Saints ground out an important point in Yorkshire

One point doesnt make a season, but for Saints youngsters this was perhaps the most important point so far as they thwarted Sheffield United and earned a goaless draw, when many of their fans had written them off, but I have said it before and i have said it again, some games Saints will defend the crucial ball in and sometimes they wont.

In truth it is somewhat worrying that Jan Poortvliet made five changes to the side  from Saturday, whilst some were forced upon him, the general feeling is that he must have got it badly wrong on Saturday, reinforced by the fact that in Skacel, John and BWP, here there were three players not deigned good enough to even get on the bench against Watford and Gillett not warranting a chance to get off it.

However the truth is it looked a lot more balanced a side than Saturday especially with Skacel and Cork at full back and the returning Perry in the middle.

For Saints fans however the plus points were in the way that this squad dug in and have the spirit to keep on playing even in adversity, there are many who dismiss them as kids and deride them as not good enough, but the plain fact is that if our so called experienced profesionals had played with as much fight last term for 43 of the 46 games then we would have perhaps joined the Blades in finishing within touching distance of a play off spot, rather than the last day scramble we had, give me fight and spirit and players willing to work at their game and get experience than journeyman profesionals after a last big pay day.

So once again Saints passed another test, proving again that they dont lay down and die, but fight back stronger after each set back, to be blunt there will be plenty more setbacks along the way this season, but its not the setbacks that count but the way you react to them and so far Saints score full marks on this front.    

It wasnt a great night points wise as both Norwich and Barnsley won meaning we moved closer to the bottom three, however as we know from last season its only the final position that counts and Saints have a lot of time to pull clear, with Scheiderlin, Gasmi and Jason Euell set to return in the reserves on Wednesday night, and Michael Svensson on the verge of a return, plus Robertson who was unable to play against his parent Club, Saints can head to Swansea with confidence, its one game at a time and in Saints position any point away from home is good.  

Photo: Action Images

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