Southampton

Bale scoops player of month award
Southampton full-back Gareth Bale has been named as the Championship's player of the month for August. The Wales international, 17, has scored two fine free-kicks during the Saints' impressive start to the season. Bales also became Wales' youngest international player in May when he played against Trinidad & Tobago. The other contenders for the award were Joe Ledley of Cardiff City, Robert Earnshaw of Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion's Curtis Davies.

Ipswich 2-1 Southampton
Substitute Billy Clarke headed home a second-half winner to earn Ipswich their first home win of the season. Clarke replaced debutant Jon Macken after the break and rose highest in the penalty area to head home Mark Noble's cross in the 78th minute. Kenwyne Jones had volleyed home from close range in the third minute to hand Southampton a half-time advantage. Ipswich's Simon Walton equalised from the penalty spot after Pedro Pele fouled Alan Lee. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ipswich manager Jim Magilton: \"I was chuffed with my team who showed character, guts and heart. \"Today was our day and our attitude was first class. Whatever the reason we looked nervous at the start. Maybe we froze a little. \"I could not argue about being behind at half-time. Then we picked up and I am happy to take on board all the positives I can.\" Southampton manager George Burley: \"We need to be more clinical in front of goal because it could have been double figures. \"I was pleased with the way we played with a very new side. We are building and going in the right direction. \"We showed good habits. It was an unjust result but you don't always get what you deserve in football. We deserved to win today.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ipswich: Price, Bruce, De Vos, Naylor, Harding, Williams, Noble, Walton, Richards (Legwinski 56), Lee (Bowditch 90), Macken (Clarke 65). Subs Not Used: Supple, Currie. Booked: Bruce, Williams, Walton. Goals: Walton 67 pen, Clarke 78. Southampton: Davis, Dyer (Surman 76), Baird, Pele, Makin, Wright, Idiakez, Viafara, Skacel, Rasiak, Jones (Wright-Phillips 71). Subs Not Used: Miller, Ostlund, McGoldrick. Booked: Dyer, Viafara, Baird, Surman. Goals: Jones 3. Att: 21,422 Ref: M Halsey (Lancashire).

C Palace v Southampton
Crystal Palace will be without skipper Carl Fletcher as he picked up an ankle injury at the weekend. Peter Taylor must decide whether to stick with James Scowcroft and Shefki Kuqi in attack or hand a start to Clinton Morrison or Dougie Freedman. Southampton boss George Burley has no new injury problems for the trip up to Crystal Palace. Striker Bradley Wright-Phillips is fit again and hoping for a starting berth after he did well off the bench.

C Palace 0-2 Southampton
Kenwyne Jones and Grzegorz Rasiak scored a goal each as the Saints won away for the first time this season. Jones netted after just two minutes, rising to head Rudi Skacel's right-win corner past Gabor Kiraly. Palace were unlucky not to level seven minutes later when James Scowcroft smashed a volley against the crossbar. But Saints doubled the advantage shortly after the break, with Skacel racing down the left and drilling the ball across for Rasiak to shoot home. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crystal Palace manager Peter Taylor: \"It was not good enough. At the moment, we do not look like keeping a clean sheet. \"We conceded goals at the start of each half, and we began each half poorly. We have to hold our hands up. \"People were too nervous. The players lacked confidence when they were in possession, and the passing was not good enough.\" Southampton manager George Burley: \"This was another good performance, and there are definite signs for optimism because we have a good blend of youth and experience. \"This is the style I want to play. After we took an early lead here, we could have scored four or five. \"Rudi Skacel is fully fit now, and he will be a key player for us. He has a tremendous left foot.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Crystal Palace: Kiraly, Lawrence, Hudson, Cort, Borrowdale, McAnuff (Freedman 55), Kennedy, Hughes, Soares (Green 46), Scowcroft, Kuqi (Morrison 55). Subs Not Used: Speroni, Butterfield. Booked: Hudson. Southampton: Davis, Pele, Wright, Baird, Makin, Idiakez (Ostlund 51), Dyer (Wright-Phillips 82), Skacel, Viafara, Jones, Rasiak (Surman 66). Subs Not Used: Miller, Bale. Booked: Idiakez, Pele. Goals: Jones 2, Rasiak 48. Att: 17,084 Ref: C Penton (Sussex).

