Become a Creator today!Start creating today - Share your story with the world!
Start for free
00:00:00
00:00:01
Episode 429: Matchday Review: CONFIRMED PLAY-OFFS DRAW TO TRACTOR BOYS
0 Plays2 seconds ago
Southampton – Whilst it does feel a little disappointing, how far this team has come since sitting 21st in November. Now confirmed to get one more game at St Mary's this year. We go again on Saturday!
Follow us on social media:
Linktree - https://linktr.ee/dailysouthamptonpod
X - https://x.com/DailySaintsPod
TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@dailysaintspod
Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@DailySaintsPod
Instagram – https://www.instagtam.com/dailysaintspod
Bluesky - https://bsky.app/profile/gspnsouthampton.bsky.social
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572875812052
Our Sponsors
For advertising and sponsorship details or to learn more about the scale and demographics of our audience – email us - dailysaintspod@gmail.com
Copyright | 2026 | Daily Saints Pod | All Rights Reserved
Recommended
Transcript
Greg's Solo Hosting and Game Observations
00:00:13
DailySaintsPod
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Saints pod. on My name is Greg and once again, unfortunately, not joined by Zach as he is still off on his holidays enjoying his time. He did watch the game today and was messaging me about it. So do have some of his input on the show, but it's just me. And look, I was at the game, of course. I've traveled back now very late at night.
00:00:40
DailySaintsPod
But I have written down some notes. I watched the highlights back because... You know, I sit in and all the northern end and my eyesight is not the best, so some of it's a bit of a blur to get a proper opinion of from too far away. But watch highlights back. I've got some notes try and keep me on track. But let's be honest, once I get to bullet point four, just titled The Ref, maybe that's where it goes off the rails when we just end up with a 45-minute rant. let's Let's wait and see how it goes. But let's start the start.
The Traffic Jam Experience
00:01:11
DailySaintsPod
the The traffic was horrific today, getting to Mary's, I got we got stuck in it. Had Had to drop the sister-in-law and the kids off so they could make a dash to the stadium to make it and then go and hunt a parking space. and And I missed kickoff for the first time in a very, very long time. We normally get to the ground you know early enough to watch the warm-ups and stuff, so it was crazy. In fact, the last time... I was late and missed kickoff. By the time I got in the ground, Jamie Vardy had scored against us. So, yeah, normally get there much earlier. But I was late in and did miss Taylor Hoa-Bellis, nearly putting in the back of his own net with with a clearance. But got away with that and got into the ground around three, three and a half, four-minute mark. was able to watch the rest of the game.
Player Lineup Surprises and Playoff Prep
00:02:02
DailySaintsPod
It was... a Yeah, so look, let's start at the start with the team lineups. It was more or less, as I predicted, there was the the differences between my prediction and the team sheet were, in fact, the front the the wide players.
00:02:17
DailySaintsPod
Didn't expect to see Leo starting today after, you know, playing at Wembley in that entire game, but he did, and he played a full 90 minutes.
00:02:27
DailySaintsPod
And I was kind of expecting Matzki to get a start over Fellows. Now it's come out after the game from Tonda in his post-match that... Matske has a minor Nagle win his car. So hopefully that is nothing too serious or anything to be too concerned about because think we're going to need him come the now confirmed playoffs. But we'll talk about that later. It was always going to be a tough game. I said it in the preview coming into it.
00:02:58
DailySaintsPod
It was a trial where they are in the league because they're a good team. It was always going to be tough. Ipswich came and gave it really good go and made it specifically difficult for us and I've seen a lot of, I've delved into the deep, dark zone of the comments on the BBC football site. But I've lots and lots of neutrals on there commenting on how it was a glimmering example of the joys of the championship, that two of the best teams in the league can go and play against each other in that way and, you know, just have that game and play it well. Yeah.
00:03:37
DailySaintsPod
and And I guess for a neutral, it would have been a good game to watch. It was pretty back and forth, spells of pressure from both sides, and you know plenty of goals to boot, I suppose.
00:03:50
DailySaintsPod
Right, let's
Referee Critiques and Controversial Calls
00:03:51
DailySaintsPod
get to it. The referee was awful.
00:03:57
DailySaintsPod
Probably the worst referee in performance I've seen in the championship this year. Zach texted me that he was watching the game with his friend who doesn't really watch football. And the quote from his friend was, why are Ipswich getting lots of fouls and you getting numb?
00:04:16
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, just, I don't want to buy into this theory that people have that... there's some agenda for Ipswich to be the the pick of the EFL, and that's why the referees are giving them the the rub of the luck. I don't buy it and don't buy into it. No one's that much of an Ed Sheeran fan, surely. But it was...
