Seamless transition was promised and that is just what we got !

John Gorman and Jason Dodd had promised seamless transition as they took charge on a caretaker basis after the departure of George Burley, and this is one promise they certainly kept as apart from the inclusion of Wayne Thomas in for Ostlund at right back it was exactlyt the same side that started against Plymouth.

Sadly for the pair they dont seemed to have learnt any more than Burley himself did from his mistakes and it was the same old story of a Saints side unable to find any real rythym, as Saints look to appoint a new boss and turn around the season, from this showing you have to conclude that its more likely Dodd and Gorman are part of the problem than the solution.

This could have been one of the shocks of the round as Saints huffed and puffed but produced few chances to show for their efforts, yes they pushed bury back but the Lancashire side looked comfortable in holding Saints who couldnt seem to find a spark to create an opening.

Bury certainly had the chances to take the lead, thumping a post from a free kick although in all fairness Davis had it covered and then later in the half Davis had to make a fine save when Baker found himself one on one.

At half time Saints had to make an enforced change Davies jarred an ankle and Idiakez was brough on witth Thomas moving into his more familiar central role and Wright dropping back to right back.

This added a little more balance as at least now Saints had someone in the centre who could pass the ball, perhaps the turning point though came on the hour as Powell pulled up as he hit a back pass, Davis was alert and prevented anything coming from it but it was clear that powell wouldnt be able to continue, the only surprise being that he did for about three minutes.

This meant that Euell had to drop back into central defence and Skacel came on with another shuffle ensuing, in truth with the pedestrian Wright/Euell combination now entrenched in the back four Saints started to look brighter as Bury tired.

The reak came on 71 minutes the ball fell to Surman on the edge of the box and his shot lacked power but took a deflection that took it past the keeper and put Saints intoe the lead, it was lucky but the first piece Saints have had in a long while.

There was one more scare as Bury hit the bar a minute later, but in truth they had nothing left to give and the second goal on 79 minutes had knocked the stuffing out of them, meaning that the final 10 minutes werent as threatening as they could have been although Kelvin Davis made a superb save in the 89th minute to make sure that Bury were not given some hope in the four minutes of injury time.

The 25,449 crowd was a sign that Saints fans are prepared to back the team and was boosted by the departure of Burley, it gives saints hope that if they can put a good run together then the support will flood back, however things have to change on the pitch, Dodd and Gorman missed a great opportunity to tweak the team and introduce a few players who are the future of the Club, people like McGoldrick and Lallana, instead they stuck with the old guard who didnt look any more motivated or tactically aware than they did under Burley.           

Photo: Action Images

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