Southampton v Plymouth
Southampton's Inigo Idiakez may not be fit after picking up a slight hamstring strain in the win over Crystal Palace. Kenwyne Jones sustained a slight knock on his knee but should recover in time, while Djamel Belmadi could return after shaking off a calf injury. Plymouth will check on the fitness of right-back Paul Connolly, who missed the Cardiff game with a foot injury. Substitutes Lilian Nalis and Akos Buzsaky will be pushing for a place in the first team.

Best can get better says Murdoch
Joint caretaker boss Stuart Murdoch feels Bournemouth's on-loan Southampton striker Leon Best can still improve. \"Leon's a good prospect,\" Murdoch said after the 0-0 draw at Brentford. \"Perhaps he could have done better with one of the chances he had - maybe he could have hit the target and worked the keeper more. \"But he can only get better - and he will benefit from playing with experienced players like Steve Fletcher and James Hayter.\" Best, who will be 20 on Tuesday, has scored twice in 10 appearances since joining the Cherries on loan just before the start of the season.

Burnley 2-3 Southampton
Southampton twice came from behind to beat 10-man Burnley, but were indebted to some late saves from Kelvin Davies. Steve Jones gave Burnley an early lead, but their task was made all the harder with the 16th-minute dismissal of Wayne Thomas after clash wth John Viafara. Two minutes later Grzegorz Rasiak headed a leveller, however the Clarets came back with a neat Andy Gray header. The extra man told after the break when Inigo Idiakez fed Rudi Skacel and Chris Makin laid on the winner for Raziak. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burnley manager Steve Cotterill \"We at least deserved a draw. \"It (the red card) was a moment of unthinkable stupidity that cost us three points because we were the better team. \"It cost us big time. Their lad might have made a meal of it, holding his face. He didn't barge him in the face, but I wouldn't blame him going down.\" Southampton manager George Burley \"I wasn't particularly happy with the way we played because we've played some good stuff of late. \"Burnely will feel disappointed. They deserved something, but to come away and score three, you've got to hope that's going to get you three points. \"You've got to look at the tremendous finishes and that's what won the game.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Burnley: Jensen, Duff, Thomas, McGreal, Harley, Elliott (Sinclair 27), James O'Connor, Hyde (Mahon 80), Jones (McCann 68), Gray, Noel-Williams. Subs Not Used: Lafferty, Foster. Sent Off: Thomas (16). Booked: Gray. Goals: Jones 4, Gray 33. Southampton: Davis, Wright, Baird, Pele, Makin, Belmadi (Dyer 78), Idiakez, Viafara, Skacel (Surman 84), Rasiak, Wright-Phillips (Jones 66). Subs Not Used: Miller, Bale. Booked: Viafara. Goals: Rasiak 18, Skacel 54, Rasiak 73. Att: 13,051 Ref: D Drysdale (Lincolnshire).

Svensson's comeback put on hold
Southampton defender Michael Svensson has had his latest comeback put on hold because of a stomach bug. The centre-back was due to play in a reserve match against QPR on Tuesday as he continues his recovery from two years of knee problems. But the Swede is now expected to feature against Crystal Palace reserves next Tuesday. Physio Andy Barr said: \"The hamstring and knee are fine and he was ready to play but he's gone down with illness.\"

Southampton v QPR
Southampton playmaker Inigo Idiakez (hamstring) is a major doubt as the Spaniard has not trained all week. Teenager Gareth Bale should return at left-back after bneing rested while midfielder Mario Licka is in line for a place on the bench after a foot injury. Midfielder Jimmy Smith could make his QPR debut after joining on a month's loan from Chelsea. Gareth Ainsworth and Egutu Oliseh could also play having recovered from a hamstring problems.

Leicester v Southampton
Leicester midfielder Stephen Hughes is a doubt after sustaining a thigh injury earlier in the week that has prevented him from training in the last few days. Matty Fryatt will be out for another two weeks with his ankle injury, while Patrick Kisnorbo is suspended. Southampton skipper Claus Lundekvam is expected to return after injuring his ankle on the opening day of the season. Gareth Bale could be rested after playing twice for Wales, while Inigo Idiakez is fit after a hamstring knock.