00:04:44
DailySaintsPod
it was just awful we was just so inconsistent, giving decisions their way that were not even close and weren't fouls. And yet they were free to wrestle Larry into the ground time and time again and get away with it. Tripped Leo up two or three times and it was just, yeah, it was remarkably bad.
00:05:06
DailySaintsPod
did look into who the referee was and look into some of his previous games to... to sort true actually to try and ease my concerns and not have as much of a rant to be honest I was expecting to go on and not really find a lot and hoping that that would be the case but it's the same referee that gave them the let's call it questionable penalty for them to equalize last Tuesday so don't know take from that what you will
00:05:37
DailySaintsPod
I don't think it's as deep as that. i just think he wasn't very good. it's it's It doesn't help that that opinion and that storyline, right? It doesn't help the...
00:05:49
DailySaintsPod
the vibe towards the fact that Ipswich are clearly the favourite team when the referee performance is like that. And it's just a shame because in a game that was such a good quality game of football, for that to be such a big talking point and such a point of upset...
00:06:04
DailySaintsPod
uh is ridiculous and i'm sick of talking about referees i hate it i don't think that it's the part game i want to focus on as much as we do even though they they you know they're warm me up when they get it wrong
00:06:18
DailySaintsPod
But yeah, just very, very poor. Not doing anything to appease the image of Ipswich being the favourites of the AFL. That's for sure.
00:06:32
DailySaintsPod
But... That said, the referee is not what caused the result tonight, really, as even though it was shocking. The first goal was proper sloppy, proper silly. Fellows loses the ball, and then it gets flicked up into the air, and Harwood Bayless just gets bullied off of a header that he should be doing better with, and then Wood should be picking up.
00:06:55
DailySaintsPod
the number seven who scored the goal and and wasn't. And yeah, it was just be bit a bit naff. A bit rubbish.
00:07:08
DailySaintsPod
Goal we shouldn't be conceding. But... You know, that happens, right? You you take your off the ball for for a split second, you lose it in one transition and bang, that is what happens in this league. And we we learned should have learned a lesson about that last week, but we didn't. You know, this this came at the start of the second half, or the first half was just incredibly back and forth.
00:07:31
DailySaintsPod
They had a few chances. We had a few chances. Laren came incredibly close in the first half with one tipped over the bar.
00:07:41
DailySaintsPod
Yeah, it was it was entertaining, but not a lot came of it. Yeah, and they they take the lead with a goal that is just just poor, not the sort of goal that we're used to seeing this team under Tonda concede, to be honest. but But by this point in the game, we were looking a bit leggy, a bit tired.
00:08:01
DailySaintsPod
But we'll we'll get through to some of those thoughts later. Yeah. Then we get a free kick. There was a shout about whether it was penalty, but we looking at the replay, was definitely a free kick. The real decision for me is why wasn't it a red? The stud was incredibly high. the studs were up.
00:08:21
DailySaintsPod
The impact was impactful. He was clearly thrown a goal. If he doesn't make the tackle, i don't understand by all of those metrics how it isn't a red card. He's very lucky to stay on the pitch.
00:08:33
DailySaintsPod
And just another one of those decisions to add the list, I suppose, of of decisions that go Ipswiches way, which seems to be, you know, the the story as the game goes on.
00:08:44
DailySaintsPod
But it was a free kick. Ryan Manning, of course, steps up and completely scuffs the free kick, if we're being honest. But it ends up in the back of the net. Happy days, win-win. We take those every day of the week. Zach sent me a text just saying Manning again. And...
00:09:01
DailySaintsPod
and fantastic. Back in the game shows, the character and the fight that we've got through through the squad, got that belief. And yeah, it was it was good. We felt from that point we were definitely going to push on and get more from it. It was certainly in my mind, not in doubt, because that is the belief that Tonda has built through the fan base. you know The crowd were up and excited and felt like it was coming.
Laren's Heroic Goal Despite Injury
00:09:27
DailySaintsPod
Then later in the game, Larian goes down off the ball and the ball gets put out of play. A bit concerned. He doesn't actually get any treatment. He does eventually get back up.
00:09:38
DailySaintsPod
And Ipswich very sportingly gave the ball back, which I wasn't entirely expecting based off of some of the other Ipswich behaviour in the game. But good, it was the right thing.
00:10:03
DailySaintsPod
It's crazy to me that we've not brought Stuart on. why Why? is he why has he just warming up? Oh, good. He's gone back to the bench. Maybe he'll come back on. Oh, no. He's just sat on the bench. This is crazy. Why aren't we bringing Stuart on?
00:10:15
DailySaintsPod
And Zach mirrored that opinion. He texted me approximately 15 seconds before what was to come next and saying, Laron needs to be off. He's so out of steam.
