It was less a game of two half's but a team of two half's

Most Saints supporters leaving St Mary's on Saturday agreed that this was probably the best game of the season at home so far, a contest between two decent sides, however only one of them could afford to drop points and still harbour realistic hopes of promotion, the Canaries reinforcing my view that they will occupy the second spot come the end of the season.

Going forward Saints were as good as ever utilising Alan Pardew's choice of 4-4-2 formation, but n defence they were appalling and the main complaint was the fact that AP  did little to rectify the situation with some puzzling substitutions.

In the first half Saints did the job they needed to, Adam Lallana's goal seperating the sides, but they looked poor defensively and very vunerable despite conceding.

All the old problems were resurfacing, the two full backs lack pace, the two central defenders are too similar, two slow and dont win the balls they should and the goalkeeper does not come out and command even his six yard box and Saints would pay the price in all of these areas in the second half.

After the break it  became clear that the visitors could see where Saints were shaky and went for the jugular, initially AP looked to realise this  by changing James into midfield and putting in Murty at full back, this was a little late as James had already been found wanting in conceding the penalty for the equaliser, but straangely despite taking Trotman off against Brighton, he left him on when he was clearly having a shocking game, likewise on the left, Harding could have been replaced by Mills, who has the pace as the Canaries were getting past Harding and to the byeline far too often.

Connolly's goal whilst spectacular, gave Saints a lead they didnt deserve and it always looked fragile, Norwich's equaliser was another defensive disaster, Davis failing to deal with a fairly innoccuos shot and no Saints player being quick enough to react and clear.

Perhaps the most baffling thing though was the second two subtitutes, yes Lambert was having an off day, but he is always likely to get a goal, so taking him off with seven minutes to go was baffling, just as puzzling was why Waigo got so little time on the pitch, against Brighton he showed enough to perhaps tell his manager that he might not be as obviuos as Antonio, in that he hasnt the pace, but he has the guile, why was he used so late. The final change was again surprising, why take off Lallana and why use Mellis who has barely playedin two months ? the truth is that Saints have to win games, we arent going to get relegated so we can take chances, the extra two points might have kick started the promotion push, if we had lost to be blunt we arent any worse off than the draw, AP has to realise this and go for it in the final stages of a match.

But perhaps  the most woorrying thing about the game is that it is  clear that the defence is not good enough, Harding is too slow and too clumsy, Trotman is too slow, too clumsy and doesnt seem to have the mental application and Kelvin Davis seems to be slipping back to his bad old ways, too often he doesnt come out and claim balls into the six yard box and if he starts to let goals in like the second on Saturday again, it wont be lonng before the fans start to get on his back as they did for two seasons.

If we can sort out these problems then I think that Jaidi is good enough, but we need to find a partner to compliment him, IE someone who can read the game, has a little pace and can compliment him. At right back its a straight choice between James and Murty, but Pardew has to make thhat choice and not then shoe horn the player left out into midfield.

The choice on the bench was also baffling, why both Perry & Thomas ? add Murty and thats three defenders for a home game, why ???

Saints have to be brave at Hartlepool on Tuesday, Mills at left back and Thomas in the centre.                  

Photo: Action Images

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