Leicester 3-2 Southampton
Leicester's Richard Stearman settled a pulsating encounter with Southampton and sealed the win for the Foxes. Iain Hume put Leicester ahead with a long-range effort only to see Jhon Viafara equalise before the break. Hume restored the lead with a stunning volley outside the area but again Saints answered when Inigo Idiakez unleashed a low angled drive. But Stearman had the last word in the 65th minute when he headed home Nils-Eric Johansson's rebound. # Leicester manager Rob Kelly: \"Instead of setting their stall out for a draw the game was much more open, allowing us to score. \"I'm very pleased with Iain Hume because he works very hard and he got his reward.\" But Kelly revealed some bad news for captain Paddy McCarthy: \"He broke his nose and is quite a mess. He is a doubt now for Tuesday's match at Leeds.\" # Southampton manager George Burley: \"We didn't play well in the first half but after the break I thought there was only going to be one winner, and that was us. \"In the second half we got our passing game going and went on to dominate. The boys are in the changing room asking how they managed to lose. \"But we showed today we are capable of going anywhere in the league and creating chances.\" Leicester: Logan, Kenton (Stearman 59), McAuley, McCarthy, Johansson, Low (Hughes 72), Williams, Johnson, Tiatto, Hume, Hammond (O'Grady 90). Subs Not Used: Henderson, Porter. Booked: Johnson, Tiatto. Goals: Hume 35, 62, Stearman 65. Southampton: Davis, Makin, Ostlund, Lundekvam, Baird, Wright (Licka 73), Viafara, Idiakez, Skacel (Surman 49), Wright-Phillips (McGoldrick 76), Rasiak. Subs Not Used: Miller, Pele. Booked: Viafara, Lundekvam, Ostlund, Rasiak. Goals: Viafara 45, Idiakez 64. Att: 21,347 Ref: K Hill (Hertfordshire).

Cardiff v Southampton
Cardiff star striker Michael Chopra is available despite picking up his fifth booking of the season on Saturday, as the ban takes effect seven days after. The team should be unchanged, with Ricci Scimeca fit after an ankle knock. Southampton winger Rudi Skacel (foot injury) and Gareth Bale (thigh) are both injury doubts, though Bale will have a late fitness test. Kenwyne Jones should be fit after returning from duty with Trinidad and Tobago carrying an ankle injury.

Belmadi injury rocks Southampton
Southampton winger Djamel Belmadi is expected to be out of action for at least three months with a knee injury. The 30-year-old missed Saturday's 3-2 defeat against Leicester and scans have shown that he requires surgery. Boss George Burley told the club's website: \"We have been told he has cartilage and bone damage and needs an operation which is a major blow. \"He has been unfortunate with injuries since I've been here but when he plays he gives us more quality on the ball.\"

Southampton v Stoke
Southampton will be without the suspended Jhon Viafara. Chris Makin (hamstring) and Alexander Ostlund (ankle) face late fitness tests, with Jermaine Wright standing by and Rudi Skacel is expected to be fit. Stoke's Ricardo Fuller is expected back with Mamady Sidibe struggling with an ankle injury. Sam Bangoura could make the bench but Rory Delap, Luke Chadwick, Marlon Broomes and Lewis Buxton are all long-term casualties.

Southampton 1-0 Stoke
Mario Licka's first Southampton goal proved enough to secure the victory. Grzegorz Rasiak had chances in the first half, with Steve Simonsen saving the Saints striker's first two efforts, with the Pole then firing wide. Stoke started the second half brightly and spurned a good opening when Vincent Pericard fired wide from close in. And Licka made in-form Stoke pay for their profligacy as he collected the ball on the left and cut inside before smashing the ball low past Simonsen. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southampton manager George Burley on matchwinner Mario Licka \"He is always a threat with his midfield runs and I asked him at half-time to get further forward. \"We got him in the summer and he got injured in our final pre-season match. He has been out for two months but he is fit now and ready to prove what a good player he is. \"He is a player with terrific potential and hopefully scoring a goal like that will give him the confidence to express it.\" Stoke boss Tony Pulis: \"It was a good performance but I am disappointed with the result. \"We had enough chances to get on the scoresheet and we have to start being more clinical in the final third. \"We took the game to them and they took a wonder save from Davies to stop us from scoring.\" -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Southampton: Davis, Wright, Baird, Lundekvam, Bale, Surman, Licka, Idiakez, Skacel (Dyer 83), Rasiak, Jones. Subs Not Used: Miller, Pele, McGoldrick, Wright-Phillips. Booked: Baird, Idiakez, Skacel. Goals: Licka 54. Stoke: Simonsen, Hoefkens, Higginbotham, Duberry, Griffin, Hill (Sweeney 70), Russell, Diao, Hendrie, Fuller, Pericard (Bangoura 77). Subs Not Used: Pulis, Brammer, Paterson. Booked: Hendrie, Griffin, Duberry, Diao, Higginbotham, Fuller. Att: 20,531 Ref: L Probert (Gloucestershire).

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