It all turned out well in the end, but it didnt look that way for a long while.

It was a funny atmosphere in St Mary's for the visit of Hull City, another sparse crowd, slightly bigger than for the midweek fixture against Sheffield Wednesday, but several thousand down on the average assembled and it seemed that this was going to be the day the crowd turned on the manager.

Certainly as Saints huffed and puffed and missed chances in the first 43 minutes you could hear the rumblings of discontent in the stands, the Northam End were making their feelings known, they started by chanting the name of Jonh Viafara, the message seemed to be that they couldnt believe that Viafara was on the bench whilst Jason Euell occupied the centre of the midfield, the names of Gregorz Rasiak and Marek Saganowski were also chanted, it was open hostility towards the selections of George Burley.

As half time approached you could feel it in the air that the crowd were not happy, then out of the blue Saints scored, it certainly calmed the crowd a little for the break, but the second half was going to be crucial.

In truth Hull were appalling and barely mounted an attack of any note, but Saints play in the final third wasnt much better with another goal not looking too likely, then just after the Itchen Stand had launched into a few chorus's of "Burley for Scotland" audible from the other side of the ground although it should be said not taken up by all, Stern John came to life.

Adam Hammill had put in an inch perfect cross for BWP for the opener and he did the same for John on 58 minutes to put Saints firmly in the driving seat, on 76 minutes Hammill laid the ball to Saganowski whose air shot completely missed, however he was quick witted enough to turn and lay the ball back for John who scored his second with a shot that took a big deflection and nesteled in the net.

A couple of minutes later maybe to prove that he could score difficult goals without the help of deflections, John chested down a ball 25 yards out and hit a dipping volley that was perfectley flighted to fly over Myhill in the Hull goal and give him no chance.

For the final 10 minutes or so it was only a question of if Saints would add to the score, certainly they should have in the dying minutes of injury time when Viafara blasted well over from close range.

The score probably reflected saints domination of the game, but in truth it flattered their actual performance, for 43 minutes they were woeful and a better side would have torn them to shreds, but goals change games and despite wasting chances Saints got a slice of luck at the right times.

But this should be a warning to the manager and the board that the crowd are at the end of their tether, at the moment this victory has papered over the cracks and many feel that Burley has to prove that he wont go back to his old ways, when players are fit he has to prove that players are picked on merit and not favourtism.

But Saints do now have foundations to build on, despite a woeful start they are only three points off a play off spot and what is needed is a good victory at Coventry City next week to keep the momentum going. since the defeat at Hillsborough, Saints have won three, drawn one and lost only one of the five games played and this is decent form, but they now have to keep it up.        

Photo: Action Images

Macclesfield Town Polls