I don't ever listen to anything Phil Clarke says. Saints probably have a lot of players managed by his brother.

What a transformation after 30 minutes. I hope those missing have to work very hard to get back into the side.

I've never really been concerned by Clarke. Shows a little Wigan bias but understandable.

However, just watched the game back and he thought Sts should have had a penalty when Morgans head caught Philbins elbow as he was taking the ball in.

Un-frickin-believable.

I've never really been concerned by Clarke. Shows a little Wigan bias but understandable.

However, just watched the game back and he thought Sts should have had a penalty when Morgans head caught Philbins elbow as he was taking the ball in.

Un-frickin-believable.

Well the elbow vs head COULD have been a penalty. It's one of those you could argue either way, but tho play on or give a standard penalty was the severity of it. Not worth the debate really.

Not really.

Philbin was running it in and the Sts player but his elbow when trying to tackle him.

No way what so ever it was a penalty. Philbins elbow was at his side and didn't move. If someone decides to headbut an elbow it's either unlucky or poor technique.

Whether the ball in on that arm or not, you go into a collision with the elbow out, it's a foul.... It's was marginal and inconclusive so if he'd have been penalised I'd have no complaint.

But his elbow wasn't out...not in the slightest. Pure accident, if they give penalties for that might as well stop playing.

When sky started showing it in slow motion, it looked suspicious, but at full pelt it's an accident

He clearly flicked it out at him. But it's just an instinctive reaction, trying to push off the tackler, nothing in it.

Aah Mr Saddened, we've been expecting you...

His arm didnt move toward him even in slo-mo. Funny how people see things differently

As you can see on here. Ambiguity.
So that's why I said, I'd no complaint if it was a penalty.
Very marginal and slightly harsh had it had been so, but another inch forward and the elbow catch might have been far worse for both players.

Did anyone hear the comment from Cummins when Makinson was penalised for a shoulder charge on Gidley? He said "it wasn't a shoulder charge, he tackled him with his shoulder"?

Morgan Smith and Harvey Livett outstanding for me and after given Evans stick recently he was much better tonight.

How can that squad perform at that level when we are missing top players through injury and international duty, its mind boggling!!

At the risk of accusations of being a 'Smith apologist', Friday's match does show how narrow is the gap between a solid winning performance and a defeat where the team looks clueless. A few passes stick, we get a good share of possession, we're not out-kicked so much that we play 60 minutes in our own half, these things have gone wrong for us often this season. There [iwas [/ia distinct improvement in our urgency and 'go forward', undoubtedly, but it's why I think we are still not far off returning to top-8 form ( probably too late for top-4).