Well, that's how it should have been going by our numbers - 705 out of 17,567 - but the first thing the Rams minstrels noticed was this striking Southampton stadium barely half-full, so to the Verdi tune that's mis-translated as "My name's Antonio" they sang "Your ground's too big for you..." followed by a tribute song to Idiakez, who made 13 appearances for the Saints before being injured, after we transferred him - he moved back to George Burley. The 2006–07 season Championship playoff semi-final on 15 May was Rams v Saints. After the tie finished 4–4 on aggregate after extra time, the match went to a penalty shootout and Idiakez missed the crucial penalty helping send his former club through to the final. At the end of 2007–08, Southampton released Idiakez. He is currently on trial with Major League Soccer side San Jose Earthquakes. I just hope he reads this over there. Thanks again Iñigo Idiakez Barkaiztegui, born 8 November 1973 in San Sebastián, Guipúzcoa. Gracias amigo por falta, la pena de.

Ah, culture, isn't it magnificent when it all comes together! Oh when the Rams go marching in...

We had the first shot, Mile Sterjovski after 5 minutes, they had the first corner, and Bywater saved at the Rams' fans end, then one over the bar. Up the other end, Hulse offside, back for another corner, then a free kick, and an unfair challenge on Bywater. A real scare, the ball bounced off Nyatanga, and Chris Perry was almost on to it.

Our first good chance after 20 minutes was a delivery from Barazite to Hulse, who headed over. A corner 4 minutes later from Nacer brought a header going wide from Hulse. Still, the new boy, John Eustace, settled in very well immediately, and it was a foul on him which brought a free kick from Teale, passed the wall, but wide. Tune "Winter Wonderland": Gary Teale, you're a wonder, Gary Teale, you're a wonder, You used to be shyte, now you're alright, walking in a winter wonderland.

Bywater had to save from Marek Saganowski, but the first half petered out, just a little joy on hearing that Forest were losing, bringing a song about them and Saints going down together.

After a decent steak-and-kidney pie - joining their chicken balti pie from before the game - it was "We are Derby, Super Derby, we are Derby, Super Rams" and that continued non-stop until the 58th minute when they scored. Adam Lallana had come on in place of Morgan Schneiderlin.We'd both opened it up somewhat, Hulse headed wide, Teale's was saved, Hulse had one saved, then Robbie Savage cleared their cross for a corner. The ball came long from Gillett, Bywater tracked it, and backed off, it fell to Chris Perry who hit the bar, and it bounced back in off the heels of Aussie Mile Sterjovski. "Sing when you're winning, you only sing when you're winning..."

Just after Surman shot wide with a gaping goal begging for 2-0, Nigel took Mile off, replaced him with Nathan Ellington, who showed some decent touches, made Hulse look a bit less lonely up front, but looked slow. Teale had a shot, saved, Hulse had an unfair challenge on their goalie. He didn't seem to have his shooting boots on, but I'm not sure I'd have had Nigel's bottle, after Paul Wotton was brought on as a substitute for Andrew Surman, he took Hulse off and put Steve Davies on. That's it, I thought, we've lost this; still, there's 13 minutes left.

Saints
Davis James Saeijs Perry Skacel Schneiderlin (46 Lallana) Gillett McGoldrick Surman (69 Wotton) Saganowski (90+1 Paterson) Euell Subs Bialkowski Lallana Wotton Liptak Paterson
Rams
Bywater Connolly Albrechtsen Nyatanga Todd Sterjovski (63 Ellington) Savage Eustace (86 Kazmierczak) Teale Hulse(77 Davies) Barazite Subs Carroll Villa Kazmierczak Ellington Davies
Ref: Kevin Friend

Within 6 minutes, Steve had made a decent cross, had a shot cleared, then scored from an Albrechtsen cross. Martin, our resident Dane, gets some stick from the fans, but he was steady enough, and he made the GOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL for Steve. Two minutes later, we gave John Eustace a standing ovation, as he left the field to be replaced by Przemyslaw Kazmierczak.

Steve Davies then had a great run down the right, past the defender, curled his shot in at the Rams' fans end, and I can see it now, bouncing back off the inside of the post, a tiny fraction taking two points away, and confirming Steve as Super Sub. Soon after, Adam Lallana had an effort at goal from deep inside the box hitting the post. An away point was pretty valuable by then, having looked as if we should have had three earlier. We stay 16th with 46 points from 36 games.

Saints slip to 2nd from bottom, with Norwich winning, and we have Watford on 45 from 46, Plymouth & Blackpool 43, Forest 41, all 3 from 48 games, Barnsley 40 from 35 games - I've just received the tickets for the five of us for the home game on 21st, you know who you are - Norwich 39 from 38, Saints 38 from 37. Charlton Athletic are one of the shocks of the season, they're gone, 28 points from 37 games. Last night they were ahead at Reading, then 2-1 down before scrambling a draw, now they have Wolves at the door. We have them home on April 25th already relegated.