Boruc's penalty save could prove vital in fight to avoid relegation
SOUTHAMPTON manager Mauricio Pochettino hailed the "massive" penalty save of Artur Boruc after the Poland goalkeeper earned his side a 0-0 draw at Norwich with a dramatic stop in added time.
With heavy rain before kick off being followed by sleet, neither side was able to get any real spell of possession as the Barclays Premier League match was played out in atrocious conditions.
After Saints skipper Adam Lallana had blasted over when in front of an open goal, and Japan defender Maya Yoshida made vital blocks to prevent Grant Holt and Robert Snodgrass scoring, there was still time for some late drama.
Full-back Luke Shaw was ruled to have pushed over Holt just inside the penalty area, as referee Mark Clattenburg pointed to the spot after consulting with his assistant.
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Southampton, though, felt justice was served as Boruc produced a decent stop down to his right to secure a well-deserved share of the points for the visitors – which could prove vital in their battle to stay in the Premier League.
"Boruc made a massive save for us and saved us a point," said Pochettino, pictured.
"I am happy overall with the team's performance because we regained our fighting spirit which we lost a bit against QPR.
"Before the penalty was given we deserved to be leading the game, so my anger was double fold, that the penalty should not have happened and also we should have been ahead."
Pochettino added: "The weather did not really favour us for the way we wanted to set-up to play.
"My team adapted really well to the conditions and also Norwich are a very hard team to play against on their own ground."
Argentinean coach Pochettino, however, could find himself facing a disciplinary charge from the Football Association after coming onto the pitch after the final whistle to confront Clattenburg and his officials.
"In that moment, you cannot really control your emotions, you are angry, my pulse was really high because I thought it was unfair to us and never a penalty," Pochettino said.
Norwich remain in 13th place, some nine points clear of third-bottom Wigan, who have played a match less after booking a place in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday.
Canaries manager Chris Hughton deployed Kei Kamara, on loan from Kansas City, alongside Holt in attack, and started with two out-and-out wingers before Anthony Pilkington was forced off with a hamstring problem.
Nevertheless, the home side were unable to put the ball into the net as they played out a third goalless draw from the last five matches.
4 Comments
by katachua
Monday, March 11 2013, 8:38PM
“Er... According to the URL at the top of the page, this is Bristol - isn't it?”
by bokkbokk
Monday, March 11 2013, 8:08PM
“I now know the QPR and Saints result, what paper do I log onto to get the Bristol teams results, Manchester Post?”
by FromMendip
Monday, March 11 2013, 7:51PM
“Norwich? Southampton? Can't quite see the link with Bristol somehow.
I saw the 'highlights' of the match on tv and the antics of the Southampton manager and some of his players at the end were disgraceful. I thought the FA was supposed to be doing something about these mass surroundings of referees.
Can't the idiots who do this realise that the laws of the game state clearly that the interpretation of such incidents lie in the OPINION OF THE REFEREE? The opinions of the managers or players who are obviously biased are irrelevant, and the majority seem to have no real grasp of the laws of the game in all sorts of ways.
My opinion, and again it's of no relevance but I will state it anyway for balance, is that referee Clattenburg was fully justified in his opinion on the occasion in question.
If this indisciplined behaviour by managers and players doesn't cease perhaps the referee, the two assistants and the fourth official should surround the manager and berate him when his team suffers a heavy defeat or chase after a player who misses an open goal and tell him what they think of his ineptitude.
I've long believed that before they can become professional players, managers or coaches people should pass an examination in the laws of the game.”
by Bristolexpat
Monday, March 11 2013, 5:00PM
“Are BEP journos now attending Premier League matches and trying to pass it off as work?
First QPR, now Southampton?
Don't fancy getting a report from City or Rovers for us do ya?
No, thought not.........”