00:10:28
DailySaintsPod
And then... Tonda, I'm sorry. i was sorry i ever doubted you. Leaving Lahren on the pitch, despite him struggling to move, clearly paid off because he produces an incredible piece of footwork, shuffles the ball out of his feet, sells two defenders for a hot dog, and pokes it past the keeper for a fantastic finish. 2-1 Saints. Yeah.
00:10:55
DailySaintsPod
What goal. the Just such an incredibly good piece of footwork, nimble, great finish. Found the corner perfectly. The perfect height to just get it over the keeper. Yeah.
00:11:11
DailySaintsPod
Brilliant. Laren's come after the game and says that's his favourite goal so far for Saints. And I've been quite to agree. What a great piece of work. And that it was coming. We all knew that second goal was coming. And it did. And then he immediately got taken off.
00:11:29
DailySaintsPod
Zach sent me a text saying, Laren is a baller and he is not wrong. What a I thought, you know, up until the point he'd gone down and was struggling with movement, i thought he'd been very good. Every time he got on the ball, he was smothered by X-Witch players. But even with that, you know, a couple of times managed to break the line, a few times managed to hold the ball up and pass it off.
00:11:51
DailySaintsPod
And, yeah, I think what he brings to the team is is excellent. And getting the goals to boot as well, just fantastic. And, honestly, if we had taken him off and Stuart on, do we get that goal? That's the real question, and I don't know if the answer to that is yes.
00:12:11
DailySaintsPod
But, you know, we're up and we are 2-1 up. Laren comes off, Stuart comes on. Before that, Sammy Adozi came on for fellows who who also got kicked and came off.
00:12:25
DailySaintsPod
We were the only two substitutions we make all game, which just feels a bit strange, doesn't it? We are looking tired at this point. We are looking a bit leggy.
Fatigue and Late Equalizer: Substitution Concerns
00:12:39
DailySaintsPod
A long throw comes into the box from Ipswich that kind of gets headed away, but because we're a bit slow out, we don't get to the second ball at all. It gets pinged back in. we kind of half clear it again and once again, don't get to the second ball. We just don't get out to it fast enough. And uh, bang, goal. Uh, what could you say about, about it really? Just, uh, Jack Lott bangs it in to all.
00:13:08
DailySaintsPod
And, uh, yeah I just don't understand why we hadn't brought on more fresh legs at that point because it was pretty evident to me that that was we were going to struggle. Wipswich had made handful of changes and they had made an impact.
00:13:25
DailySaintsPod
They were looking fresher. They looked more ready for it. And that's understandable. We've had so many games in such quick succession and a massive day out at Wembley at the weekend.
00:13:38
DailySaintsPod
It shouldn't be surprising in anyone that we're looking tired and looking leggy. We should be looking tired and looking leggy. We've played that much football. But some we're slow to close the ball down. it goes in the goal.
00:13:50
DailySaintsPod
and that kind of is what it is, isn't it? Based on the rest of the game after that, we were lucky not to lose. Peretz makes a save. They have one off the post. Peretz saves it onto the post.
00:14:16
DailySaintsPod
clock.
00:14:19
DailySaintsPod
So they took a minute and 14 seconds to take that corner. At corner gets, I believe, caught by Perrette. So we go to play out. Bang on 95 minutes. The referee blows the whistle.
00:14:33
DailySaintsPod
Just make it make sense. Just make it make sense. When the ball's out of play, surely you stop the clock. I a called cannot carry on with my opinion of the referee and how he did in this game because it it will get me in trouble.
00:14:59
DailySaintsPod
Casper Jander uh player of the match for me i thought he was phenomenal just to absolutely bossed the middle of the park seemed to be the first to so many of those second balls picking up the ball breaking the line trying to make those forward plays uh also excellent defensively was the last man back when they tried to break from a corner and handled it beautifully, put in the perfectly timed challenge, took the ball and in fact created another attacking chance for it, managed to get the ball out to Leo who who ran up the wing.
00:15:30
DailySaintsPod
What a fantastic player he has become under us
00:15:35
DailySaintsPod
It's exciting to watch him. I've enjoyed watching him. and And look, it's going to be sad if he goes back to Germany and we don't get to see him play in Saints at them because he he's been really outstanding, particularly these last two games, but really all season just really stepped up as as with the whole team.
00:15:55
DailySaintsPod
But yeah, he was my standout pick of the match. Fina Zaz had his knee strapped up, which is a bit concerning. Still played the full 90 minutes. I'm a bit surprised we didn't see him come off for Archer.
00:16:09
DailySaintsPod
I feel like, especially once we got the lead, bringing Archer on to just run at their defence and push them back a bit would have been would have been a good change. But Finn got the full 90 despite being strapped up. But didn't i have the best game, but plays on the cusp. right We've talked about it before.
