Dodd: Some players let the fans down (From Hampshire Chronicle)

Dodd: Some players let the fans down

2:34pm Saturday 16th February 2008

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JASON DODD said he felt some of the Saints players let themselves and the fans down as the team crashed out of the FA Cup 1-0 at Bristol Rovers.

In a massively disappointing display Saints conceded an unfortunate late goal to deny them a replay but created very little themselves throughout.

Dodd was both angry and disappointed with the performance of his and John Gorman's players with the caretaker bosses having now won just once in seven games.

He said: "Fair play to Bristol Rovers but for some reason they wanted it more than us which is hard to believe to be honest.

"As we've said the last five or six games we've been playing quite well.

"At Stoke in the second half who are top of the table we played fantastic.

"We knew it would be difficult on the pitch but it was the same for both sides but they adapted to it better than we did."

He added: "We've been working hard and the lads have responded to what me and John Gorman have been asking them to do.

"In this game a few of them didn't perform and let themselves down as well as the staff and the supporters who travelled a long way and go home disappointed."

Match report

Saints missed out on the chance of a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals as they were dumped out in the fifth round by League One Bristol Rovers.

In a game of few chances on a tricky pitch at the Memorial Stadium a deflected free kick six minutes from time proved the difference between the teams.

For caretaker bosses John Gorman and Jason Dodd it continued a dismal run which has seen Saints slip towards the Championship drop zone and now get knocked out of the FA Cup when it seemed there was a terrific chance to make the last eight.

It was obvious from the start that though the dry weather had prevented the pitch from being a mud bath as many had predicted it was extremely bobbly making it hard for passing.

Rovers had the first chance of the game on seven minutes when Stuart Campbell picked up the ball on the edge of the area and tried a half volley that looped just wide.

Saints had the lion's share of possession in the opening stages of the game and were doing a good job of pinning Rovers back and quietening the crowd while the home side looked a little nervy on their big day.

Stern John got the first Saints effort on target with a sharply taken half volley from just inside the right touchline but it went straight to Steve Phillips in the Rovers goal.

But the first good opening of the match fell to Rovers on 15 minutes.

Saints allowed a long throw to bounce right across into the middle of the area where Craig Disley met it but fired just wide of the far post.

It was Craig Hinton who had the next opening putting a low corner wide of the near post of Kelvin Davis.

After a scrappy period of play Rovers managed to win a couple of corners and caused a scare from the second one where Darren Powell just had to hack it clear as it bobbled around in the area.

Rovers were playing a fairly direct game but on the whole the Saints defence was handling it pretty well although it was never certain for backpasses to Davis with the ball bouncing all over the place on the tricky surface.

The way the game was going it looked like if a chance were to come it would either be Saints carving Rovers open with a good piece of play or Rovers getting a lucky bounce, converting a set-piece or firing in second ball from the edge of the area.

There was a half opening for Rickie Lambert on 34 minutes when he couldn't quite reach a ball in the box.

But the same man got a terrific chance a minute later when Andrew Davies couldn't control the ball and Lambert stole in behind. It was a fairly tight angle on the right but Davis did well to get out quickly and save at his feet.

Saints won a free kick in a decent position 25 yards out to the left of centre but Inigo Idiakez put it over the bar.

That proved to be the last chance of the half and it meant the game went into the second period goalless.

The match continued in much the same way as it had ended before the break.

It was looking unlikely there would be a glut of chances for either side with Saints probing for an opening and Rovers trying to force one.

Jhon Viafara became the first player in the book on 52 minutes for a foul on Campbell. He then had to be warned again after continuing to protest afterwards.

From the low free kick Lambert had a yard to get a shot away in the area but dragged it well wide of the near post.

Andy Williams threatened to break through on 56 minutes but Davis was out quickly to clear up the danger.

Saints made their first change two minutes later with Bradley Wright-Phillips coming on for Idiakez as Saints went with a three man attack.

John hit a quick half volley from 20 yards on the turn but fell back and it went over the bar.

Saints had their first real chance of the game on 64 minutes. Phillips came for a cross and only punched to the edge of the area where Jason Euell fired in a low volley but the Rovers keeper got down to save with his feet before Viafara lashed the rebound well over the bar.

Rovers thought they had taken the lead on 70 minutes when Lambert headed home Campbell's corner but referee Mike Riley had blown his whistle for a foul.

From set-pieces Rovers were looking dangerous and again it was Lambert who caused a problem on 76 minutes with a flicked header from Campbell's left wing free kick that flashed just over the bar.

Rovers made a first change with Sean Rigg on for Andy Williams.

Saints responded with a switch of their own with ten minutes remaining David McGoldrick replacing Marek Saganowski.

But with six minutes left Rover got a large slice of luck and the lead.

Saints conceded a free kick just outside their penalty area left of centre.

Lambert step up and fired it low into the area where it hit the leg of Jermaine Wright and deflected towards goal leaving Davis and Andrew Surman on the line with no chance.

Saints had a last throw of the dice with three minutes remaining with Adam Hammill replacing Viafara.

It was a case of Rovers trying to run the clock down and defending with their lives as Saints poured everything forward.

The fourth official held up the board to show three minutes of injury time and Saints knew what they had to do.

Saints won a corner which Davis came up for but Euell headed wide.

But that was it for Saints as when the final whistle went they headed out of the FA Cup having missed out on a great chance to reach the quarter-finals.

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