CATS & BLOGS

I knew it was too good to be true. After the stunning 4-0 win at Crystal Palace I spent most of last week on cloud nine, but on Saturday I came back down to earth with a bang.

Once again, it was Southampton dishing out the punishment.

Over the past few years I’ve managed to put that embarrassing afternoon on the south coast to the back of my mind, but at the weekend, those painful memories came flooding back.

Our defensive capitulation – and the ease at which the Saints brushed us aside – was eerily reminiscent to the 8-0 mauling we suffered at St Mary’s three years ago.

It was another case of men against boys as Southampton were simply quicker, stronger and better than us in every single department.

I thought Romeu and Gabbiadini were outstanding for the visitors, but if you give quality players time and space on the ball at this level, they will hurt you more often than not.

Jones did little to prevent Bertrand’s cross for the first goal, Gabbiadini was afforded too much time and space by Kone for the second, Denayer’s own goal for the third summed up our day, while Long’s fourth highlighted the ease at which Puel’s side were able to carve us open at will.

We were simply woeful and one shot on target against a side short on confidence and defensive reinforcements tells its own story.

One step forward, two massive strides back aptly sums up a rollercoaster week on Wearside that has seen Moyes’ men go from heroes to zeros in the space of just seven days.

We’ve seen false dawns before, but this one hurt more than most.