00:16:30
DailySaintsPod
Plays on the cusp, right? We've talked about it before. So when he has a good game, it looks sensational because because what it does is good. When it's even just a little bit off the mark, it looks rubbish because because it has to be that close to the line to pull off some of the things it does pull off when it is firing on all cylinders, but...
00:16:52
DailySaintsPod
a few times in the first half where particularly his link up with Laren, they just weren't quite on the same page. But, you know, it is what it is.
00:17:03
DailySaintsPod
It was not great. Ipswich, there were definitely some dark arts, there were definitely some physicality, were definitely some winding up and...
00:17:28
DailySaintsPod
that.
00:17:31
DailySaintsPod
Taking the emotion out of it, looking back at the highlights, taking a look at the stats on the BBC football website.
Reflecting on the Season's Journey and Playoff Hopes
00:17:40
DailySaintsPod
a draw is probably a fair result.
00:17:43
DailySaintsPod
I mean, all of the stats are of basically the same. The only stat where there's like an outstanding difference to one side or the other is more of their shots were on target than ours. But other than that, it's pretty evenly matched entirely through the the whole sheet. Look, two top teams coming together, fighting it out.
00:18:07
DailySaintsPod
It's why we love the championship, right? It's why it's such a good league.
00:18:11
DailySaintsPod
That now, of course, confirms playoffs for us. and We have no mathematical chance of getting automatics. We cannot catch Ipswich.
00:18:22
DailySaintsPod
So we will be having another game at St Mary's this season. which Which feels disappointing, but actually I think back to a point of the season where we were looking down the table and thinking that relocation zone is is pretty close. We need to stay away from that.
00:18:39
DailySaintsPod
So at that point, we'd have bitten your hand off for what for an FA Cup semifinal and guaranteed playoffs coming into the last day of the season. Yeah. I'll take a proper look at all the permutations of the last day of the season and where we are likely to end up and some of the playoff details tomorrow in tomorrow's episode.
00:19:00
DailySaintsPod
But the the sort of short version is that a unless results, you know, even if we win, we're more than likely finishing fifth, but there are, you know, depending on the other results. If we do finish fifth, we will most likely play Middlesbrough in the, in the playoffs. And of course, if we finish fifth,
00:19:22
DailySaintsPod
we will be home first and away in the second leg.
00:19:27
DailySaintsPod
will cover all of that tomorrow in proper depth, but it was nice after the game to stand and and hear the support. still Still proud, still grateful for the team and what we've seen.
00:19:41
DailySaintsPod
Let's not forget, still 18 games unbeaten in the league, which is such a turnaround from where we were before Tonda took us over.
00:19:51
DailySaintsPod
Such an incredible run. really amazing heading into the last day of the season that that we've confirmed playoffs. And obviously there's a lot of work to do now in the playoffs. It's it's almost like a lottery. i hear people refer to as, but you never know what's going to happen. no guarantees, but we just go and we give it our all and we keep fighting for it. And we know that the k team is capable of that mentality.
00:20:27
DailySaintsPod
But yes, he did do that. And, the you know, it's pertinent to think that his contract is up. at the end of the season and I hope that we renew it but whether we go up or not because he has been one of the the key crucial parts of this team and this this run particularly very important
00:20:47
DailySaintsPod
And, you know, that leads us to Saturday, where the regular season ends, and the with all the permutations and how it may play out, we'll see how
Fan Engagement and Future Playoff Discussions
00:20:58
DailySaintsPod
it goes. But...
00:21:01
DailySaintsPod
hello Still positives to take from that performance. It was always going to be a tough game. The atmosphere was phenomenal from the northern end. Basically didn't stop singing and loved every minute of As you can hear it tell my voice has taken a beating.
00:21:20
DailySaintsPod
But still positives, still unbeaten in 18 games in the league, which is still impressive. Does it mean that now the focus on Saturday is more rotation and rest than winning to get the edge?
00:21:36
DailySaintsPod
I don't know. Maybe I'll talk about that more later in the week. But that is all I've got time for today. Let me know in the comments on the socials how you feel about the game. All of your thoughts. Welcome. We are Daily Saints pod absolutely everywhere. X, Blue Sky, TikTok, YouTube, Instagram. Hit us up and let us know.
00:21:58
DailySaintsPod
Hit us up and let us know. We love hearing from you and I would love to hear all of your opinions in a particularly interesting game where I'm sure there are lots of varied thoughts and any opinions on the ref.
00:22:13
DailySaintsPod
Strongly welcomed. that Like I say, tomorrow i will go through all of the potential outcomes of the last day of the season and what games we'll be watching and what results we'll be looking for.
00:22:23
DailySaintsPod
But until then, Saints fans, have a wonderful day and I will see you then.