Match Report 041228 vs Southampton: Right result, wrong performance, but I think it's justice prevailed

1-0 and performance was not that good, but the most important thing is we have 3 points. Also, remember there's a few games we played well and don't get the result, I think this is justice prevailed.

We again have lots of possession in 1H, but Southampton is determined to get 1 point and played a 5 man midfield. Alonso was tightly marked but still provided 2 great passes, one a diagonal to Riise whose right foot is not as good as the golden left foot, and the other an excellent through ball to Sinama-Pongolle for the winning goal.

2H as time goes by and we don't get the second goal, the team became nervous and Southampton back into the game. Fortunately they don't have any clear chances except one mis-judge of Dudek that almost gifted them a goal. At the end we get what we need. Good result, although performance was not that good.

Player Rating:
Dudek: 6 An error in judging a throwin almost gifted them a goal. Otherwise virtually a spectator only.
Finnan: 6 Unfortunately injuried, hope he can recover soon for the Chelsea game, or else we may have a problem.
Carragher: 7 Solid at the back despite having Diao on his right, and also have bought the ball forward a few times.
Hyypia: 7 His confidence is back, keep it up!
Warnock: 7 A rare start as left back and performed well. And helped to save Dudek from conceding a stupid goal.
Garcia: 6.5 A poor game apart from a great header in 2H saved.
Gerrard: 7.5 Fighting from beginning to the end.
Alonso: 7 Tightly marked but still provided a few wonderful passes, one of it lead to the goal.
Riise: 7.5 Another good performance and have 2 great scoring chances, one use his weak right foot and easily saved, the other smashed into the bar. Unlucky.
Mellor: 6.5 A quiet game as he got no service from midfield.
Sinama-Pongolle: 8 Scored another important goal. His pace is really an asset to us.

Substitutions:
Diao: 5.5 Shaky... Last game for us?
Nunez: 6 A fair game but not too much impact.
Hamann: Only played several minutes to bolster the defence.

Rafa: 6.5 He had to shuffle due to injuries, but need to find a way to cure the nervousness.

Southampton: Beattie is to be sold very soon, and Redknapp need to use the money wisely to buy some players to save them, othewise it's going to be tough to see them survive.

Man of the Match: Sinama-Pongolle. 4 goals in December. A nice performance!