


Keep the faith!