There is absolutely no way to dress this up other than this was a game that for a long period we controlled and then we collapsed into a disorganised rabble, to throw the game away in 15 second half minutes.

Tonda Eckert once again made changes, in truth most Saints fans would have seen this as just about the best side that he could have put out and for 54 minutes of the game we looked like we might be good for a win, but then it all fell apart spectacularly.

In the first half Saints seemed to be getting back to form, they created several chances, two of which were spurned by Flynn Downes & Tom Fellows when it looked easier to score, the longer the half went on the more we seemed to be growing into the game.

At half time Boro hadn't has a shot on target and we had registered 4, all of them decent chances.

The second half started pretty much like the end of the first, we had a decent shot on target and in the 53rd minute you could see us winning the game.

But a minute later it all changed, Boro caught us well and truly square and opened the scoring, a little bit against the run of play, but we were still in it, but 7 minutes later we were 2-0 down and then quickly 3-0 down, in just 15 minutes we had gone from a side who were well and truly in the game, to one that was a complete and utter shambles.

The only real shock was it took them another 10 minutes to get a fourth.

The problem was the same as I have been saying, the back three isn't working, it has no leadership or organisation, Boro were well drilled, we looked like a team of 15 year olds.

There isn't a Captain in the side, we are keeping on doing the same things and getting the same results.

Tonda Eckert's priority should be to get in an experienced central defender in January, do this and we have a chance, fail to do so and this will be a dismal season, make no mistake about it.

There is not a lot I can say about this game, I still believe that we have quality in this squad, but it lacks leadership, both on and off the pitch, it needs an authorative presence again both on and off the pitch.

When Boro went 1-0 up, there was no one taking charge and steadying the ship and then getting the team going again, we just descended into chaos.

This is a crucial month for Eckert, who truly has to be judged at the end of the season, rather than now, but he has to show that he can see where it is going wrong and can deal with it.

But in football you have bad results and you have bad runs, Boro had just been through one themselves and found their form again against us, so we can turn things round, it doesn't have to be terminal.

But there is a lot of work to be done, in the coming weeks we will find out if Tonda Eckert is the man to do it.

This verdict is short and sweet, but I am sure that many of you will have a lot to say about this performance

All Photos Via Reuters