Even heroes have days when they are less, well, heroic. Simon Mignolet has been outstanding in game after game. Today, he got less of a hand to Zoltan Gera’s long-range shot, admittedly excellent, than we would have expected. 0-1. Then, he fumbled the simplest of collects leaving Shane Long with the ball at his feet one yard from an empty net. A disastrous half-time scoreline – and it threatened to get considerably worse as possession was squandered, crosses ended at first man or went tamely beyond or behind. Then Craig Gardner’s deflected free kick flew in. What was heading for a comfortable away win was suddenly at least drawable. Until Mike Dean was fooled by the clearest of dives, by Liam Ridgewell after a risky but contact-free Johnson tackle, rendering the hardworking Sessegnon’s late goal a consolation as the Baggies – slicker throughout – added insult to injury with a last-gap fourth. Pete Sixsmith‘s seven-word verdict tells the story rather well; he’ll have more to say over the next 24 hours or so… ..
Nov 23 2012 SAFC (0) 2 West Bromwich Albion (2) 4 Ridiculous scoreline but too many basic errors
Nov 18 2012 Fulham 1 (0) SAFC 3 (0) Good goals, better performance, 3 important points
Nov 10 2012 Everton (0) 2 SAFC (1) 1 Chances created, which is progress. Much better
Nov 3 2012 SAFC 0 (0) Aston Villa 1 (0) Another abject performance. A long winter looms
Oct 30 2012 Capital One Cup Fourth Round: SAFC 0 (0) Middlesbrough 1 (1) Plan B even worse than plan A
Oct 27 2012 Stoke City (0) 0 SAFC (0) 0 Don’t bother with MoTD: a real stinker
Oct 21 2012 SAFC (0) 1 Newcastle United (1) 1 Got out of jail. Just about deserved
Oct 6 2012 Manchester City (1) 3 SAFC (0) 0 Never gave up but City simply better.
Sept 29 2012 SAFC (0) 1 Wigan Athletic (0) 0 Scrappy performance but a win’s a win
Sept 25 2012 Capital One Cup 3rd Round: MK Dons (0) 0 SAFC (0) 2 Second goal settles nerves for comfortable win
Sept 22 2012 West Ham United (0) 1 SAFC (1) 1 Need to be more positive when ahead
Sept 15 2012 SAFC (1) Liverpool (0) 1 More than happy to take a point
Sept 1 2012 Swansea City (1) 2 SAFC (2) 2 *Lack of ambition against 10 cost points
Aug 28 2012 Capital One Cup Round 2: SAFC (1) 2 Morecambe (0) 0 Shrimps potted as we stroll to victory
Aug 18 2012 Arsenal (0) 0 SAFC (0) 0 Gritty, determined and a well earned point
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We now have 3 home games in quick succession against 2 teams who are surely nailed on for relegation (even ‘Arry can’t save QPR) with the European (and possibly World) champs in between. Six points is a must or the winter will be long, hard and cold. A couple of decent performances wouldn’t go amiss either.