Southampton unveil crazy St Mary's pitch cut before clash with Everton



It's been an excellent campaign for Southampton who have exceeded many's expectations for this season thanks to their attractive style deployed under manager Maurico Pochettino.

With nearly half a side of first-team stars bidding to make England's World Cup squad, the Saints look like they are going to finish the season in the top-half of the table playing some of the most attractive football in the country.

And it's not just the players drawing the attention. At a time of year when playing surfaces up and down the country have areas found wanting of a grass blade or two, St Mary's continues to look immaculate.

Super turf: Southampton's groundsmen have created a new pattern on the St Mary's pitch for Saturday

It's given the groundsmen for the south coast club a chance to show off their cutting skills, with an abstract pattern being cut ahead of Saturday's clash against Everton - who are chasing a Champions League spot.



It's enough to bamboozle any visiting side and appears to be a match for other crazy designs seen over the years.

The Etihad Stadium has also seen a few unique patterns in the last decade, and it could start a battle over who has the most stylish pitch.

The debate is there but one thing for sure is it can't be worse than Chelsea's 'beach pitch' from 2003.

Wacky: In 2005, the Etihad stadium was cut in a variety of different forms by deputy groundsman Lee Jackson

Speciality: For Manchester City's Premier League game with Portsmouth in 2005 there was a tartan design

Kriss-kross: West Ham were greeted with this pitch when they visited in October 2005

Baseball style: Jackson chose a rather left-field cut when Bolton came to the Etihad that year

Line in the sand: Chelsea take on Charlton on a sandy Stamford Bridge pitch in 2002