5:15pm Saturday 23rd August 2008
SAINTS picked up their opening league win of the season - and their first under Jan Poortvliet - with a brilliant display at Derby.
Poortvliet's young side comprehensively outplayed the Rams and could have won by a huge margin, even if in the end they had to settle for 1-0.
It was a victory for the attractive, attacking style Saints are trying to employ and three very welcome points that has got them up and running.
The game got off to a lively start with both sides looking purposeful in attack but without creating a chance.
Kris Commons briefly looked like he would threaten but his flashing shot ended up slashed so far wide it went out for a throw.
With six minutes gone Derby again were dangerous with Paul Green's shot, after Tyrone Mears had beaten Andrew Surman, being deflected away from goal.
You got the impression after so long without a win that the Rams saw this as their big chance and they came storming out to try to get an early goal - and the crowd on their side.
Saints knew the longer they kept them out the more the crowd would turn and the harder it would make it for the Rams.
But it was Saints who came so close to taking the lead on 11 minutes.
A slip from left back Jay McEveley allowed Jamie White in behind and he showed good vision to square to Lee Holmes.
The former Derby man was one-on-one with Roy Carroll who blocked his shot with his legs but the ball looped up in the air. McEveley chased back to head off the line and over the bar.
Michael Svensson was allowed space at the far post from the corner but couldn't connect with the ball on the volley.
Just five minutes later the Swedish centre half exchanged heated words with Kelvin Davis as he allowed the ball to drop over the his head to the waiting Rob Hulse but the Derby man couldn't take advantage, totally mishitting his volley.
McGoldrick had an unbelievable chance to give Saints the lead on 20 minutes.
Derby again fell apart in possession and Simon Gillett quickly slid the ball through to McGoldrick who was virtually on his own running at the Rams goal. He looked up to see Carroll but could only fire at the keeper who duly produced the save.
McGoldrick tried again on 29 minutes, this time from the edge of the area, but saw his shot deflected over.
As the half wore on the Derby fans were just beginning to get frustrated with their team and Saints grew in confidence, knocking the ball around nicely while the Rams looked increasingly tentative and scared of making a mistake when in possession.
Robbie Savage had a chance to ease Derby nerves on 39 minutes but he sidefooted over from ten yards out after Commons had got to the by-line and cut back.
Saints squandered another chance two minutes later when McGoldrick picked out Adam Lallana and put him through on goal. This time Carroll was out to save at his feet.
Svensson became the first player in the book just before the break for tugging back Hulse.
Saints had to withstand some late pressure and had Davis to thank for a good save to turn away Emanuel Villa's header but they went in at the break reasonably content with the game goalless.
Derby made two half-time changes to try to improve their performance with Dean Leacock and Nacer Barazite replacing Steve Davies and Claud Davis.
Holmes was the first to threaten as Saints worked the ball nicely to him on the left side of the area and he flashed a shot from an acute angle across goal but just wide.
Saints were playing some great football, moving the ball so crisply and quickly and Derby had no answer.
McGoldrick was the next with a sight of goal but his shot was deflected wide while Lallana curled an effort just past the post moments later.
All the good football had now brought a host of chances throughout the game for Saints, leaving Poortvliet to hope that the misses wouldn't prove costly.
Just such a warning was in evidence on 54 minutes when Green headed a difficult chance over the bar after Davis had punched out as far as the edge of the box.
The game really pulsed as Derby missed a great chance with Commons through on goal but Davis producing a great save at his feet, before Saints went straight up the other end and took the lead on 58 minutes.
Lloyd James whipped in a cross from the right to Lallana, his header was half stopped by Carroll but was forced onto the underside of the bar.
The ball crossed the line as it bounced down and the linesman flagged but as it came out McGoldrick made sure, heading in from close range. The latter tried to claim the goal but it appeared as if it was Lallana's.
Derby made their final change on 61 minutes with Nathan Ellington replacing Hulse.
Saints made their first switch on 67 minutes with Paul Wotton coming on for White. Lallana went to the right, Morgan Schneiderlin into the hole and Wotton to one of the two holding roles.
Lallana turned McEveley inside out but couldn't find anybody with the cutback before Green blasted over at the other end.
Saints were dealt a blow when James hobbled off injured on 71 minutes with Jack Cork coming on for his debut.
McGoldrick came so close to doubling Saints' lead three minutes later when Gillett stood the ball up to the far post and the striker's header looped over Carroll but bounced off the top of the bar.
With ten minutes to go McGoldrick got in another header, this time from Holmes' cross, but Carroll tipped it over the bar.
Saints made their final switch with six minutes left with Stern John on for Holmes.
McGoldrick had one more chance as he blazed over the bar but Saints looked comfortable while the Derby fans hurled abuse as their team's dismal run continued.
As the final whistle blew it confirmed three points for Saints in a performance that was far more empathic and one sided than the scoreline suggested.
Full analysis and reaction in Monday's Daily Echo.
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